Finance Business Partner

Network Rail; Milton Keynes; Hybrid; GBP 44,000 - 53,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible/hybrid working arrangements

Annual leave 28 days + statutory

Discounts at stations with NetworkRail

Defined benefit pension

Subsidy on train tickets

Interest-free travel loan

Volunteer leave

Job summary

Network Rail is seeking a highly motivated finance professional to support efficiency delivery across large, complex programmes. You will analyse data, consolidate reports, and provide assurance on submissions while partnering with senior stakeholders to drive value for money in a publicly funded environment.

The role focuses on continuous improvement, governance of financial data, and delivering insightful business commentary using tools like Power BI.

Qualifications

• Demonstrate strong understanding of business needs and relevant accounting standards.
• Membership (or working towards) of CIMA/ACCA or equivalent experience.
• Experience creating and maintaining accounts and annual budget.
• Significant experience within relevant finance disciplines.
• Strong Excel skills and data manipulation.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to translate technical accounting regulations into everyday language.
• Demonstrable effective influencing skills at a senior level.
• Significant understanding of financial control and risk.
• Excellent technical finance and accounting knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Partner with finance and operational teams to support efficiency targets.
• Analyse and consolidate data, manage efficiency reporting and provide assurance.
• Produce reports for key stakeholders.
• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement across Enhancements, OPEX and Renewals.

Skills

Excel & data manipulation

Power BI

Stakeholder management

Financial reporting

Data analysis

Education

CIMA/ACCA membership or equivalent

Tools

Power BI

Excel

Job description

Who We Are

Vacancy Details

Duration: Permanent

Salary: £43,588 - £53,167

Join Network Rail - Where People and Connections Matter

At Network Rail, we're dedicated to keeping passengers and freight moving safely and efficiently across the country. When you join us, you're not just part of a team - you're part of something that matters to millions. We believe that our people are at the heart of what we do, and every role plays a vital part in building a better, more connected railway.

We're committed to creating a diverse, inclusive workplace that reflects the communities we serve. We value flexibility and understand the importance of a healthy work-life balance. As a Disability Confident Leader, we'll do everything we can to accommodate any needs throughout the recruitment process. You can visit Evenbreaks Career Hive for advice on accessibility support.

If you're ready to make a real difference, we'd love to hear from you!

Some Of Our Great Benefits

• Flexible/hybrid working arrangements considered.
• Generous annual leave (28 days plus statutory days), with the option to buy/sell days.
• Discounts at stations with your Network Rail pass.
• Defined benefit pension scheme
• 75% subsidy on train tickets.
• Interest‑free travel loan for train and car park season tickets.
• Volunteer leave to make a positive impact.

Plus more....

About The Role

What does the average day look like?

An average day involves partnering with finance and operational teams across Network Rail to support the delivery of efficiency targets. This includes analysing and consolidating data, managing efficiency reporting, providing assurance and challenge on submissions, and producing reports for key stakeholders.

The role also focuses on identifying opportunities for continuous improvement, sharing best practice, and supporting wider efficiency initiatives across Enhancements, OPEX, and Renewals programmes.

A Little Bit About The Team

The Group Efficiencies team plays a vital role in helping Network Rail deliver value for money and demonstrate efficient use of public funding. As a small team of seven, they are responsible for managing efficiency reporting across the organisation, providing guidance and assurance on efficiency initiatives, and capturing and analysing reported savings.

The team works closely with stakeholders across Network Rail to share best practice, support continuous improvement, and help achieve key efficiency targets set out in the organisation's Delivery Plan.

Safety Vision

We encourage you to review our Safety Vision, as safety is an important part of the culture at Network Rail.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for a highly motivated and commercially minded finance professional with strong stakeholder management skills and a passion for driving efficiencies across large, complex organisations. The ideal candidate will have excellent analytical, financial reporting and data manipulation skills, with strong Excel capabilities and experience translating complex financial information into clear business insights.

You will be an effective communicator, confident in influencing senior stakeholders, and have a keen eye for detail with a focus on data quality, governance and assurance. Applicants should be qualified, or working towards qualification, with a recognised accounting body (CIMA/ACCA) or equivalent experience and bring solid experience in financial processes, budgeting, and business partnering. Experience with business analytics tools such as Power BI and an enthusiasm for continuous improvement are highly desirable, while rail industry experience is not essential.

Essential Criteria

• Demonstrate strong understanding of business needs and relevant application of accounting standards
• Membership (Or working towards a membership) of a relevant accounting body (CIMA/ACCA) or equivalent experience
• Expert knowledge and experience of creating and maintaining accounts and annual budget
• Significant experience within relevant finance disciplines
• Strong excel skills and use of data manipulation
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to interpret technical accounting regulations into everyday language
• Demonstrable effective influencing skills at a senior level
• Significant understanding of financial control and risk
• Excellent technical finance and accounting knowledge