Finance Business Partner - Planning & Reporting

University of the West of England; Bristol; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading higher education institution in Bristol is looking for a Finance Business Partner to manage key financial operations. This role entails overseeing management accounting services, preparing year-end results, and collaborating with stakeholders. Ideal candidates will have a professional accounting qualification and strong analytical skills. The position offers a dynamic work environment, supportive of diversity and personal development, with opportunities to work partly remotely.

Benefits

Progressive pay rates

Generous annual leave

Career average pension schemes

Onsite nursery

Training and personal development opportunities

Qualifications

• Post-qualification experience is required.
• Ability to translate complex financial data into actionable insights.
• Track record of building successful stakeholder relationships.

Responsibilities

• Directly manage an Assistant Finance Business Partner.
• Lead the University monthly management accounting services.
• Prepare rolling 3-year student number planning.
• Prepare year-end financial results and collate the Annual Report.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives for the Finance team.

Skills

Professional accounting qualification (e.g., ACCA, CIMA, ACA)

Strong analytical skills

Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills

Excellent IT skills, particularly Excel and experience with Power BI

Education

Professional accounting qualification

Tools

Excel

Power BI

Job description

Are you ready to take your financial expertise to the next level? Join UWE Bristol, a dynamic and forward‑thinking institution, as we navigate the future of financial planning and business partnering. As a Finance Business Partner – Planning & Reporting, you will play a pivotal role managing the key financial operations for the University. Reporting directly to the Assistant Director – Financial Planning, Reporting and Business Partnering, you will work closely with key stakeholders across the University to prepare key financial reports and future plans.

Key responsibilities

• Direct line management of an Assistant Finance Business Partner – Planning & Reporting
• Lead and co‑coordinate University monthly management accounting services and associated forecasting
• Lead and co‑coordinate the preparation of the rolling 3‑year student number planning process to feed into the financial budgets as well as in‑year analysis and reporting for the monthly management accounts
• Preparation of the year‑end financial results, interaction with external auditors and collation of the Annual Report including financial statements
• Lead on continuous improvement initiatives for the Finance team

About You

We are seeking an ambitious and accomplished Finance Business Partner with a passion for collaboration and strategic impact. You will bring:

• A professional accounting qualification (e.g., ACCA, CIMA, ACA) and some post‑qualification experience
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate complex financial data into actionable insights
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with a track record of building successful stakeholder relationships
• Excellent IT skills – particularly Excel and some experience of Power BI and handling large data sets

Where is this role based?

This post is based at our lively Frenchay campus where we have invested in the latest facilities and resources to give both our staff and students access to everything they need to succeed.

Why UWE Bristol?

We are one of the largest providers of Higher Education in the South West with 38,000 students and 4,000 staff from right across the globe. Based in Bristol, one of the UK’s most exciting and forward‑thinking cities, we are regionally embedded and globally connected, with an established network of employer and academic partners.

We offer a wide range of employee benefits including progressive pay rates, generous annual leave and career average pension schemes as well as retail savings, onsite nursery and opportunities for training and personal development.

UWE Bristol recognises the power of a truly diverse university community. We are proud to be part of a vibrant, multicultural city that celebrates diversity. We’re always looking for talented people from all backgrounds to join us. Our people are our strength, and diversity enhances our creativity and leads to better decision‑making and problem‑solving. Bring your talent and ambition to our growing community and find yourself in a stimulating and supportive environment where you’ll thrive.

We particularly encourage applications from global majority candidates as we are currently under‑represented in this area of the organisation, however all appointments are made strictly on individual merit. As a Disability Confident employer, we welcome applications from those who identify as having a disability.

Further information

If you would like to speak to us to find out more about this role, please contact Claire Hargreaves by email: [e-mail]

The interviews are scheduled to take place at our Frenchay Campus w/c 26th January 2026.

This is a full‑time, permanent post working 37 hours per week. This post is available on a job‑share basis for applicants wishing to work part time.

UWE Bristol is a campus‑based University and it is vital to our success and the delivery of an outstanding experience for our students that our campuses are dynamic and vibrant places to learn and spend time. This role is therefore campus based for at least 3 days per week, with the opportunity to work from home on the remaining days.

To ensure fairness and equity all salary offers will be made in line with the University's salary assessment guidelines and will be based on your relevant skills and experience.

Right to Work in the UK

The University has a legal responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK. You will therefore be required to provide evidence of your right to work in the UK, please refer to the Home Office Right to Work Checklist for information on which documents are acceptable.

We may be able to sponsor qualifying candidates for this role under the Home Office Skilled Worker visa route. Please read our Skilled Worker Guidance to assess if you will be eligible. Please note that UWE Bristol does not cover any visa or health surcharge costs.

Advice to applicants

We’d love to hear from you – if you are excited about joining us at UWE please complete our application form as soon as possible.

Tell us about how your skills and experience relate to the requirements of this role by describing how you meet each of the essential and desirable criteria listed in the Person Specification section of the Job Description, and include specific examples wherever possible. Once we have completed shortlisting we will let you know the outcome of your application by email, so please check your inbox for updates.