Senior Finance Business Partner

Proftech Talent; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 61,000 - 93,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial services organization is seeking a Senior Finance Business Partner to drive financial performance and support decision-making across key directorates. The role involves championing accountability, managing budgets, and guiding a finance team. Candidates should be fully qualified accountants with a proven track record in complex organizations, expertise in financial governance, and the ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders. Benefits include a competitive pension scheme and a focus on professional development.

Benefits

Competitive pension scheme

Cash allowance for benefits

Core company funded benefits

25 days annual leave plus public holidays

Access to Employee Assistance Program

Qualifications

• Proven track record as a qualified accountant within complex organizations.
• Strong understanding of government accounting rules and compliance.
• Knowledge of financial systems and ability to oversee robust analyses.

Responsibilities

• Lead Directorate's contribution to Government-wide Spending Review.
• Champion a culture of cost control and productivity.
• Provide clear, actionable insights to senior leaders.
• Oversee month-end financial processes and account preparation.
• Develop and coach business finance team members.

Skills

Clear Communicator

Stakeholder Engagement

Influencing & Impact

Analytical Forecasting

Technical Expertise

Financial Governance

Team Leadership

Education

Fully qualified accountant

Tools

ERP systems

data analytics tools

advanced Excel modelling

Job description

Senior Finance Business Partner

As a Senior Finance Business Partner, you'll play a key role in shaping financial performance across a range of directorates. You'll champion accountability, lead on cost control initiatives, and provide strategic financial insight to support effective decision‑making. Where applicable, you'll guide and develop a team, ensuring they deliver the highest standard of financial support and add real value to the organisation.

Skills

• Clear Communicator: Able to simplify complex financial concepts for non‑finance colleagues while ensuring compliance with Managing Public Money.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Build trust and consensus with internal and external stakeholders, including Executive teams.
• Influencing & Impact: Shape and guide key strategic decisions through evidence‑based insight.
• Analytical Forecasting: Critically review and challenge forecasts for affordability, value for money, and deliverability.
• Technical Expertise: Proficient with ERP systems, data analytics tools, and advanced Excel modelling.
• Financial Governance: Maintain strong financial controls across high‑value programmes and projects.
• Team Leadership: Lead and motivate teams, managing workloads and resolving issues within demanding deadlines.

Knowledge

• Professional Accounting: Fully qualified accountant with experience in complex, fast‑moving environments.
• Government Frameworks: Strong understanding of government accounting rules (DEL/AME) and compliance within delegated authorities.
• Systems & Processes: Knowledge of financial systems, with the ability to design and oversee robust off‑system analyses.
• Commercial Awareness: Sound appreciation of commercial drivers and their impact on financial decision‑making.

Experience

• Complex Organisations: Proven track record as a qualified accountant within large, multifaceted organisations or projects.
• Budgeting & Forecasting: Skilled in activity‑based budgeting and annual business planning within Spending Review constraints.
• Matrix Environments: Experience working within matrix structures, including large‑scale infrastructure projects.
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration: Partner effectively with planning, procurement, contract management, and HR to optimise resource planning.
• Team Leadership & Oversight: Managed finance business partners and project accountants, providing oversight of programme teams with budgets approaching 1bn annually.

Details

• Salary: 61, 622 - 92, 400
• Working Hours: Full Time, Monday to Friday
• Location: Hybrid/Birmingham
• Duration: Permanent

Role of Senior Finance Business Partner

• Lead the Directorate's contribution to the Government‑wide Spending Review, working closely with senior executives, the central finance team, and the parent Department.
• Champion a culture of cost control and productivity, ensuring alignment with key agreements and business cases.
• Support senior leaders in managing budgets in line with HM Treasury and Government Finance standards, driving accountability and performance.
• Build and manage effective relationships with a wide range of stakeholders with differing priorities.
• Drive performance improvement and productivity initiatives across the Directorate.
• Interpret management reports and present clear, actionable insights to senior leaders and the parent Department.
• Oversee month‑end financial processes, including account preparation, variance analysis, and report reviews.
• Lead the annual business planning and budgeting process in collaboration with senior executives and finance teams.
• Partner with senior leaders to prepare quarterly re‑forecasts for submission to the Executive.
• Review and challenge funding requests to ensure value for money, affordability, and compliance with HM Treasury guidance.
• Manage cash flow submissions to the Department for Transport (DfT) and oversee foreign exchange hedging activities.
• Identify, design, and implement process improvements to enhance project delivery.
• Ensure consistent use of reporting methods and financial processes across finance teams.
• Provide proactive business partnering, challenging forecasts and variances and recommending corrective actions.
• Develop, coach, and mentor business finance team members to increase capability and impact.
• Share best practices with the wider finance community and contribute to cross‑functional initiatives as required.

Benefits of working as a Senior Finance Business Partner

• a competitive pension scheme, with up to 12 per cent employer contributions
• a starting salary that reflects your skills and experience
• a cash allowance in lieu of benefits, which means you can choose which benefits are right for you and your family
• core company funded benefits such as life assurance, income protection and health cash plan
• 25 days annual leave plus public holidays
• access to tax‑efficient voluntary benefits scheme & retail, health, leisure, and travel offers
• access to an Employee Assistance Program
• financial and health well‑being programmes