Senior Finance Business Partner (3163)

GTR; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A major rail transport operator in the United Kingdom is seeking a Finance Business Partner to deliver high-quality financial planning and analysis. The successful candidate will work closely with budget holders and directors to ensure business objectives are met effectively. This role requires ACCA/CIMA/ACA qualification and experience in a business partnering role, ideally within the rail sector. Join a dynamic team to support strategic decisions and improve financial performance.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Finance Business Partner in a relevant field.
• Strong understanding of budgeting and forecasting techniques.
• Ability to present complex financial information in an understandable way.

Responsibilities

• Produce and maintain accurate forecasts and business plans.
• Prepare periodic end journals with a high level of accuracy.
• Provide insights in financial review meetings.
• Develop relationships with budget holders and directors.
• Support financial audits related to the business area.

Skills

Financial analysis and reporting

Stakeholder management

Budgeting and forecasting

Business partnering

Change management

Education

ACCA / CIMA / ACA qualified

Job description

Overview

About this role:- Provide high-quality annual business plan, forecast, period end reporting and analysis within a defined area of the business ensuring that relevant execs, directors and managers have timely, accurate and appropriate financial information and insights to deliver financial objectives and support business decision-making. Under the NRC contract this is an important role to ensure cost budget and revenue targets are delivered and performance based fee (PBF) is maximised through end-to-end management of the financials for the defined accountable business area. The Finance Business Partner will be sought out by the business as an internal trusted advisor/consultant for critical business decisions. This role will support GTR in delivering the `Spend Wisely and Work Smarter' Strategy, with the intent of driving down subsidy. A trusted critical friend to budget holders and directors.

Duties to include

• Production and maintenance of accurate forecasts and business plans to meet the annual budget target and NRC requirements within a defined business area
• Preparation of periodic end journals within defined timetable for business areas with a high level of accuracy and strong auditable supporting evidence and ensure costs/income are recognised according to accounting standards
• Produce clear and concise financial review packs highlighting material variances and causes and proactively work with business areas to identify financial risks and opportunities and track mitigation plans
• Present within the periodic financial review meetings and provide insights and financial guidance to the discussions to support effective decision making
• Develop strong relationships with directors and budget holders to collaborate on delivery of key outputs, annual business plan and strategic objectives
• Work actively, in collaboration with budget holders and directors, becoming a critical friend and focusing on driving efficiencies
• Liasing with budget holders to identify/recommend and report cost efficiency initiations within their business activities as part of PBF evidence to DfT
• Supports the financial audit for queries related to your specific business area
• Providing financial inputs, support and governance within key processes across the business (e.g. supply chain, projects)

Skills, knowledge & experience

• ACCA / CIMA / ACA (or international equivalent) qualified.
• Ideally experience in a rail sector
• Experience in a Business Partnering Role: Proven track record of partnering with non-finance teams (e.g., operations, marketing, supply chain).
• Budgeting and Forecasting: Experience preparing and presenting budgets, reforecasts, and long-range plans.
• Change or Transformation Projects (optional but valued): Experience contributing to finance transformation, system implementation, or process improvement.