Finance Business Partner - Secondment

To work with the supported business leadership team under the direction of the Financial Controller / Senior Finance Business Partner, to deliver professional finance and accounting advice and support.

• Lead and provide financial advice and guidance to senior budget holders in understanding the impact of period results and forecasts against budgets so they can better manage their business.
• Act as an expert in accounting practices and advise on financial results and forecasts for budget holders, including preparing period accruals, transfers and adjustments to ensure accounts are accurate and relevant.
• Manage corporate governance across cost centres, conducting detailed dives and reviewing compliance with financial regulations to protect the business from legal or negative consequences.
• Deliver expert and accurate business review information and reporting, highlighting significant issues to enable informed decision‑making by business leaders.
• Engage and influence senior team members to help them understand their financial position and use professional expertise to guide initiatives to improve performance.
• Build bottom‑up, detailed plans to manage the production of business plans and budgets, enabling good corporate governance and value‑added analysis for senior leaders.
• Identify and proactively manage commercial risks, including assessing the financial suitability of new customers or suppliers to reduce potential risk impact and influence decision‑makers.
• Manage the performance of central accounting functions to deliver an efficient and effective accounting service for the cost centre area.
• Collate, investigate and recommend investment appraisals and business case analysis to inform business decisions.
• Model and analyse cost base and identify opportunities to achieve area targets.

Salary: £43,588 - £51,719 per annum. As a Network Rail employee you will enjoy a wide range of benefits.

• Privileged staff travel – 75% leisure travel discount on all leisure travel, including family members.
• Subsidy of up to 75% on rail and underground season tickets if you travel to work by train.
• GWR ticket alliance – heavily discounted all‑day passes for you and up to three friends and family across the GWR network.
• Benefits package including healthcare offers, cycle‑to‑work scheme, discounted healthcare club membership and various other discounts.
• A range of pension schemes to choose from.
• Work‑life balance with a 35‑hour per week contract, hybrid working, flexible leave and enhanced family‑friendly support.
• Five days paid volunteering leave.
• Two weeks paid reserve leave for the Armed Forces community.
• Opportunity to join PROUD, our reward and recognition scheme in Wales and the Western region.

This is a secondment opportunity for six months with the potential to be extended.

Closing date: 30th June 2026. Late applications will not be accepted. The role requires working in the office for at least 60% of the working week.

• Strong understanding of business needs and relevant application of accounting standards.
• Membership (or working towards) of a relevant accounting body (CIMA/ACCA) or equivalent experience.
• Expert knowledge and experience of creating and maintaining accounts and annual budgets.
• Significant experience within relevant finance disciplines.
• Strong Excel skills and experience with data manipulation.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to interpret technical accounting regulations into everyday language.
• Demonstrable effective influencing skills at a senior level.
• Significant understanding of financial control and risk.
• Excellent technical finance and accounting knowledge.
• Commitment to safety – demonstrating personal dedication to safety as part of your application.

• Understanding of project management principles and experience managing complex projects.
• Membership of a relevant accounting body.
• Extensive experience of Oracle‑based systems.
• Degree or equivalent qualification in finance and accounting, business management or relevant experience.

We want to ensure everyone has an equal opportunity. If you require reasonable adjustments or modifications, please let us know as part of your application.

All prospective candidates will be required to undertake and pass a drugs and alcohol test. A positive test will result in rescission of the application and a 5‑year suspension from applying for safety‑critical roles.