Finance Business Partner

Robert Walters UK; Stevenage; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading organisation in Stevenage is seeking a Finance Business Partner to support Programmes Finance Management and ensure impactful financial information delivery. Responsibilities include managing long-term contracts, providing functional reporting, and collaborating across teams. Candidates should hold relevant accountancy qualifications and possess strong analytical abilities, along with proficiency in Excel and familiarity with enterprise finance systems. This role presents an opportunity to make a meaningful impact within a supportive team.

Qualifications

• Expect to manage financial period closures and long-term contract finances.
• Ability to present financial information at all levels.
• Ongoing professional development in best practices is essential.

Responsibilities

• Collaborating across teams for financial decision-making.
• Managing complex contracts and preparing financial forecasts.
• Providing functional reporting and attending project reviews.

Skills

Support program finance management

Strong analytical skills

Proficiency in Excel

Interpersonal skills

Ability to communicate effectively

Education

Recognised accountancy qualification (ACA/ACCA/CIMA)

Tools

SAP

BPC

Job description

A leading organisation in Stevenage is seeking a Finance Business Partner to join its Operations Finance team, offering you the chance to make a meaningful impact on Programmes Finance Management for Centres of Excellence and Functional Finances. This role provides an excellent opportunity to work within a small, supportive team that has significant influence across the wider business community.

What you’ll do:

As a Finance Business Partner based in Stevenage, you will play a pivotal role in supporting both Programmes Finance Management for Centres of Excellence and the management of Functional Finances. Your daily activities will involve collaborating with diverse teams across multi‑national projects to ensure the delivery of impactful financial information that supports strategic decision‑making. You will be responsible for managing complex long‑term contracts, coordinating business planning processes for budgets and forecasts, maintaining productive relationships with European colleagues for intercompany contract control, and providing detailed functional reporting. By attending monthly project reviews and supporting business improvement initiatives – including process definition and system testing – you will help drive continuous improvement throughout the finance function. Your ability to build strong connections with both finance and non‑finance colleagues will be essential in achieving success in this role.

• Partner closely with Centres of Excellence Programme teams to deliver and control key performance indicators (KPIs), reporting actuals and forecasts against financial targets while identifying risks and opportunities.
• Manage the financial aspects of long‑term contracts by preparing bi‑annual Estimates at Completion (EAC), overseeing revenue and margin trading, ensuring compliance with IFRS15 and other reporting standards, handling intercompany trading as well as cash and foreign exchange management.
• Attend and coordinate monthly project reviews where you will review data thoroughly, challenge assumptions constructively, and analyse variances compared to previous months.
• Coordinate and implement business planning processes for budgets and long‑term plans related to the contracts under your management.
• Provide functional reporting to operational leaders by analysing headcount data, non‑payroll expenses, capital investments, and other functional spend areas.
• Lead coordination of functional business planning activities including budgeting exercises for various departments.
• Maintain strong international relationships with European colleagues to facilitate intercompany contract control, financial reporting accuracy, and successful programme delivery.
• Support the Operations Finance Manager in day‑to‑day activities by assisting with routine tasks and ad‑hoc requests as needed.
• Contribute actively to business improvement initiatives by helping define new business processes and testing new financial systems for greater efficiency.
• Deputise for the Operations Finance Manager in their functional operations responsibilities when required.

What you bring:

To excel as a Finance Business Partner in this organisation’s Operations Finance team, your background should include recognised accountancy qualifications or progress towards them (ACA/ACCA/CIMA). Your experience managing financial period closures alongside long‑term contract finances will enable you to provide valuable insights into programme performance. Proficiency in Excel is essential for handling complex data analysis tasks efficiently. Your collaborative approach will help foster positive relationships across finance teams as well as operational departments. Familiarity with enterprise finance systems such as SAP or BPC will support your ability to navigate organisational processes smoothly. Strong analytical abilities combined with clear communication skills are vital for presenting financial information persuasively at all levels. A commitment to ongoing professional development ensures you remain knowledgeable about best practices within the industry. Experience working on international projects or maintaining cross‑border relationships will further enhance your effectiveness in this role.

• Qualified or finalist accountant holding ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent certification is required for this position.
• Proven experience in financial period closures as well as long‑term contract financial management is highly desirable.
• Intermediate proficiency in Excel is necessary; you should be comfortable manipulating large datasets efficiently.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively within a team environment while also being dependable when working independently.
• Excellent interpersonal skills enabling you to build productive relationships with both finance professionals and non‑finance stakeholders while maintaining integrity.
• Experience using Enterprise Finance systems such as SAP, BPC or SAC would be highly beneficial but not mandatory.
• Strong analytical skills allowing you to interpret complex data sets accurately and present findings clearly.
• Ability to communicate effectively across different levels of the organisation including senior operational leaders.
• Commitment to continuous learning demonstrated through engagement with training opportunities or professional development activities.
• Understanding of international finance practices gained through exposure to multi‑national projects or cross‑border collaborations.