Lead Finance Business Partner

HFG; City Of London; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A global financial services organisation seeks a Lead Business Partner to enhance expense management and financial performance. The role involves leading a finance team, partnering with executives, and implementing strategies for cost efficiency. Strong financial leadership and communication skills are essential. The ideal candidate will be a qualified accountant with experience in complex organizations.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in business partnering roles within large, complex organisations.
• Strong understanding of expense management and financial planning.
• Exceptional communication skills with ability to present financial data.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of finance professionals.
• Implement expense management strategies to drive cost savings.
• Analyse spending patterns and forecast trends.

Skills

Financial analysis

Leadership

Strategic communication

Technology literacy

Education

Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent)

Tools

Performance dashboards

Job description

Are you a strategic finance leader ready to make a measurable impact on cost efficiency and financial performance? We're looking for a Lead Business Partner to shape and drive expense management strategy across a global financial services organisation.

This is a high-profile role within the Financial Performance team, responsible for optimising investment and cost alignment with strategic goals. You'll lead a talented team, partner with senior executives, and influence key business decisions across multiple divisions.

As the Lead Business Partner - Expenses, you will:

• Lead and develop a team of finance professionals, fostering a culture of empowerment, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Partner closely with executive management, underwriting teams, and support functions to provide strategic financial insight.
• Design and implement comprehensive expense management strategies that improve efficiency and drive cost savings.
• Analyse spending patterns, forecast trends, and identify opportunities for operational improvement.
• Lead the annual and medium-term expense planning process, ensuring alignment with wider financial and strategic objectives.
• Champion digital transformation by enhancing decision-support tools and leveraging technology to deliver actionable insights.
• Represent Finance across committees and forums, communicating performance and strategy through compelling storytelling and visualisation.

You’ll bring strong financial and leadership skills, along with the ability to influence at all levels of a complex organisation.

Essential qualifications and experience:

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).
• Proven experience in business partnering roles within large, complex organisations, namely banking or other complex financial service organisations.
• Strong understanding of expense management, financial planning, revenue cycles and forecasting processes.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills with the ability to turn data into actionable business insight.
• Strong technology literacy, with the ability to champion digital tools and performance dashboards.
• Demonstrated leadership and coaching skills, with a commitment to developing others.