Senior Finance Business Partner - Operational Excellence

Merlin Entertainments - Corporate; London; Hybrid; GBP 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading entertainment company is seeking a Senior Finance Business Partner - Operational Excellence to join their UK Finance team. This role focuses on providing strategic financial leadership and partnering with senior leaders to optimize operational efficiency. The ideal candidate will be a qualified accountant with significant experience in financial planning and analysis. Benefits include competitive salary, pension, and exclusive attraction passes.

Benefits

Pension

Life Assurance

Discretionary company bonus

33 days' holiday

Merlin Magic Pass

Enjoy the Ride pass

25% discount in shops and restaurants

40% discount on LEGO

Qualifications

• Strong commercial finance experience required.
• Proven track record in financial planning and analysis.
• Ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert financial guidance to senior stakeholders.
• Lead budgeting, forecasting, and scenario modelling.
• Champion best practice in operational efficiency.

Skills

Financial planning

Business partnering

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Spreadsheet modelling

Education

Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent)

Tools

SAP

Oracle

Hyperion

Job description

Overview

What you'll bring to the team

We're pleased to share an internal opportunity to join the UK Finance team as Senior Finance Business Partner - Operational Excellence. This is a key role that will see you partner with senior leaders across the Global Operational Excellence function to help shape and deliver strategic initiatives. You'll also work closely with the UK region to drive efficiency, consistency, and best practice in operational execution. With strong collaboration across regional finance teams and central functions, this role offers a fantastic opportunity to influence both UK and global priorities—delivering value through data-driven insight, standardisation, and continuous improvement. This role can be based at any UK attraction or office; however frequent travel to London is required.

What you'll Be Doing

• Strategic Financial Leadership: Provide expert financial guidance to senior stakeholders, helping to shape decisions and drive strategic alignment.
• Planning & Analysis: Lead budgeting, forecasting, and scenario modelling, delivering robust financial insights to support key operational initiatives.
• Business Partnering: Work across functions to provide financial leadership on efficiency, investment decisions, and commercial agreements.
• Operational Efficiency: Champion best practice and identify opportunities for cost optimisation, automation, and improved financial processes.
• Insight & Reporting: Produce high-quality reports and analysis that inform business decisions and track performance against strategic goals.
• Collaboration & Influence: Partner with global and regional teams to ensure financial consistency and support the rollout of strategic initiatives across the UK.

Qualifications & Experience

• A qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent) with strong commercial finance experience.
• A proven track record in financial planning, analysis, and business partnering—ideally within a complex, fast-moving organisation.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Strong analytical and Excel modelling skills, with experience using systems like SAP, Oracle, or Hyperion desirable.
• A proactive, collaborative approach with a continuous improvement mindset.

Benefits

We're growing fast and alongside a fun and friendly environment, we offer a fabulous package and amazing prospects - ideal if you're already fantastic and want to become even better (our magic can help here).

Benefits include Pension, Life Assurance, discretionary company bonus, 33 days' holiday including bank holidays, a Merlin Magic Pass which gives you and your friends and family free admission to all of our attractions worldwide, an Enjoy the Ride pass which entitles you and 5 loved ones unlimited entry into your regional attractions, 25% discount in our retail shops and restaurants and 40% discount on LEGO, plus lots more!

Pay Range

Competitive