Finance Business Partner (12 Month Ftc)

Smiths Group; Greater London; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Smiths Group is seeking a commercially minded Finance Business Partner to join the London finance team. You will partner with senior leaders across Group Functions, delivering high-quality reporting, planning, forecasting and analysis to support decisions and drive performance.

Key responsibilities include owning management reporting, variance analysis, budgeting, and developing robust financial models while ensuring strong governance and TSA oversight.

Qualifications

• Fully qualified accountant (ACA, CIMA or equivalent).
• Experience as Finance Business Partner in a large international organisation.
• Experience supporting corporate or functional cost centres (e.g. Legal, Finance, HR).

Responsibilities

• Partner with senior stakeholders across Group Functions to provide dedicated finance support.
• Deliver meaningful financial insight, challenge and recommendations for decision-making and cost optimisation.
• Own monthly management reporting with accuracy and timeliness.

Skills

Financial analysis

Advanced Excel

Stakeholder management

Data translation

Hands-on, independent work

Education

ACA/CIMA or equivalent

Tools

ERP systems

Planning systems

Job description

We are seeking a commercially minded and proactive Finance Business Partner to join our Finance team in London, reporting directly to the Director of Finance. This pivotal role will partner with senior leaders across Group Functions, providing dedicated financial support to a corporate function such as Legal, Finance, HR or IT. The successful candidate will deliver high-quality financial reporting, planning, forecasting and analysis, providing clear insight and constructive challenge to support effective decision‑making and drive business performance. Operating within a complex corporate environment, the role requires a hands‑on and dependable individual who can maintain strong financial governance, oversee the financial management of Transitional Service Agreements (TSAs), and work collaboratively with stakeholders, Shared Services teams and junior colleagues to ensure the delivery of accurate, timely and value‑adding financial information

Responsibilities

Business Partnering & Performance

• Partner with senior stakeholders across Group Functions, providing dedicated finance support to a corporate function (e.g. Legal, Finance, HR or IT).
• Deliver meaningful financial insight, challenge and recommendations to support decision‑making, business performance and cost optimisation initiatives.
• Own monthly management reporting, ensuring accuracy, timeliness and continuous improvement.
• Provide insightful variance analysis, highlighting key risks, opportunities and performance drivers.
• Review outputs from junior team members and Shared Services teams, ensuring consistency and quality, and present findings to senior stakeholders.
• Lead budgeting and forecasting activities for supported functions.
• Develop robust financial models and scenarios, ensuring alignment between financial plans and business priorities.
• Own the financial governance, administration and performance reporting of Transitional Service Agreements (TSAs).
• Monitor TSA costs, recoveries, budgets and forecasts, maintaining strong controls and governance.
• Provide clear visibility of TSA performance, risks and opportunities while coordinating with internal and external stakeholders.
• Maintain a strong financial control environment, ensuring compliance with policies and governance requirements.
• Support audit activities and manage key governance frameworks, including delegated authorities.
• Provide guidance and mentoring to junior team members.
• Partner with Shared Service teams to ensure the delivery of accurate, high‑quality financial information and drive continuous improvement.

Process Improvement & Projects

• Identify and implement improvements to financial processes, systems and reporting.
• Support finance transformation initiatives and contribute to ad hoc projects, analysis and business priorities.

Qualifications

• Fully qualified accountant (ACA, CIMA or equivalent)

Experience

• Experience operating as a Finance Business Partner in a large, international organisation
• Experience supporting corporate or functional cost centres (e.g. Legal, Finance, HR) would be advantageous

Technical & Analytical Skills

• Strong technical accounting and financial analysis capability
• Advanced Excel skills; ERP and planning systems experience advantageous
• Proven ability to translate complex data into clear insights

Business Partnering & Communication

• Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence and challenge appropriately
• Clear and confident communication style
• Highly credible, reliable and able to operate independently
• Experience mentoring or supporting junior team members
• Proven ability to work effectively with Shared Service teams

Collaborative approach with focus on delivery and continuous improvement

Diversity & Inclusion:

We believe that different perspectives and backgrounds are what make a company flourish. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, economic status, disability, age, or any other legally protected characteristics. We are proud to be an inclusive company with values grounded in equality and ethics, where we celebrate, support, and embrace diversity.

At no time during the hiring process will Smiths Detection, Smiths Group, nor any of our recruitment partners ever request payment to enable participation – including, but not limited to, interviews or testing. Avoid fraudulent requests by applying jobs directly through our career’s website ( Careers - Smiths Group plc )

Finance Business Partner (12 Month FTC) • London, England, United Kingdom