Senior Finance Business Partner

West Yorkshire Combined Authority; Leeds; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional public authority in Leeds is looking for a Senior Finance Business Partner to provide expert financial advice. In this impactful role, you will manage budgets, develop funding options, and work with various teams to achieve strategic goals. The authority offers flexible working conditions, competitive annual leave, and a focus on diversity and inclusion.

Benefits

Flexible working options

28 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Free bus and rail travel

Local Government Pension Scheme

Fully funded professional development

Incremental salary progression

Enhanced parental and bereavement leave

24/7 confidential counselling services

Modern workspace near Leeds Train Station

Qualifications

• CIMA / CCAB qualified (CIPFA, ACCA, ICAEW, ICAS, ICAI).
• Experience in managing and reviewing complex revenue and capital budgets.
• Demonstrated ability to influence and negotiate.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior decision makers with budget advice and analysis.
• Develop long term financial plans and oversee revenue plans.
• Support policy development around funding options.

Skills

CIMA / CCAB qualified

Practical experience of managing complex budgets

Strong communication skills

Experience in financial planning

Ability to build senior-level relationships

Education

CIMA / CCAB qualification

Job description

Please note that the Combined Authority will consider requests for part-time working and/or job share.

The Business Partner team within the wider Finance department is a newly established group of passionate professionals committed to maximising the impact of our funding. As a Senior Finance Business Partner, you will play a key role in providing expert advice and in-depth analysis on budgets, funding, and financing options that drive our strategic goals.

This is a fantastic opportunity to make a real difference by shaping the financial landscape of our organisation. You will collaborate with policy and delivery teams to monitor performance against budgets and forecast future funding requirements, whilst working with investors and external funders to develop innovative funding solutions that help us achieve our mission as a Combined Authority. If you're a proactive, forward-thinking Senior Finance Business Partner with a flair for financial strategy and a desire to work in an impactful role, we'd love to hear from you.

Reporting into the Head of Finance (Economy) or Head of Finance (Transport), your key responsibilities will include:

• Budget Management: providing senior decision makers and Directors at the Combined Authority with advice and analysis of their budgets and financial strategies to support them in delivering their policy objectives.
• Financial Planning: working with senior stakeholders to develop long term financial plans, as well as overseeing the management of capital and revenue plans.
• Access to Funding: supporting policy development around funding options, including how we work with investors to leverage external funding and with central government as we move towards the implementation of an integrated funding settlement.

You will have the following key skills, attributes, education and experience:

• CIMA / CCAB qualified (CIPFA, ACCA, ICAEW, ICAS, ICAI).
• Practical experience of managing and reviewing complex revenue and capital budgets.
• Strong communication skills with the proven ability to influence, negotiate and challenge.
• Experience of financial planning and modelling.
• Experience of forming and developing effective senior level working relationships with Members, Government and partner organisations.

The Combined Authority is passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. We know through experience that different ideas, perspectives and backgrounds create a stronger and more creative work environment that delivers better outcomes. We welcome applications irrespective of people's age, disability, neuro-divergence, sex, gender identity and gender expression, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, or other personal circumstances. We have policies and procedures in place to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process, including the consideration of reasonable adjustments for people who have a disability and/or who are neuro divergent. To find out more about inclusivity at the West Yorkshire Combined Authority please visit our dedicated webpage.

Under the Disability Confident Scheme, applicants with a disability are guaranteed an interview, subject to the minimum criteria being met. Please note that whilst it is our policy to recruit at SP1 for all appointments, which is the salary stated above, each role includes career salary progression, with incremental increases applicable in most cases on an annual basis

Benefits

• Work your way - From flexible and agile working options, including a generous flexi-time scheme to help you balance your personal life and career.
• Time to recharge - Enjoy 28 days of annual leave (with increases based on length of service), plus all Bank Holidays.
• Free greener travel across West Yorkshire - Cover your commute sustainably with unlimited free bus and rail travel using the MCard (Zones 1-5).
• Secure your future - Benefit from a highly competitive Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Investing in you - Take advantage of fully funded professional development, regular training, and up to 3 paid volunteering days per year.
• Grow with us - Incremental salary progression for most roles and annual cost of living increases.
• Family first - We offer enhanced parental and bereavement leave, plus other family-friendly policies to support you when it matters most.
• Your wellbeing, our priority - Access 24/7 free confidential counselling services and the Headspace app for you and up to 5 family or friends.
• Modern workspace in a prime location - Work in bright, contemporary offices just a 2-minute walk from Leeds Train Station, fully equipped with the latest tech.