Senior Finance Business Partner

Job Description

Our purpose focuses on how we contribute to society, and how our business decisions can contribute to greater trust and solving important problems. In order to achieve our purpose and deliver a first-class service to our clients, we need first-class supportinternally. The people who power us - our internal teams - have a vital role to make sure we have all the right resources, services and technology to be the best we can be. Not all of us work directly with external clients. About Us:We are seeking an experienced Senior Finance Business Partner to support our Central Region Audit business. Our Central Region Audit business generates annual revenues of c.£100m and employs over 600 people across 5 offices (Birmingham, East Midlands, Milton Keynes, Bristol and Cardiff). We specialise in statutory audit, and discreet other assurance related work to a range of companies operating in all industries other than Financial Services. Our client base covers a broad range of sectors, from large multinational listed groups, to private,owner managed businesses. About the Role: As a Senior Finance Business Partner, you will play a crucial role in collaborating directly with the Central Region Audit business unit leader. Your primary focus will be on providing commercially focused solutions and strategic insights to support the businessunits financial goals and strategy. The role involves a diverse range of responsibilities encompassing performance management, strategic planning, budgeting, financial control, and people management. About You:If you are a proactive and strategic senior financial professional seeking an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact, we invite you to apply for this role. Join our dynamic team and contribute to the achievement of our short and long-term financialobjectives. Key responsibilities: Performance Management & Improvement:

• Provide commentary and interpretation of monthly financial results to the Central regions business leadership, emphasizing the ability to interpret, communicate, narrate and draw management attention to the commercial implications of business performance,succinctly and with impact
• Monitors performance of the financial metrics, understanding the relationship and behaviours of the non financial metrics
• Employ strong business analysis skills to explore opportunities, identifying underlying business issues, and to propose actions to address areas of poor performance.

Of a more specific nature, the Senior Finance Business Partner will be responsible for:

• Driving a focus on client profitability and selectivity
• Seeking profit/margin improvement opportunities and leading local business units implementation of firmwide or LoS specific financial performance improvement initiatives
• Taking steps to influence business unit billing and cash collection performance, and supplementing target performance reports prepared by the MI centre of excellence with appropriate commentary
• Working closely with Resourcing functions to provide input into the development of local business unit manpower plans including reward, recruitment and mobility strategies
• Offering general pricing support to local business unit engagements
• Providing business analysis support and financial information provision of an ad hoc nature, employing expertise of the MI centre of excellence if appropriate

Business Strategy & Strategic Planning:

• Collaborate with other functional representatives to provide input into the preparation of the financial aspects of the business plan
• Help identify, develop, and prioritize the delivery of the firms strategic and operational financial objectives within the business units

Budgeting and Forecasting:

• Lead and coordinate the preparation of the business units annual budgets and forecasts in line with centrally defined guidelines
• Work closely with Human Capital (HC) and Resourcing functions to provide input into the development of local BU manpower plans

Financial Control and Compliance:

• Works in close partnership with the Financial Control centre of excellence to encourage a culture of strong financial discipline and adoption of one firm financial policies and procedures within the business unit

People Management:

• Act as Career Coach for some staff members of the wider Audit finance team
• Manage individual performance, well-being, and career development
• Set the appropriate tone and working environment, working in partnership with the Finance training team and HC Leader to improve the commerciality of client facing Partners and Staff

Qualifications and Experience:

• Professionally qualified (ACA, ACCA or CIMA)
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to communicate with impact - both written and verbal
• Proven experience in a similar Senior Finance Business Partnering Role
• People management skills with a focus on career development for both self and other team members
• Action orientated, with a focus on continuous improvement in all areas of work
• A change manager with gravitas and credibility to influence at a senior level within the organisation