Senior Finance Business Partner

Michael Page; St Albans; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical insurance

24/7 GP service

Job summary

Michael Page is seeking a Senior Finance Business Partner in the manufacturing sector based in St Albans. You will drive financial performance by providing insights to support decision-making and partnering with departmental leaders.

Responsibilities include ownership of monthly management accounts, high-quality reporting, budgeting and forecasting, governance and controls, and supporting statutory accounts and audits. You will lead a small team of accountants and build KPI dashboards.

Qualifications

• ACA or ACCA qualified and experienced in management accounting.
• Budgeting and forecasting expertise.
• Strong financial control and governance knowledge.
• Advanced financial modelling and analytical capability.
• Experience driving business improvement initiatives.
• Experience partnering with senior operational leaders.

Responsibilities

• Act as primary finance partner to departmental leaders.
• Influence operational and strategic decision-making.
• Provide constructive commercial insight and manage risks.
• Own monthly management accounts and financial reporting.
• Deliver budgeting, forecasting, and long-term planning.

Skills

Management accounting

Budgeting

Forecasting

Financial modelling

Stakeholder management

Analytical capability

Education

ACA or ACCA

Job description

As a Senior Finance Business Partner in the manufacturing sector within St Albans, you'll play a key role in driving financial performance by providing insights and analysis to support decision-making. Working closely with key stakeholders, you'll ensure the business runs efficiently and achieves its financial goals.

Client Details

This role is within manufacturing industry and offers the chance to work in a varied and professional environment

Description

1. Strategic Business Partnering

The successful candidate will be expected to:

• Act as the primary finance partner to departmental leaders.
• Influence operational and strategic decision-making.
• Challenge assumptions and provide constructive commercial insight.
• Identify financial risks and opportunities.
• Support strategic initiatives through financial modelling and business case preparation.

2. Financial Leadership

You'll be responsible for:

• Ownership of monthly management accounts.
• Delivering high-quality financial reporting and analysis.
• Maintaining strong governance, controls, and compliance.
• Supporting statutory accounts and audit activities.
• Improving reporting processes and financial controls.

3. Budgeting and Forecasting

A major focus area includes:

• Leading annual budgets and quarterly forecasts.
• Working with budget holders to challenge costs and assumptions.
• Improving forecast accuracy.
• Supporting long-term planning and performance management.

4. Performance Analysis

The role requires a data-driven approach:

• Developing KPIs and dashboards.
• Providing performance insights and trend analysis.
• Producing meaningful management information.
• Delivering recommendations that improve efficiency and profitability.

5. Team Leadership

This is a people-management role requiring:

• Leadership of qualified and trainee accountants.
• Coaching and mentoring team members.
• Building a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

Profile

Essential Technical Skills:

• ACA or ACCA qualified.
• Strong management accounting experience.
• Budgeting and forecasting expertise.
• Financial control and governance knowledge.
• Advanced financial modelling and analytical capability.
• Experience driving business improvement initiatives.

Essential Leadership & Stakeholder Skills:

• Proven experience partnering with senior operational leaders.
• Ability to influence and challenge stakeholders constructively.
• Experience presenting financial information at senior level.
• Previous finance team management experience.
• Excellent communication skills.

Based on the advert, expect questions around:

• Business partnering and stakeholder management.
• Influencing senior leaders.
• Budgeting and forecasting improvements.
• Financial modelling and business cases.
• Process improvement and change management.
• Leadership and team development.
• Managing financial risk and controls.
• Delivering commercial insight from financial data.

Examples you should have prepared:

• A time you challenged a senior stakeholder's decision.
• A forecasting or budgeting improvement you introduced.
• A financial model or business case that influenced investment decisions.
• A process improvement that saved money or improved controls.
• How you developed or managed a finance team.

Valuable experience would include:

• Construction, engineering, infrastructure, utilities, transport, or project-based industries.
• Working within complex multi-site organisations.
• Supporting operational leaders in commercially focused environments.
• Experience with large-scale budgets and cost control.
• Demonstrating measurable business improvements and value creation.

Job Offer

• Competitive salary ranging from £70,000 to £80,000, dependent on the level of experience.
• Private medical insurance and access to a 24/7 GP service.
• Permanent position offering stability and growth opportunities.

We are committed to creating an inclusive environment.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities and experiences.

If you require any adjustments or accommodations during the recruitment process, we'll work with you to ensure you can perform at your best.