Finance Business Partner

Thames Water Ltd; Reading; On-site; GBP 53,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave 26 days increasing to 30

Pension scheme (AON)

Performance-related pay

Health & wellbeing benefits

Job summary

Thames Water is seeking a Finance Business Partner to provide financial leadership across the Capital Programme. You will lead budgeting, forecasting and reporting, and partner with senior stakeholders to drive value and robust financial control.

You will translate complex data into clear insights and actively challenge delivery with programme sponsors. The role requires a qualified accountant, advanced Excel skills, and strong business partnering capabilities, with extensive experience in

Qualifications

• Qualified Accountant with CIMA, ACCA, ACA or equivalent.
• Strong business-partnering and leadership skills.
• Ability to translate complex financial information for senior management.
• Advanced Excel capability.
• Experience with budgeting, forecasting, management reporting and variance analysis.
• Track record of improving controls and reporting efficiency.

Responsibilities

• Own monthly capital expenditure reporting including analysis of actuals, commitments, forecast outturn, risks and variances.
• Lead annual budget and quarterly forecasts with stakeholders to ensure submissions are accurate and evidence-based.
• Provide clear insights and recommendations for senior management.
• Lead monthly review sessions with programme sponsors and test assumptions.
• Contribute to investment papers and ensure governance and financial implications are understood.
• Strengthen financial controls, forecasting accuracy and reporting efficiency; support capital accounting and cross-functional collaboration.

Skills

Financial analysis

Stakeholder management

Excel advanced

Budgeting & forecasting

Variance analysis

Business partnering

Education

CIMA/ACCA/ACA professional qualification

Tools

SAP

Job description

Finance Business Partner

Company: Thames Water

Salary: £52,580 to £68,000 a year

Hours: Full-time

Location: Reading, RG1 8DB

Job type: Permanent

Posting date: 30 Oct 2026

Closing date: 12 Nov 2026

Summary

This role will provide financial leadership, insight and constructive challenge across the Capital Programme and support effective investment decisions, robust forecasting and budgetary control, while partnering with senior stakeholders to improve financial and programme performance.

What you’ll be doing as a Finance Business Partner

• Own monthly capital expenditure reporting, including analysis of actual expenditure, commitments, forecast outturn, risks, efficiencies and key variances.
• Lead the annual budget and quarterly forecasting processes for the supported capital portfolio, working with the central portfolio office and business stakeholders to ensure submissions are accurate, complete and evidence-based.
• Translate complex financial information into clear insight and recommendations for senior management.
• Lead monthly review and challenge sessions with programme sponsors, testing assumptions, identifying corrective actions and supporting accountability for delivery.
• Provide financial input and constructive challenge for investment papers, portfolio reviews and change control decisions, ensuring affordability, governance requirements and financial implications are clearly understood.
• Strengthen financial controls, forecasting accuracy and reporting efficiency; support appropriate capital accounting treatment; and build effective cross-functional relationships that encourage shared learning and continuous improvement.

What you should bring to the role

• Qualified Accountant. (CIMA, ACCA, ACA or equivalent)
• Proactive, results-driven finance professional with strong business-partnering, leadership and communication skills.
• Ability to build credibility with stakeholders at all levels, explain complex information clearly and provide constructive challenge that improves decisions and outcomes.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Advanced Excel capability.
• Experience of budgeting, forecasting, management reporting and variance analysis.
• Track record of improving processes, controls and reporting efficiency.

Extra qualities that would be a great fit for our team

• Experience of using SAP or a comparable enterprise finance system.
• Experience of capital programme finance.
• Experience of working within the utilities, water or infrastructure sector.

What’s in it for you?

• Competitive salary of £52,580 - £68,000 per annum depending on experience.
• Annual Leave - 26 days holiday per year increasing to 30 with the length of service. (plus bank holidays)
• Performance-related pay plan directly linked to company performance measures and targets.
• Generous Pension Scheme through AON.
• Access to lots of benefits to help you take care of you and your family’s health and wellbeing, and your finances – from annual health MOTs and access to physiotherapy and counselling, to Cycle to Work schemes, shopping vouchers and life assurance.

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

About Disability Confident Disability Confident is a government scheme. It encourages employers to recruit and retain disabled people and those with long term health conditions.

Who are we?

We’re the UK’s largest water and wastewater company, with more than 16 million customers relying on us every day to supply water for their taps and to..

Learn more about our purpose and values

Working at Thames Water

Thames Water is a unique, rewarding, and diverse place to work, where every day you can make a difference, yet no day is the same. As part of our family, you’ll enjoy meaningful career opportunities, flexible working arrangements and excellent benefits.

If you’re looking for a sustainable and successful career where you can make a daily difference to millions of people’s lives while helping to protect the world of water for future generations, we’ll be here to support you every step of the way. Together, we can build a better future for our customers, our region, and our planet.

Real purpose, real support, real opportunities. Come and join the Thames Water family. Why choose us? Learn more.

We’re committed to being a great, diverse, and inclusive place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and want to ensure you feel supported throughout the recruitment process. If you need any adjustments, whether that’s extra time, accessible formats, or anything else just let us know, we’re here to help and support.

When a crisis happens, we all rally around to support our customers. As part of Team Thames, you’ll have the opportunity to sign up to support our customers on the frontline as an ambassador. Full training will be given for what is undoubtedly an incredibly rewarding experience. It’s also a great opportunity to learn more about our business and meet colleagues.