Finance Business Partnering Lead (P&L Ownership) | S4 | Procurement & Cost Management | Unity P[...]

Santander Bank; Milton Keynes; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial institution in Milton Keynes seeks a Finance Business Partnering Lead to own the P&L of a designated area. The role involves providing strategic financial insights, leading a team, and driving cost management initiatives. Candidates should have experience in senior finance roles with a strong grasp of budgeting and forecasting. This position offers competitive benefits and a hybrid working environment, fostering both personal and professional growth.

Benefits

30 days holiday plus bank holidays

£6,000 car allowance

Company-funded medical insurance

Flexible healthcare and mental health support

Volunteering opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience operating at a senior level in Finance, with P&L ownership.
• Proven track record of influencing decisions with strategic insights.
• Understanding of cost management, budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning.

Responsibilities

• Acting as CFO-style owner of the P&L for your business area.
• Leading a team of Finance Business Partners for high-quality analysis.
• Translating complex financial information into clear narratives.
• Driving effective cost management and partnering with internal stakeholders.

Skills

Strong financial skills

Analytical skills

Commercial skills

Effective communication

Leadership

Job description

The Procurement & Cost Management function plays a critical role in ensuring that our spend, investments and cost base align with our strategic goals, deliver sustainable value, and support operational excellence. It focuses on partnering the business, optimising cost, and shaping commercial decisions to drive long‑term profitability and resilience. By working closely with internal stakeholders, Procurement & Cost Management bridges strategic objectives and financial outcomes, ensuring that decisions on cost, investment and change directly contribute to business performance, innovation and sustainability.

THE DIFFERENCE YOU MAKE Santander UK is looking for a Finance Business Partnering Lead, based at Unity Place, to act as a CFO‑style leader for a defined business area. As the Finance Business Partnering Lead, you will own the full P&L and cost base for your area, leading a team of Finance Business Partners to provide forward‑looking insight, challenge and direction. Your goal is to shape decisions, anticipate risks and opportunities, and ensure that financial performance is clearly understood, well managed and aligned to the Bank's strategic priorities. You will use data, analysis and commercial judgement to tell the story behind the numbers – influencing senior stakeholders, supporting investment choices, and embedding a strong cost and performance culture. This is a highly strategic, outward‑facing role that goes well beyond reporting, playing a key part in driving sustainable profitability and growth across Santander UK. We're shaping the way we work through innovation, cutting‑edge technology, collaboration and the freedom to explore new ideas.

To succeed in this role, you will be responsible for:

Responsibilities

• Acting as CFO‑style owner of the P&L for your business area, providing clear insight, challenge and recommendations to improve performance and drive strategic outcomes.
• Leading and developing a team of Finance Business Partners to deliver high‑quality forward‑looking analysis, planning and decision support to senior stakeholders.
• Translating complex financial and cost information into clear, impactful narratives and options for ExCo members, Heads of Business Areas and Programme Leads.
• Driving effective cost management and commercial disciplines, partnering with Procurement, Central Finance and the business to optimise spend and support strategic change.

Qualifications & Experience

• Experience operating at a senior level in Finance, with proven responsibility for P&L ownership, performance management or senior business partnering.
• Demonstrable track record of providing strategic insight and challenge to senior stakeholders, influencing decisions and driving measurable financial outcomes over multiple years.
• Strong understanding of cost management, budgeting, forecasting and financial planning processes, ideally within Financial Services.
• Languages: English (Required)
• Hard Skills: Strong financial, analytical and commercial skills, with the ability to connect financial performance to strategic drivers and operational activity.
• Ability to explain complex financial concepts and scenarios in simple, clear language tailored to different audiences.
• Soft Skills: Proven ability to build trusted, influential relationships with senior stakeholders, acting as a critical friend who can both support and challenge.
• Confident leadership of teams through change, using data, insight and best practice to drive performance, continuous improvement and a strong cost‑conscious culture.

Benefits & Wellbeing

• Wellbeing that goes beyond work – we work with a range of wellbeing partners across our 4 pillars of wellbeing (physical, mental, social and financial) to give you access to a suite of apps, discounted gym and fitness access, weekly online classes, flexible healthcare and mental health support.
• Support for every life stage – from menopause and pregnancy to parenthood and beyond, with enhanced family leave, childcare options and tailored wellbeing support.
• Time to give back through volunteering opportunities that let you make a difference in the communities we serve.
• Global growth opportunities to shape your career, learn new skills and explore what's possible across our international network.
• 30 days’ holiday plus bank holidays, which increases to 31 days after 5 years service, with the option to purchase up to 5 contractual days per year.
• £6,000 car allowance per year.
• Company‑funded individual private medical insurance.
• Protection for you and your family, with company‑funded death‑in‑service benefit and income protection insurance, and the option to take advantage of discounted rates for additional life assurance and critical illness cover.
• Share in Santander’s success by saving or investing in our share plans.
• As a Santander UK employee, you can request staff versions of our products – such as Edge Current Accounts and Credit Cards with no fees – and access many other deals and discounts in Santander products and services.

Work Environment

We want our people to thrive – at work and at home – while delivering the best outcomes for our customers and supporting each other to grow. Our roles are site‑based with a hybrid working pattern, where colleagues are expected to attend the office at least 12 days per month (pro‑rata for part‑time roles).

Equal Opportunities

At Santander, we’re proud to be an inclusive organisation that provides equal opportunities for everyone – regardless of age, gender, disability, civil status, race, religion or sexual orientation.