Senior Finance Business Partner
South West Water Limited
A complete application in a minute
Tailored resume and cover letter, ready to send.
Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
South West Water Limited is seeking a Senior Finance Business Partner for the Wastewater division. You will act as the trusted financial adviser to directors and senior leaders, owning budgeting, forecasting and long-term planning to shape performance and governance across the business.
An experienced, fully qualified accountant will partner with operational teams, building robust models, delivering insightful reporting and robust financial governance in a regulated, asset-intensive environment.
Qualifications
- Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).
- Experience managing large budgets and multiple cost centres.
- Experience partnering with senior leadership teams.
- Forecasting, budgeting and financial planning processes.
- Identifying and delivering cost-saving opportunities.
- Strong stakeholder management.
Responsibilities
- Partner with directors and senior operational leaders to drive financial performance and deliver targets.
- Develop, own and improve budgeting, forecasting and long-term planning processes.
- Create driver-based financial models to support decisions.
- Produce high-quality management information, financial analysis and performance reporting.
- Deliver monthly commentary for Executive and Board audiences.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
Powered by Water, Driven by Purpose
South West Water keeps the South West flowing with safe, reliable drinking water and wastewater services across some of the UK’s most stunning landscapes.
We’re proud to be part of Pennon Group, a leader in the UK water sector, working towards a greener future. Our goals? As well as lowering our carbon footprint, we’re working with partners to plant 300,000 trees, restore peatlands and supporting farmers and landowners to improve water quality and wildlife.
Whether you’re starting out or seeking a new challenge, our scale and ambition create opportunities for you to shape your own career.
Ready to make a splash? Join our team today.
Location: Exeter
Salary: £60,000- £70,000 + company car or car allowance + bonus + excellent benefits package
Contract: Permanent, full time
We're looking for an exceptional Senior Finance Business Partner to become the trusted financial advisor to our Wastewater business. This is a highly visible role where you'll work directly with directors and senior operational leaders, driving financial performance, influencing strategic decisions and ensuring the successful delivery of ambitious business objectives.
As the subject matter expert for Wastewater financial performance and planning, you'll own the budgeting and forecasting process, provide meaningful financial insight and help operational teams translate complex financial information into clear, actionable decisions. You'll challenge, support and influence stakeholders at all levels, ensuring performance targets are met while maintaining strong financial governance and control.
This is a fantastic opportunity for a commercially minded, qualified accountant who enjoys partnering with the business, leading through influence and making a tangible impact on organisational performance.
As Senior Finance Business Partner, you will:
Partner with directors and senior operational leaders to drive financial performance and deliver key business targets.
Influence and challenge stakeholders to improve cost performance, efficiency and value creation.
Develop, own and continually improve budgeting, forecasting and long-term planning processes.
Create and maintain robust driver-based financial models that support informed decision making.
Produce high-quality management information, financial analysis and performance reporting.
Deliver clear, insightful monthly commentary for Executive and Board audiences.
Identify financial risks and opportunities, ensuring proactive actions are taken across the planning horizon.
Ensure appropriate financial controls, governance and accounting treatments are in place.
Collaborate closely with FP&A teams to enhance systems, reporting capability, data quality and business insight.
Support external and internal audit requirements through timely and accurate information provision.
Build strong relationships across finance and operations, becoming the go-to financial expert within your business area.
Significant experience managing large-scale budgets and multiple cost centres.
Proven success partnering with operational and senior leadership teams.
Experience managing complex forecasting, budgeting and financial planning processes.
Demonstrable track record of identifying and delivering cost-saving opportunities and operational efficiencies.
Experience influencing decision-making through financial insight and commercial analysis.
Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to challenge constructively and build credibility quickly.
Outstanding analytical and problem-solving abilities.
Strong financial modelling, forecasting and variance analysis experience.
Ability to interpret large and complex data sets and translate findings into clear business recommendations.
Excellent commercial awareness and business acumen.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines within a complex matrix environment.
Strong communication skills with the ability to explain financial concepts to non-finance audiences.
Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).
Advanced Excel skills.
Experience using Business Intelligence and reporting tools such as Power BI or similar platforms.
Experience working within the utilities sector or another regulated industry environment.
Understanding of regulatory frameworks and the financial challenges associated with operating within a regulated business.
Experience partnering with operational teams in asset-intensive organisations would be advantageous.
This is more than a finance role. It's an opportunity to become a key strategic partner within a vital operational area, influencing decisions that affect performance, investment, efficiency and customer outcomes. You'll work alongside senior leaders, tackle complex challenges and help shape the future direction of an essential service.
If you're a commercially astute finance professional who enjoys partnering with the business, driving performance and making a real difference, we'd love to hear from you.
Senior Finance Business Partner, you'll enjoy:
What we offer
Attractive Salary & Benefits Package
Company car or car allowance
Annual Bonus Scheme – Recognising company performance
Pension Scheme – Helping you plan for your future
Hybrid Working – A blend of office and home working, supporting flexibility while maintaining collaboration with your team
Employee Assistance Programme – Supporting your wellbeing
Employee Discounts – Access to discounts on a range of products and services
Annual Leave Allowance – Giving you time to rest and recharge
Annual Leave Buy & Sell Scheme – Flexibility to purchase additional holiday or sell unused leave to suit your lifestyle
Career Development Opportunities – Supporting your ongoing growth and development
Closing Date: Friday 23rd October 2026
We may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible.
Please note that the successful candidate will be subject to a mandatory DBS check as part of the onboarding process.
Be yourself, we like it that way. Together, we will build a culture of belonging, where inclusion is instinctive. Diversity is our strength and a reflection of our communities. We care, we value everyone, we celebrate uniqueness.
Our core values, which are essential to our success, are:
Be Rock Solid - Build trust and be trusted. Be the one we all look to and can depend on.
Be You - We want you to bring your best everyday. Be yourself and make your mark in your individual way.
Be the Future - Embrace change. Drive Progress. Own the challenge.
'/%3e%3cpath%20d='M101.744%2012.4726L102.894%2016.1947L99.0021%2013.2201L101.744%2012.4726ZM105.3%208.40937H100.488L99.0026%203.59473L97.5116%208.41047L92.7%208.40385L96.5965%2011.3834L95.1055%2016.1942L99.0021%2013.2196L101.408%2011.3834L105.3%208.40992V8.40937Z'%20fill='white'/%3e%3cdefs%3e%3clinearGradient%20id='paint0_linear_5593_1381'%20x1='90'%20y1='9.44471'%20x2='99'%20y2='9.44471'%20gradientUnits='userSpaceOnUse'%3e%3cstop%20stop-color='%2300AD70'/%3e%3cstop%20offset='0.998594'%20stop-color='%2300B67A'/%3e%3cstop%20offset='1'%20stop-color='%23DCDCE6'/%3e%3c/linearGradient%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e){kind=small}
