Strategic Finance Business Partner

Innovate UK; Swindon; On-site; GBP 57,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the UK is seeking a Finance Business Partner to join their Senior Finance Management Team. This role involves leading a team to provide financial business partnering services and insights to stakeholders, ensuring robust financial processes. The ideal candidate will be a qualified accountant with extensive experience in financial management and stakeholder engagement. Benefits include a competitive salary, generous leave, and a defined benefit pension scheme.

Benefits

Outstanding defined benefit pension scheme

30 days annual leave plus 10.5 public and privilege days

Employee discounts on retail and leisure activities

Employee assistance programme offering confidential support

Flexible working options

Qualifications

• Qualified Accountant with experience in senior finance roles.
• High proficiency in IT systems, especially Excel.
• Proven ability to prepare complex budgets and financial plans.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of Finance staff to deliver effective financial business partnering.
• Develop relationships with stakeholders and provide decision support.
• Collaborate with senior stakeholders on funding and strategic priorities.

Skills

Financial Management

Stakeholder Management

Numerical Analysis

Commercial Awareness

IT Proficiency

Education

Qualified Accountant (ACA/CIMA/ACCA/CIPFA) or QBE

Tools

MS Excel

MS Word

MS PowerPoint

MS Access

Job description

£56,745

UKRI Band F

Full Time

Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire

Open Ended

Closing date: 8th June 2025

Job Overview

This role is part of the Senior Finance Management Team for AHRC and ESRC and is responsible for leading a team of Finance Business Partners/Management Accountants. The team provides comprehensive financial business partnering services and operational finance across the two Councils. The role offers effective insight, challenge, and support to stakeholders including Directorate leads, budget-holders, and senior finance and non-finance managers across Finance and UKRI, to achieve UKRI priorities.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of Finance staff to deliver effective financial business partnering to designated Directorate areas.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders in Directorate areas and other teams, including budget holders, senior programme managers, Directors, financial planning and reporting teams, legal and commercial teams, and external stakeholders.
• Apply sound commercial and business awareness to provide decision support, offering insights and challenges to senior stakeholders to ensure robust financial processes.
• Collaborate with senior stakeholders to advise on funding and help establish strategic priorities using judgment, evidence, and professional knowledge.

About You

(S) Shortlisting Criteria (I) Interview Criteria

Essential

• Qualified Accountant (ACA/CIMA/ACCA/CIPFA) or QBE
• Strong understanding of accounting and finance, with experience in senior finance roles and delivering effective financial management.
• High proficiency in IT systems, particularly MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access, with exceptional Excel skills.
• Understanding of contracts and commercial elements within projects.
• Experience with month and year-end processes, including accruals, prepayments, and variance analysis.
• Highly numerate with the ability to analyze complex issues and communicate key insights effectively.
• Experience in balancing stakeholder demands while maintaining financial process integrity.
• Proven ability to partner with stakeholders, understand business priorities, and meet organizational and financial objectives.
• Experience providing high-quality advice suitable for executive decision-makers.
• Proven track record in preparing complex budgets, forecasts, and financial plans.

To view the full job description, please click apply and visit our careers page.

Benefits

We value our employees and offer a competitive pay and rewards package. We support employee development and promote continuous learning. Benefits include:

• Outstanding defined benefit pension scheme
• 30 days annual leave plus 10.5 public and privilege days (full-time equivalent)
• Employee discounts on retail and leisure activities
• Employee assistance programme offering confidential support
• Flexible working options

Click here for more details on the benefits of working for UKRI.

How To Apply

Applicants should submit an up-to-date CV and a cover letter explaining their suitability for the role. Further application instructions are available on our careers page.