Senior FP&A Business Partner

Lanes Group; Leeds; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Lanes Group, a leading UK utility services provider, seeks a Senior FP&A Business Partner in Leeds to drive strategic financial planning and performance. You will lead forecasting, budgeting, and scenario analysis, partnering with senior leaders to shape decisions across the group.

Responsibilities include end-to-end FP&A cycles, investment appraisal, and robust management reporting. A professional finance qualification and strong leadership are essential for success in this role.

Qualifications

• Significant FP&A or commercial finance experience (typically 7-10+ years).
• Proven ownership of full budgeting, forecasting, and long‑range planning cycles.
• Experience partnering with senior executives, influencing and challenging strategic decisions.
• Background in investment appraisal, capital allocation, and scenario modelling.
• Advanced financial modelling and analytical capability.
• Strong commercial acumen and understanding of business performance drivers.
• Excellent communication skills - able to convert complex data into clear insight.
• Leadership skills, including coaching, setting standards, and driving improvements.
• Project management and ability to bring structure to ambiguous situations.
• Professional finance qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CPA) or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end FP&A cycle for multiple business units or regions.
• Lead long-term financial planning aligned with corporate strategy.
• Provide strategic input into investment decisions, M&A activity, and capital allocation.
• Executive business partnering with senior executives, challenging and influencing decisions.
• Translate complex financial data into clear, actionable insights for non-financial stakeholders.
• Deliver high‑quality management reporting, including trend analysis and scenario modelling.
• Identify opportunities for margin improvement, cost optimisation, and revenue growth.
• Mentor and develop junior FP&A analysts and business partners.
• Drive best practices and continuous improvement across FP&A processes and tools.
• Lead financial workstreams for major transformation projects and strategic investments.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to ensure financial discipline.

Skills

Financial planning

Forecasting

Strategic partnering

Financial modelling

Leadership

Education

ACA/ACCA/CIMA/CPA

Tools

Excel

ERP systems

Job description

Lanes Group is a leading nationwide utility services provider with over 4,500 dedicated employees. Our diverse subsidiaries drive our success across various sectors, contributing to a remarkable turnover of over £500 million. We are committed to excellence and innovation, ensuring we provide industry leading services to our clients and stakeholders.

Department Finance works closely with operational and support teams across the UK, providing financial expertise, governance, reporting, and commercial insight to help the business make informed decisions and achieve its strategic objectives. The team is responsible for maintaining robust financial controls, managing budgets and forecasts, ensuring compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements, and delivering accurate financial information across the business. Through proactive support and analysis, Finance helps drive performance, accountability, and continuous improvement at every level of the organisation.

Purpose of the role

The Senior FP&A Business Partner will act as a strategic advisor to senior leadership, driving financial performance and shaping business strategy. This role combines advanced financial planning and analysis with strong business partnering skills to influence decision‑making at the highest level. You will lead complex forecasting, budgeting, and scenario planning, while providing actionable insights to support growth and profitability.

Hours: Monday to Friday - 37.5 Hours per week Employment Type: Permanent Location: Leeds, LS12

Key Responsibilities

• Financial Planning & Leadership Own the end-to-end FP&A cycle for multiple business units or regions.
• Lead long-term financial planning aligned with corporate strategy.
• Provide strategic input into investment decisions, M&A activity, and capital allocation.
• Executive Business Partnering Partner with senior executives, challenging and influencing decision‑making.
• Translate complex financial data into clear, actionable insights for non‑financial stakeholders.
• Advanced Analysis & Insights Deliver high-quality management reporting, including trend analysis, risk assessment, and scenario modelling.
• Identify opportunities for margin improvement, cost optimisation, and revenue growth.
• Leadership & Team Development Mentor and develop junior FP&A analysts and business partners.
• Drive best practices and continuous improvement across FP&A processes, systems, and tools.
• Strategic Projects Lead financial workstreams for major projects, including transformation programmes and strategic investments.
• Partner with cross‑functional teams to ensure financial discipline and robustness in decision‑making.

What we need from you

• Significant FP&A or commercial finance experience (typically 7-10+ years).
• Proven ownership of full budgeting, forecasting, and long‑range planning cycles.
• Experience partnering with senior executives, influencing and challenging strategic decisions.
• Background in investment appraisal, capital allocation, and scenario modelling.
• Advanced financial modelling and analytical capability.
• Strong commercial acumen and understanding of business performance drivers.
• Excellent communication skills - able to convert complex data into clear insight.
• Leadership skills, including coaching, setting standards, and driving improvements.
• Project management and ability to bring structure to ambiguous situations.
• Professional finance qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CPA) or equivalent experience.

Living the Company Values

By embedding our companies core values and purpose into each role, ensures that every employee, regardless of their role or level, understands how their individual development and contributions align with our purpose of 'improving today for a better tomorrow'. Each role and value has an alignment to set proficiency levels and expectations, this role holder is expected to:

• Leading : Acts as a role model, shaping the learning agenda and influencing change.
• Agile : Anticipates learning needs, adjusts quickly to changing operational contexts.
• Nurturing : Supports the development of others through coaching and structured development plans.
• Engaging : Inspires and motivates learners, builds trust and credibility Safe & Secure: Ensures all learning is aligned to safety and compliance standards.

Your Contribution to the company

Strive to be always positive and constructive Adhere to all company policies Straight talking about the facts of the situation - open discussions are the best way to find solutions Help others through communicating clearly Deliver on commitments Ensure that any ideas that may enhance the productivity or systems of the company are brought to the attention of Senior Management, or your colleagues Deliver our Company Values understanding that by working together in unity we are 'Stronger Together'

Equality, Diversion & Inclusion

At Lanes Group, we are dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and empowered. We believe that ou