Programme Finance Business Partner

Ocean Infinity; Southampton; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Ocean Infinity seeks a Programme Finance Business Partner to lead the financial delivery of complex, multi-currency programmes and provide financial leadership, commercial insight and strategic challenge across high-value services and contracts. You will ensure that programme performance is understood, governed, and optimised.

The role involves partnering with Programme Director, Contract Manager and Project Managers as the financial authority for programme reporting, investment decisions and

Qualifications

• Qualified or part-qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, or equivalent).
• Experience in complex, regulated environments advantageous (Maritime/Defence).
• Able to challenge senior stakeholders and translate financial information for non-finance audiences.

Responsibilities

• Own the Programme P&L and multi-currency reporting.
• Translate financial data into actionable commercial insight.
• Advise programme leaders and represent financial matters in customer discussions.
• Lead budgeting, forecasting and cash-flow management with forward visibility.
• Track KPIs and contractual performance to link metrics with financial outcomes.

Skills

Commercial acumen

Analytical thinking

Stakeholder management

Financial modelling

Communication skills

Education

ACA/ACCA or equivalent

Job description

We are looking for a Programme Finance Business Partner to take a leading role in the financial delivery of complex, multi-currency programmes. You will provide financial leadership, commercial insight, and strategic challenge across high-value services and contracts, ensuring that programme performance is understood, governed, and optimised.

This position works in close partnership with programme leadership — including the Programme Director, Contract Manager, and Project Managers — acting as the financial authority for programme reporting, investment decisions, and customer-facing financial matters. You will be the key link between programme teams, business unit leadership, and Group Finance.

The role is suited to an experienced finance professional with strong analytical depth, commercial judgement, and the confidence to influence senior stakeholders in a fast-paced, highly regulated environment.

What you will be doing:

• Lead programme financial performance by owning the Programme P&L and delivering accurate, timely, multi-currency reporting
• Translate financial data into actionable insight that supports operational decision-making and strengths commercial outcomes
• Partner with internal and external stakeholders to advise programme leaders and represent the company in customer-facing financial discussions
• Deliver budgeting, forecasting, and cash-flow management with strong forward visibility and alignment to Group targets
• Track KPIs and contractual performance to ensure operational metrics are linked to financial outcomes and emerging risks or opportunities are identified early
• Support business cases and commercial changes by contributing to investment decisions, re-bids, extensions, and contract negotiations
• Ensure governance, compliance, and secure reporting through robust financial controls, adherence to reporting standards, and disciplined information flow
• Drive continuous improvement and long-range planning

Who you are:

• Qualified or part-qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, or equivalent) with strong technical grounding
• Experienced finance business partner with a background in complex, regulated environments (Maritime or Defence advantageous)
• Familiar with defence governance and customer-specific constraints
• Commercially minded and analytical, strong modelling capability and ability to extract insight from data
• Confident challenging senior stakeholders and navigating ambiguity
• Hands-on, resilient, and delivery-focused
• Excellent communicator able to translate financial information for finance and non-finance audiences
• High integrity and sound judgement with strong discretion in handling sensitive information
• Collaborative and self-driven, comfortable in a high-growth, fast-paced environment
• Aligned with our company values and culture

Given the nature of the work, this role requires you to obtain and maintain the appropriate level of UK national security clearance. You must be willing and able to undergo the necessary security vetting process, and continued employment in the role may be subject to maintaining the required clearance. Security vetting will be conducted in accordance with the requirements and standards set by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV). Further information on UK security clearance levels, eligibility, and the vetting process can be found on the UK Government website: United Kingdom Security Vetting: Applicant