Senior Finance Business Partner Who are we- What do we offer in return- Reasonable adjustments

Howden Group Ltd; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global insurance company is seeking an experienced Senior Finance Business Partner in London. You will partner with C-suite leaders and contribute to FP&A initiatives, focusing on technology and IT functions. Applicants should have over 10 years of experience as a qualified accountant and proven partner capabilities within tech environments. This full-time role offers a hybrid working model, requiring on-site presence 2-3 days per week.

Qualifications

• Proven experience partnering with IT or technology functions.
• Strong grasp of underlying business drivers.
• Self-starter comfortable working autonomously.

Responsibilities

• Partner with relevant functions to understand their cost base.
• Deliver month-end, quarter-end, year-end, forecasting and budgeting requirements.
• Build relationships quickly and foster trust.

Skills

Business partnering

Financial modelling

Collaboration with stakeholders

Strong communication skills

Education

Qualified accountant with 10+ years of experience

Tools

OneStream

Unit4

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Senior Finance Business Partner to join the Howden Group Services (HGS) FP&A team. This role involves partnering with C-suite leaders and their Group functions, contributing to the development of FP&A initiatives, including improved analysis, upgrading reporting, and providing insights that enable decision-making. A key focus of this role will be partnering with technology and IT functions, so prior experience working closely with tech teams or supporting technology-driven initiatives is essential. The HGS FP&A team analyses financial performance to tell the story and informs decision-making through relevant reporting, accurate analysis and robust planning. These insights support the Group’s deliverables for senior executives, the Board, and investors, with a focus on Key Financial Performance Indicators (KPIs).

Success in this role requires partnering with the business to define the why, rather than just report the what. A strong grasp of underlying business drivers, collaboration with the business, and a commitment to delivering high-quality, value-add outcomes while driving continuous improvement across HGS are essential. This is a full-time, permanent role based in our Central London office with a hybrid pattern expected (onsite 2-3 days per week).

Responsibilities

• Partner with relevant function(s) to understand their cost base and provide decision-making insights.
• Provide challenge, observations and recommendations to most effectively partner with stakeholders.
• Deliver month-end, quarter-end, year-end, forecasting and budgeting requirements as needed.
• Maintain and update accurate financials to reflect the true shape of business performance.
• Build relationships quickly and foster trust, while also challenging and querying where appropriate.
• As an SME, develop an in-depth understanding of the business drivers in your function(s).
• Reflect the key messages for your assigned function(s) in relevant commentary.
• Work with colleagues in the wider team to consolidate HGS cost base of approximately £350m.
• Contribute financial expertise as part of the HGS FP&A team to support decision-making and planning.
• Collaborate closely with Group FP&A to support discussions on business performance and required actions.
• Ensure that Group deliverables are met consistently.
• Provide high-level reports and deliver presentations to Management Committees or similar groups, interpreting findings and performing detailed analysis when necessary.
• Adopt an ownership and accountability mindset suited to taking on responsibility in the team.
• Handle ad hoc project work as directed by the Financial Controller and Finance Director.
• Investigate complex problems and major business changes to assess and mitigate risks.
• Promote a culture of individual accountability by aligning personal goals with functional and business objectives.
• Embrace a change-driven mindset to foster a continuous improvement culture and contribute to the change agenda by assessing financial systems, processes, and reporting needs across HGS.
• Experience of cost allocation methodologies and maintaining relevant models.

Qualifications

• A finance professional with 10+ years as a qualified accountant, with experience in professional services or corporate environments, skilled in business partnering and commentary preparation, financial modelling, and broader FP&A responsibilities (reporting, forecasting, budgeting).
• Proven experience partnering with IT or technology functions, understanding how tech teams operate and how to support them from a finance perspective.
• Ability to effectively partner with stakeholders, provide insights and enable key decision-making at all levels (including C-suite).
• Self-starter who is comfortable working autonomously and as part of a team, with the ability to identify and lead on new initiatives when necessary.
• Knowledge of insurance market processes and their relevance to the Finance Business Partner role is desirable.
• Experience with OneStream and Unit4 or similar financial recording systems is advantageous.
• Experience with cost allocation methodologies and maintaining relevant models.
• Strong communication and presentation skills with the ability to convey complex financial information clearly.
• Ability to work in a hybrid environment and adapt to changing priorities.

Additional information

• Howden is a collective — a group of talented and passionate people worldwide, united by a shared passion and no-limits mindset, collaborating as an international team of 18,000 employees in over 100 countries.
• We value diversity and seek individuals who share our values: bravery to try new things, mutual support in daily and larger challenges, and a commitment to making a positive difference at work and beyond.
• Reasonable adjustments: Howden is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to align positions with individual needs, including flexible hours and hybrid working arrangements where possible.
• If you’re excited by this role but unsure about fit, apply and we will assist with reasonable adjustments as needed. Some roles may not accommodate changes to working hours or locations; contact your Recruitment Partner for more information.