Finance Business Partner

For ALL personal contract roles, paste Job Capture Form here. For graded roles , paste Job Capture Form OR job advert here. Job Title Finance Business Partner Reporting to Finance Director - Operations Role Purpose The Finance Business Partner acts as a trusted advisor to operational and senior leaders, providing financial insight, challenge, and support to drive commercial decision‑making, performance improvement, and value creation. The role bridges finance and the business, translating financial data into actionable insight. Key Responsibilities Business Partnering Decision Support Partner with senior stakeholders and operational teams to support strategic and operational decision‑making Provide constructive challenge to business plans, assumptions, and investment proposals Support the development and evaluation of business cases, including cost/benefit and return on investment analysis Financial Planning Performance Lead budgeting, forecasting, and medium‑term planning processes for assigned areas Monitor financial performance against budgets and forecasts, identifying risks and opportunities Produce clear, insightful management reporting with narrative and recommendations Financial Analysis Insight Analyse trends, drivers, and variances to explain performance and influence outcomes Develop and track KPIs and performance metrics aligned to business objectives Provide scenario modelling and sensitivity analysis to support key decisions Cost Control Efficiency Identify opportunities to improve cost control, efficiency, and value for money Support cost transformation and productivity initiatives Ensure robust financial controls are embedded within operational processes Governance Controls Ensure compliance with financial policies, accounting standards, and internal controls Support audit processes and respond to audit queries as required Promote strong financial discipline and accountability across the business Stakeholder Management Build credible, collaborative relationships with non‑finance stakeholders Act as the primary finance contact for assigned business areas Present financial information clearly to both financial and non‑financial audiences Continuous Improvement Contribute to the development of finance processes, systems, and reporting Support automation and improved use of data and analytics Mentor or support junior finance team members where applicable Key Skills Competencies Strong commercial acumen and business understanding Excellent analytical and problem‑solving skills Ability to influence, challenge, and communicate with senior stakeholders Strong financial modelling and Excel skills (Power BI/Tableau desirable) Clear, confident communication and presentation skills Ability to manage competing priorities and work to deadlines Qualifications Experience Essential Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent) or qualified by experience Proven experience in a finance business partnering, management accounting, or commercial finance role Experience supporting operational or service‑based teams Desirable Experience in a regulated, infrastructure, utilities, or large complex organisation Experience with strategic planning, investment appraisal, or transformation programmes Personal Attributes Proactive and results‑focused Curious, inquisitive, and willing to challenge constructively Collaborative and relationship‑driven High level of integrity and professionalism