Senior Finance Business Partner

Network Rail; Remote; GBP 55,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading transportation company in the UK is seeking an experienced finance professional to join their Southern Renewals Enterprise. This role involves providing financial guidance, budget management, and risk evaluation to support effective decision-making. Ideal candidates will have accounting qualifications and experience in a complex financial environment. This 16-month fixed-term contract offers a competitive salary, remote working options, and many benefits.

Benefits

Flexible working hours

Health benefits

Pension scheme

Qualifications

• Membership or working towards membership of CIMA/ACCA/ICAEW.
• Successful experience in managing business risks and professional financial control.
• Significant experience in managing ambiguity in a financial environment.

Responsibilities

• Consolidate, review, and advise on financial results and forecasts.
• Provide recommendations on accounting guidelines and standards.
• Develop and influence cost drivers to meet yearly business plans.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Communication skills

Budget management

Financial control

Decision-making skills

Education

Degree in accounting/finance or equivalent experience

Tools

Oracle systems

Job description

About Network Rail

Join Network Rail - Where People and Connections Matter

At Network Rail, we're dedicated to keeping passengers and freight moving safely and efficiently across the country. When you join us, you're not just part of a team - you're part of something that matters to millions. We believe that our people are at the heart of what we do, and every role plays a vital part in building a better, more connected railway. Click here to learn more.

We're committed to creating a diverse, inclusive workplace that reflects the communities we serve. To discover more about our ED&I commitments click here. We value flexibility and understand the importance of a healthy work-life balance. As a Disability Confident Leader, we'll do everything we can to accommodate any needs throughout the recruitment process.

If you're ready to make a real difference, we'd love to hear from you!

Brief Description

To work as an integral member of supported business senior leadership team, to proactively identify, plan and meet the finance needs of the business to improve business performance, in coordination with other members of the wider finance team as required. To positively challenge Senior Leaders, budgets, and business activities to enable the best business outcomes are delivered. This role will be supporting the Southern Renewals Enterprise. While some of the focus will be on OPEX reporting support will be needed to cover areas like Efficiencies, CFP and Unit Rate reporting.

This is a 16-month opportunity.

About the role (External)

Key Accountabilities

1. Consolidate, critically review and provide technical advice and guidance on periodic financial results and forecasts to Identify and monitor risks, opportunities and efficiencies to minimise the financial and legal impact on the business area.
2. Provide robust professional recommendations and financial guidance on accounting guidelines and standards to enable the business to be financially and legally compliant.
3. Provide technical and professional oversight of the periodic accounts, relevant analysis and preparation of business plans and budgets to enable the business to make effective decisions.
4. Develop, understand and influence the cost and income drivers relevant to the business area to deliver the yearly business plan and manage to the overall settlement by effective decision making.
5. Influence, coach and challenge senior budget holders in understanding the impact of their period results and forecasts against budgets in order to manage their business more effectively and manage within budgeting limits.
6. Proactively challenge budget holders plans and budget submissions to understand the overall plan, providing advice and new initiatives to save costs and be more efficient as an organisation.
7. Drive, adapt and deliver key KPI'S and deliverables for the function, highlighting any significant issues and trends with financial and other business results to aid decision makers to make efficiencies. Lead in budget holder key meetings on financial performance to provide professional financial advice and guidance to drive business decisions, minimise risk and deliver good corporate governance.
8. Develop, drive and implement investment decisions and new business activities, working collaboratively with senior leaders to explore new opportunities and drive business performance.

Job Skills, Experience and Qualifications

Essential

• Membership (or working towards membership) of a relevant accounting body (CIMA/ACCA/ICAEW) or equivalent experience
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills all levels. This should include Customers; 3 rd party representatives, other business & functional leaders and key support personnel.
• Successful relevant experience working in a complex financial environment including demonstrable experience in managing business risks, professional financial control and forward planning.
• Demonstrable record of budget management, governance and ability to understand and interpret commercial and financial landscapes (budgets, forecasts, actual status).
• Significant experience in managing ambiguity in a financial environment with strong evaluation and decision-making skills.
• Excellent technical Financial and Accounting knowledge and application of that knowledge in a complex and commercial environment.
• Educated to degree level in a relevant discipline, for example accounting and finance, business management or equivalent demonstrable experience in finance

Desirable

• Full membership of relevant post graduate professional body (CIMA/ACCA/ICAEW)
• Experience of Oracle based systems
• Substantial experience within multiple finance disciplines
• Knowledge and technical expertise of Government accounting and relevant financial governance
• Understanding of project management principles and experience of managing complex projects to successful conclusion.

How to apply (External)

Salary: £55,596 - £65,966 per annum, pro/rata and many more benefits.

Closing date: 23rd December 2025. - Late applications will not be accepted.

This is a 16-month fixe term contract opportunity.

Click apply now to apply.

Remote working opportunity!

You can visit Evenbreaks Career Hive for advice on accessibility support if you're unsure of the options available. Should you require any reasonable adjustments/modifications, please add a note to your application.

Network Rail Benefits - To find out about what benefits we offer, click here

All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks. Click here for more information

***Some of our roles require face to face Drugs & Alcohol testing. Further details will be shared with you as part of your formal offer.****