OverviewSenior Finance Business Partner

As a Senior Finance Business Partner, you''ll play a key role in shaping financial performance across a range of directorates. You''ll champion accountability, lead on cost control initiatives, and provide strategic financial insight to support effective decision-making. Where applicable, you''ll guide and develop a team, ensuring they deliver the highest standard of financial support and add real value to the organisation.

Responsibilities

Lead the Directorate''s contribution to the Government-wide Spending Review, working closely with senior executives, the central finance team, and the parent Department.

Champion a culture of cost control and productivity, ensuring alignment with key agreements and business cases.

Support senior leaders in managing budgets in line with HM Treasury and Government Finance standards, driving accountability and performance.

Build and manage effective relationships with a wide range of stakeholders with differing priorities.

Drive performance improvement and productivity initiatives across the Directorate.

Interpret management reports and present clear, actionable insights to senior leaders and the parent Department.

Oversee month-end financial processes, including account preparation, variance analysis, and report reviews.

Lead the annual business planning and budgeting process in collaboration with senior executives and finance teams.

Partner with senior leaders to prepare quarterly re-forecasts for submission to the Executive.

Review and challenge funding requests to ensure value for money, affordability, and compliance with HM Treasury guidance.

Manage cash flow submissions to the Department for Transport (DfT) and oversee foreign exchange hedging activities.

Identify, design, and implement process improvements to enhance project delivery.

Ensure consistent use of reporting methods and financial processes across finance teams.

Provide proactive business partnering, challenging forecasts and variances and recommending corrective actions.

Develop, coach, and mentor business finance team members to increase capability and impact.

Share best practices with the wider finance community and contribute to cross-functional initiatives as required.

Knowledge and Qualifications

Professional Accounting:

Fully qualified accountant with experience in complex, fast-moving environments.

Government Frameworks:

Strong understanding of government accounting rules (DEL/AME) and compliance within delegated authorities.

Systems and Processes:

Knowledge of financial systems, with the ability to design and oversee robust off-system analyses.

Commercial Awareness:

Sound appreciation of commercial drivers and their impact on financial decision-making.

Experience

Complex Organisations:

Proven track record as a qualified accountant within large, multifaceted organisations or projects.

Budgeting and Forecasting:

Skilled in activity-based budgeting and annual business planning within Spending Review constraints.

Matrix Environments:

Experience working within matrix structures, including large-scale infrastructure projects.

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

Partner effectively with planning, procurement, contract management, and HR to optimise resource planning.

Team Leadership and Oversight:

Managed finance business partners and project accountants, providing oversight of programme teams with budgets approaching 1bn annually.

Details

Salary : 61, 622 - 92, 400

Working Hours : Full Time, Monday to Friday

Location : Hybrid/Birmingham

Duration : Permanent

Benefits

a competitive pension scheme, with up to 12 per cent employer contributions

a starting salary that reflects your skills and experience

a cash allowance in lieu of benefits, which means you can choose which benefits are right for you and your family

core company funded benefits such as life assurance, income protection and health cash plan

25 days annual leave plus public holidays

access to tax-efficient voluntary benefits scheme and retail, health, leisure, and travel offers

access to an Employee Assistance Program

financial and health well-being programmes

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