Finance Business Partner

West Northamptonshire Council; West Midlands Combined Authority; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government council in the West Midlands is seeking a motivated Finance Business Partner to drive insights on temporary accommodation costs. The ideal candidate will have experience in management accounting, strong Excel skills, and a proactive approach to problem-solving. This position offers flexible working arrangements and generous benefits, including annual leave and pension schemes.

Benefits

Generous annual leave starting at 28 days

Local Government Pension Scheme

Employee discounts

Car Lease scheme

Ongoing training and development

Flexible working options

Qualifications

• Experience in management accounting or business partnering in any sector.
• Proven ability to create practical financial models.
• Strong analytical skills to interpret complex financial data.

Responsibilities

• Work closely with housing and operational teams to understand costs.
• Build and maintain financial models for decision support.
• Identify risks and help shape positive strategies.

Skills

Management accounting

Business partnering

Strong Excel skills

Financial modeling

Problem-solving

Interpersonal communication

Job description

Overview

Are you ready to take on a role where your financial expertise makes a real difference? We’re looking for a motivated and commercially minded Finance Business Partner to join our team, with a focus on housing and temporary accommodation. This opportunity is open to finance professionals from any sector including practice, industry or public service. What matters most is your drive, curiosity and willingness to take on a challenge. The rising demand for temporary accommodation is a significant and evolving challenge for councils. Costs are increasing, affordable housing is limited and budgets need to work harder than ever. In this role, you will help us understand the drivers behind these challenges, provide clear insights and shape strategies that protect both residents and resources. You’ll also be joining a supportive finance community where collaboration, learning and career development are encouraged.

Note: The following benefits and information reflect the role as described in the original posting.

Responsibilities

• Work closely with housing and operational teams to understand the true costs of temporary accommodation.
• Build and maintain financial models to test scenarios and support better decision making.
• Turn complex financial data into clear insights that colleagues and senior leaders can use with confidence.
• Identify risks, spot trends and help shape strategies that deliver positive outcomes.
• Act as a trusted partner who balances financial sustainability with community needs.

About you

• We welcome applications from all finance backgrounds. What matters is your motivation and ability to bring fresh thinking.
• Experienced in management accounting or business partnering in any sector.
• Strong Excel and modelling skills, with the ability to create practical, flexible tools.
• You enjoy working with people as much as with numbers, and you know how to turn complex financial data into conversations and insights that colleagues can act on.
• A proactive, problem-solving approach and the confidence to influence and challenge.
• A passion for using your skills to make a positive impact.

About us

We're a relatively new council, following one of the largest shake-ups in local government reform in recent history. We're continuing an exciting journey to deliver exceptional services for our residents, customers and communities. Our vision at West Northamptonshire Council is to make West Northants a great place to live, work, visit and thrive. We stand by this and work hard every day to make this a reality. Our corporate values, THRIVE (Trust, High Performance, Respect, Innovate and Empower), underpin everything we do and how we deliver services.

At West Northants Council, it’s about our people — a culture that supports ambition, new ideas, collaboration and real opportunities for career growth. When potential is unlocked, talent thrives. We offer flexible, hybrid working to help balance work and life, with options including full or part-time schedules, 9-day fortnights and other arrangements subject to business needs.

Benefits

• Generous annual leave entitlement starting at 28 days per year (29 days for senior managers, pro rata).
• Local Government Pension Scheme plus immediate life cover (3x salary) and ill-health protection.
• Employee discounts with local and national retailers, and access to a range of wellbeing and financial tools.
• Car Lease scheme and Employee Assistance Programme (Health Assured) for you and immediate family, 24/7 support.
• Ongoing training and development opportunities.
• Flexible working options to support work/life balance and hybrid working arrangements.