Finance Business Partner - Water

Southern Water; Worthing; On-site; GBP 39,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Southern Water is seeking a Finance Business Partner (Water) to join on a hybrid basis in the UK. The role supports the water business with strategic and operational decision making through value-adding insights, complex financial analyses, and strong stakeholder relationships.

The position is permanent, 37 hours per week, with a salary up to £65,000 depending on skills and experience. The role requires building robust financial controls, leading reporting, and advising on annual plans and

Qualifications

• Strong financial analysis and modelling skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management.

Responsibilities

• Perform complex financial analyses including trend analysis and financial modelling, providing cost visibility and ownership.
• Report on key performance indicators to drive cost reductions and identify risks and opportunities.
• Collect budget, quarterly and midyear forecasts and advise on planning assumptions and trade-offs.
• Lead the monthly business review process and prepare presentations with recommendations to senior management.
• Provide financial governance and support for change initiatives and budgets across projects.
• Develop forecasting techniques to evaluate contract status and ensure compliance with requirements.
• Forecast cash flow, sales, budgets and expenses to meet business needs.

Job description

Closing Date 2026-09-11

Job Title: Finance Business Partner (Water)

Location: Durrington (West Sussex) or Falmer (East Sussex) -Hybrid (2 days p/w)

Contract Type: Permanent

Hours: 37, Monday to Friday

Salary: up to £65,000, depending on skills and experience

There has never been a more important time to join Southern Water. As we move through AMP8, we are delivering one of the most ambitious capital investment programmes in the industry, focused on improving environmental performance, service resilience and long-term affordability for customers.

About the role

As Finance Business Partner you will work alongside our water business, supporting and advising on their strategic and operational decision making through value adding insights that drive better business performance. You will perform complex financial analysis to interpret, explain and drive performance within this business unit. You will need to build strong stakeholder relationships and be confident in driving business insight and adding value to the business. You will be both self‑sufficient and able to work autonomously.

What you will be responsible for

• Perform complex financial analyses including trend analysis and financial modelling, providing cost visibility and ownership.
• Report on key performance indicators to drive cost reductions across the business, thereby identifying risks, errors, problems and improvement opportunities.
• Collect budget, quarterly and midyear forecasts and other financial information. Advice on key business planning assumptions, trade-offs and opportunities. Provide sign off and approval on annual plans and forecasts.
• Lead the financial monthly business review process and prepare presentations with recommendations to senior management and corporate office.
• Use the services of Corporate, provide financial governance and management of change initiatives. Provide budget assistance to multiple projects or large programs; assess circumstances and recommend appropriate course of action.
• Develop financial controls and forecasting techniques to evaluate contract/program status and ensure compliance with government and customer requirements.
• Forecast accurate and timely cash flow projections, sales projections, budget projections, and expense projections to ensure that business needs are met.

What you’ll bring to the role

• Able to demonstrate strong business acumen and excellent communication and presentation skills to ensure credibility with senior management.
• You will have strong integrity, organisational and analytical skills.
• You will be an overachiever, used to coping with challenging projects, adapting to changing environment, under high pressure, short timings and in full autonomy.
• Proven ability to work with the business to understand and interpret the practical business implications of financial data and the ability to drive change and build vision based on this.
• Able to demonstrate strong leadership skills, in particular: (i) relationship‑building, (ii) ability to influence, and (iii) judgement.
• Be fully qualified (or at final stages)

Southern Water is at the forefront of transforming Britain's water industry, investing significantly to enhance resilience, sustainability, and service excellence. With £7.8bn planned investment for 2025-30, this is an unparalleled opportunity to join a business committed to delivering a generational shift in the way water services are managed.

You will be joining at a time of significant change, working alongside a highly skilled leadership team with a clear vision for the future. We offer an environment where senior professionals can make a meaningful impact, influence major strategic decisions, and drive long-term value creation.

"At Southern Water, we believe diverse perspectives drive innovation. If you're passionate about making a positive impact and think you can bring value to our team, we'd love to hear from you-even if you don't tick every box. Your unique skills and experiences could be exactly what we need."

Our Commitment to Diversity

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, identities, and experiences. We do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, or any other protected characteristic. If you need reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know.

Additional information

In line with Southern Water's security requirements, successful candidates will be required to provide evidence of their identity, eligibility to work in the UK, criminal record check (DBS) and verification of their employment and/or education history for the past three years.

Appointment to this role is subject to the successful completion of all preemployment checks, including security vetting.

Please note that if a candidate does not meet the required security standards or fails to pass the vetting process, Southern Water reserves the right to withdraw the offer of employment. Some positions may also require higher levels of security vetting, which may involve providing additional documentation.

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