Senior Finance Business Partner

United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority; Nottingham; On-site; GBP 75,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) is seeking a Senior Finance Business Partner to lead budgets, forecasts, and financial insight across multiple IPTs and programmes. The role ensures robust plans aligned to milestones and resourcing, enabling effective investment decisions.

The post requires governance expertise, stakeholder engagement at senior levels, and the delivery of dashboards and reports that support performance management within UKFE and government frameworks.

Qualifications

• Degree (or equivalent) in Accounting, Finance, Economics, or Business.
• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA) with significant post-qualification experience.
• Working knowledge of IFRS and FReM rules and guidance.
• Strong understanding of financial controls, accounting standards, and government finance frameworks.
• Proven ability to provide authoritative financial challenge and advice at senior-management level.
• Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills, with the ability to build credibility with senior stakeholders.
• Experience of managing multi-year, multi-million-pound government or commercial projects and associated accounting, costing, and forecasting activities.
• Understanding of the principles of revenue recognition and lease accounting for both capital and operational activities.
• Experience of audits relating to major contracts and projects/programmes.
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, lookups, SUMIF formulas, etc.).
• Able to work to challenging timescales while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Lead the preparation, consolidation, and ongoing management of budgets and forecasts across IPTs and programmes.
• Ensure forecasts are robust, evidence-based, and aligned with delivery milestones and resourcing plans.
• Identify financial risks and opportunities, implementing corrective actions where required.
• Provide high-quality financial insight to support investment, resourcing, and prioritisation decisions at programme level.
• Oversee inter-company transactions and corporate allocations, maintaining transparency and integrity.
• Provide assurance to the Head of Finance and Group Finance on financial accuracy and governance compliance.
• Act as a senior finance partner to Programme Directors and IPT Leads, influencing cost management and investment priorities.
• Lead audit preparation and responses across IPTs and programmes.

Skills

Financial analysis

Stakeholder management

IFRS knowledge

Excel

Power BI

ERP systems

Audits

Education

Degree in Accounting or Finance

Tools

Excel

Power BI

ERP systems

Job description

Senior Finance Business Partner

Overview of Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

Financial Planning & Forecasting

Lead the preparation, consolidation, and ongoing management of budgets and forecasts across multiple IPTs and programmes. Ensure forecasts are robust, evidence-based, and aligned with delivery milestones and resourcing plans. Identify financial risks and opportunities, implementing corrective actions where required. Provide high-quality financial insight to support investment, resourcing, and prioritisation decisions at programme level.

Financial Governance & Control

Ensure full compliance with UKFE and UKAEA Group financial policies, delegations, and sponsor requirements. Oversee inter-company transactions and corporate allocations, maintaining transparency, reconciliation, and integrity. Maintain effective financial control frameworks within assigned IPTs, aligned to accounting standards and government finance frameworks. Provide assurance to the Head of Finance and Group Finance on financial accuracy and governance compliance.

Business Partnering & Stakeholder Engagement

Act as a senior finance partner to Programme Directors, IPT Leads, and Control Account Managers. Influence decision-making through authoritative advice on cost management, risk mitigation, and investment priorities. Build strong relationships with UKAEA Group Finance, Procurement, and corporate functions to ensure joined-up delivery. Represent Finance at programme boards, steering groups, and audit forums.

Reporting & Insight

Lead the production of timely and accurate financial reports and dashboards, including clear narrative on variances, trends, and delivery impacts. Provide actionable insight to senior stakeholders to support performance management and decision-making. Oversee integrity of financial data flows between ERP systems, Power BI dashboards, and group reporting tools.

Audit & Assurance

Lead audit preparation and responses across IPTs and programmes. Coordinate implementation of audit recommendations and maintain continuous audit readiness. Provide assurance to senior management and Group Finance on the strength of financial controls and reporting.

People & Capability Development

Provide oversight, guidance, and mentoring to finance colleagues supporting IPT delivery. Promote best practice in finance business partnering and continuous improvement. Contribute to the development of the finance community across UKFE.

Process Ownership & Continuous Improvement

Drive improvements to finance processes, systems, and reporting across assigned areas. Ensure alignment with UKFE and UKAEA group standards, policies, and best practice. Share lessons learned and insights to enhance financial capability and efficiency as UKIFS evolves.

Leadership & Culture

Embody a strong leadership mindset, acting as a role model for UKFE's values and behaviours. Foster an inclusive, collaborative, and respectful working environment. Act with integrity, professionalism, and ethical judgement in all interactions. Provide support on ad hoc projects aligned with UKFE priorities and governance standards.

Salary & Benefits

Programme: STEP

Department: UKFE - Finance

Discipline: Finance

Site Location: West Burton, Nottinghamshire

Type of Employment: Full-time

Reference Number: REF4164P

Qualifications

Essential:

• Degree (or equivalent) in Accounting, Finance, Economics, or Business.
• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA) with significant post-qualification experience.
• Working knowledge of IFRS and FReM rules and guidance.
• Strong understanding of financial controls, accounting standards, and government finance frameworks.
• Proven ability to provide authoritative financial challenge and advice at senior-management level.
• Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills, with the ability to build credibility with senior stakeholders.
• Experience of managing multi-year, multi-million-pound government or commercial projects and associated accounting, costing, and forecasting activities, with an understanding of project controls and delivery processes.
• Understanding of the principles of revenue recognition and lease accounting for both capital and operational activities.
• Experience of audits relating to major contracts and projects/programmes.
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, lookups, SUMIF formulas, etc.).
• Able to work to challenging timescales while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.

Beneficial

• Experience of working within or alongside a government-funded or Arm’s-Length Body environment, managing complex inter-organisational financial relationships.
• Advanced analytical and reporting skills, including use of ERP systems and Power BI tools.
• Knowledge of HM Treasury Green Book and Better Business Cases methodology.
• Experience of managing or mentoring finance professionals.
• Knowledge of NEC contract management and capital programme accounting.

Additional Information

We welcome applications from under-represented groups, particularly women in STEM and individuals from British black and ethnic minority backgrounds, and individuals with disabilities. Our Executive team, supported by our 'Equality, Diversity and Inclusion' (EDI) Partner and Inclusion Ambassadors, actively promotes EDI and takes steps to increase diversity within our organisation. We reinforce best practices in recruitment and selection and evaluate approaches to remove barriers to success. UKFE is committed to being accessible. Please email [e-mail] if you have any questions or require help or adjustments to compete on a fair basis, for example, changes to the way we interview or share information. This role requires employees to complete an online Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), including the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks for criminal convictions. Whilst not required at this time, there is a possibility of an SC Clearance being required in the future. If a candidate already holds an SC clearance, that clearance can be transferred to UKIFS. For applicants applying from outside the United Kingdom or those who have spent time outside the UK in the last five years, please visit the following link for information on criminal records checks: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/criminal-records-checks-for-overseas-applicants If your country of residence or previous residence is not listed on the website or if the UK Government does not have information on obtaining a criminal records check from that state, we regret to inform you that we cannot process your application. Please note that vacancies are generally advertised for 4 weeks but may close earlier if we receive a large number of applications. We may consider your application for future positions or similar positions within the organisation. We have a number of exceptional opportunities available at the moment, to view them all please visit Careers - STEP.