Project - Finance Business Partner

Govia Thameslink Railway Ltd.; Greater London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Govia Thameslink Railway Ltd. seeks a Project Finance Business Partner to support investment programmes with robust budgets, forecasts and business cases. The role collaborates with project managers and delivery leads to enable value-for-money project execution while ensuring governance and reporting standards.

You will drive cost efficiency, provide insight for executive decision-making, and contribute to long-range planning and transformation initiatives across the rail network.

Qualifications

• Qualified ACCA/CIMA/ACA (or equivalent)
• Experience in a Finance Business Partnering or Project Finance role in a large, complex organisation
• Demonstrable experience supporting financial planning and delivery in capital or transformation projects
• Proven budgeting, forecasting, and business case development skills
• Experience in regulated, infrastructure, or public service environments is desirable

Responsibilities

• Deliver project finance planning and delivery support across the lifecycle from concept to post-implementation review.
• Provide financial control, governance and accruals management for funded and non-funded activity.
• Produce insight-led financial reporting to Exec and senior leaders; track actuals vs forecast at milestones.
• Act as an integrated business partner across Finance, Engineering, IT, Procurement and Operations to optimise project delivery.

Skills

Finance partnering

Budgeting

Forecasting

Cost governance

Stakeholder engagement

Education

ACCA / CIMA / ACA qualified

Job description

Project - Finance Business Partner (3756)

TheProject Finance Business Partner (FBP) plays a critical role in enabling the financial success, control, and delivery of GTR's investment programmes. As a core member of the finance team, this role is responsible for supporting project business case development, multi-year budget planning, cost governance, and benefits realisation.

Wearing three distinct “hats”, the postholder is responsible for:

1. Ensuring financial compliance and governance across all project budgets and reporting cycles
2. Partnering with project managers and delivery leads to enable effective, value-for-money project execution
3. Acting as a collaborative and strategic business partner, supporting decision-making, insight generation, and GTR's wider transformation agenda

Operating in a regulated and publicly accountable environment, the role ensures financial control while helping GTR to “spend wisely and work smarter,” by actively identifying efficiencies, supporting external reporting obligations, and championing a culture of cost consciousness and data-driven planning.

Duties to Include

Project Finance Planning & Delivery Support

• Partner with project managers, budget holders, and the Portfolio Office to develop robust budgets, forecasts, and business cases aligned to delivery milestones.
• Ensure financial plans are based on clear assumptions, realistic cost profiles, and benefit realisation phasing.
• Provide structured financial support across the full project lifecycle, from concept to post-implementation review.

Financial Control, Compliance & Governance

• Maintain oversight of project spend against approved budgets, ensuring accuracy, accountability, and visibility for stakeholders.
• Lead on accruals management, cost allocation, and financial coding for funded and non-funded activity.
• Support audit and external evidence requirements (e.g., DfT PBF submissions), ensuring compliance with public finance standards.
• Drive challenge and rigour to improve cost efficiency, tracking savings and risks.

Insight & Performance Analysis

• Deliver clear, insight-led financial reporting to Exec and senior leaders, highlighting risks, issues, and opportunities.
• Track actuals vs forecast at milestones and assess financial impact of delays or scope changes.
• Define and measure project KPIs and outcomes to support ongoing performance monitoring.

Integrated Business Partnering

• Act as a trusted partner across Finance, Engineering, IT, Procurement, and Operations to optimise project delivery and value.
• Contribute credible multi-year plans and forecasts into long-range planning and annual budget processes.
• Facilitate workshops and financial reviews to build literacy and strengthen delivery capability across non-finance teams.

Skills, knowledge & experience

• ACCA / CIMA / ACA qualified (or equivalent international accounting qualification)
• Experience in a Finance Business Partnering or Project Finance role within a large, complex organisation
• Demonstrable experience supporting financial planning and delivery in capital or transformation projects
• Proven experience in budgeting, forecasting, and business case development
• Experience working in regulated, infrastructure, or public service environments (e.g. rail, utilities, transport) is desirable

Please note that we reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier than the advertised closing date if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

“It was my brother’s suggestion to join the railway. He was already working in the industry and knew I had some university bills to pay off so told me to give it a go, get out of debt and see what I wanted to do next. After a while, it just felt like actually – this is exactly where I’m meant to be. I’m part of a great team and the on-board department as a whole are brilliant to work with. I feel at home here.”

Tonderai Matizha-Johnson
Area Operations Manager

“When I saw that GTR was advertising places for its apprenticeship scheme I looked into it straight away because I thought it was a great opportunity to learn whilst getting real life experience in a 9-5 job. I applied for a level three business administration apprenticeship and was thrilled to find out I had a place on the course! I was so excited that I didn’t even mind it was based 250 miles away from where I lived.”

“Working for GTR is very rewarding and fulfilling. You really feel like you're making a difference to customers, no matter what role you're in as at the end of the day they're the heart of our business. I’ve had lots of opportunities to explore other aspects of the business including supporting our station staff and gaining my Train Dispatch Licence which has been enriching for my experience here.”

“If you’ve always had an interest in rail, or maybe you’re just curious to find out what working in the railway might look like, GTR is the operator to go for. Not many companies do an official work experience program and this unique opportunity will give you a good grounding with varied activities to help you find the best place in the railway for you. It certainly did it for me.”

Nathaniel Owen
Station Manager

“I work as part of the Fleet Infrastructure team, which means ensuring our 18 Engineering locations operate safely and efficiently. We oversee all building and track maintenance works as well as various minor and major projects across the network.”

“I started in a small ticket office back in 1996 and have continued to work my way up ever since. A previous manager told me about a job he’d seen advertised for a trainer. ’d never considered a job in HR or mentoring before then, but he said I’d be perfect for it and I haven’t looked back since!”

Zoey Hudson
Head of Talent, Diversity and Inclusion

“Since April, I’ve helped to support our Kickstart Scheme. It’s been a really rewarding process to be part of because I know first‑hand how tough it can be to find work once you’re out of it.”

“I’m a Thameslink passenger host and team leader based at Luton station and I’m currently doing a Level 3 Supervisor apprenticeship so that I can improve my skills even further. I was hesitant to do the apprenticeship at first because of my age – I left school over 60 years ago without any qualifications! It’s been hard to get back into the routine of learning again.”

“It was my brother’s suggestion to join the railway. He was already working in the industry and knew I had some university bills to pay off so told me to give it a go, get out of debt and see what I wanted to do next. After a while, it just felt like actually – this is exactly where I’m meant to be. I’m part of a great team and the on-board department as a whole are brilliant to work with. I feel at home here.”

Tonderai Matizha-Johnson
Area Operations Manager

“When I saw that GTR was advertising places for its apprenticeship scheme I looked into it straight away because I thought it was a great opportunity to learn whilst getting real life experience in a 9-5 job. I applied for a level three business administration apprenticeship and was thrilled to find out I had a place on the course! I was so excited that I didn’t even mind it was based 250 miles away from where I lived.”

“Working for GTR is very rewarding and fulfilling. You really feel like you're making a difference to customers, no matter what role you're in as at the end of the day they're the heart of our business. I’ve had lots of opportunities to explore other aspects of the business including supporting our station staff and gaining my Train Dispatch Licence which has been enriching for my experience here.”

“If you’ve always had an interest in rail, or maybe you’re just curious to find out what working in the railway might look like, GTR is the operator to go for. Not many companies do an official work experience program and this unique opportunity will give you a good grounding with varied activities to help you find the best place in the railway for you. It certainly did it for me.”

Nathaniel Owen
Station Manager

“I work as part of the Fleet Infrastructure team, which means ensuring our 18 Engineering locations operate safely and efficiently. We oversee all building and track maintenance works as well as various minor and major projects across the network.”

“I started in a small ticket office back in 1996 and have continued to work my way up ever since. A previous manager told me about a job he’d seen advertised for a trainer. ’d never considered a job in HR or mentoring before then, but he said I’d be perfect for it and I haven’t looked back since!”

Zoey Hudson
Head of Talent, Diversity and Inclusion

“Since April, I’ve helped to support our Kickstart Scheme. It’s been a really rewarding process to be part of because I know first‑hand how tough it can be to find work once you’re out of it.”

“I’m a Thameslink passenger host and team leader based at Luton station and I’m currently doing a Level 3 Supervisor apprenticeship so that I can improve my skills even further. I was hesitant to do the apprenticeship at first because of my age – I left school over 60 years ago without any qualifications! It’s been hard to get back into the routine of learning again.”