Head of Financial Business Partnering (Fixed Term)

Sovereign Housing Association Limited; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

A housing association in London is seeking a Head of Financial Business Partnering to lead financial planning and management accounting processes. The role includes managing a team, providing insights to stakeholders, and driving improvements in budgeting and forecasting. Candidates should be qualified accountants with experience in management accounting and a strong understanding of financial processes. The position offers flexible working arrangements and excellent benefits.

Benefits

25 Days Holiday + Bank Holidays

Flexible benefits package

3 additional wellbeing days

Generous pension scheme

Private medical insurance options

Gym Membership discounts

Qualifications

• Experience in a similar senior role within management accounting and finance business partnering.
• Strong knowledge of budgeting, forecasting, and management account preparation.
• Track record of senior stakeholder management and collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Lead management reporting insights and adoption of agile reporting techniques.
• Drive annual budgeting cycle and improvements to process efficiency.
• Manage the Financial Business Partnering team with a focus on accountability and high performance.

Skills

Budgeting

Forecasting

Management Accounting

Stakeholder Management

Team Management

Data Analysis

IT Skills

Education

Qualified Accountant (ACA, CIMA, ACCA or equivalent)

Tools

Power BI

Microsoft Excel

Workday Accounting

Job description

The role

We're looking for a Head of Financial Business Partnering to join our Finance Business Partnering team at Sovereign Network Group (SNG) on a fixed term contract basis for 12 months. In this role, you'll lead SNG's London based financial planning, forecasting and management accounting processes, covering Income & Expenditure, Balance sheet and Cashflow.

Based from our Wembley office, you'll combine home and office working to ensure a positive work life balance. There will be some travel with this role to our Basingstoke office, so you should be happy to travel and have access to transport.

The role

Reporting to the Finance Business Partnering Director, you'll manage a team of business partners and management accountants, to lead the management accounting processes to support month end and the preparation of insights, across the London region.

Using internal and external data, and working across the wider finance team, you'll provide timely, accurate and forward-looking business insights to internal and external stakeholders, as well as providing sound financial advice across SNG. Key responsibilities also include:

• Leading on all management reporting (variance vs budget) insights and adopting agile reporting and analysis techniques, using tools such as Power BI, to ensure key messages are clearly presented to SNG's Executive team and Board
• Developing and leading a rolling 12 month forecast process, which provides timely transparency on key drivers, and key risks and opportunities for SNG's Executive Board
• Driving the annual budgeting cycle for SNG, leveraging the rolling forecast outcomes and delivering improvements to process efficiency and effectiveness
• Supporting Finance Business Partners with developing joined up, accessible data sources to help provide timely and actionable insights
• Leading finance system developments and processes that ensure information is accurate, timely and accessible as part of the wider Finance Transformation programme, particularly the Workday Program
• Managing the Financial Business Partnering team with a focus on articulating a clear vision, providing direction, and promoting a culture of accountability, high performance, and continuous improvement

What we're looking for

You'll be a Qualified Accountant (ACA, CIMA, ACCA or equivalent post graduate accounting qualification) with experience in a similar senior role within management accounting and finance business partnering in a fast paced, commercial organisation. You'll also have:

• Strong, clear working knowledge of processes and controls surrounding budgeting, forecasting and management account preparation, including detailed report writing and analysis
• Strong, clear working knowledge of processes, controls and techniques surrounding financial investment appraisals
• Demonstrable track record of senior stakeholder management and collaboration, including working with Executive Directors and Board sub-committees
• Experience of developing and managing a small team in a change environment
• Strong numeracy and IT skills including Microsoft Word and Excel
• Previous experience in a senior accounting role for a housing association or for a property services firm would be highly advantageous
• Knowledge of Sun and Workday Accounting system, and NEC job costing system would be advantageous

Your Benefits

We have some great benefits at SNG, including:

• 25 Days Holiday + Bank Holidays (with an extra day every year up to 30 days)
• Chance to buy or sell holiday as part of our flexible benefits package
• 3 additional wellbeing days and 2 paid volunteering days
• Generous matched pension scheme up to 12% and Life cover at 4x salary
• Options for private medical insurance, dental insurance and critical illness cover
• Wellbeing discounts, including Gym Memberships and access to a 24/7 virtual GP service

At Sovereign Network Group, we are passionate about inclusion for all and creating a workplace where everyone can thrive. We are committed to our Equality Diversity and Inclusion strategy and believe that you can truly be yourself at SNG. Take a look at our careers site to learn more about us and our values.

If you would like the opportunity to make a real impact within our changing and growing organisation, we would love to hear from you!