Engagement Business Partner; Finance - Senior Associate

Engagement Business Partner

The Engagement Business Partner (EBP) is a finance professional with comprehensive knowledge of systems, processes, and policies. In this internal role, the EBP acts as the Finance single point of contact, collaborating closely with client-serving engagement teams to enable the successful delivery of engagements across the full engagement lifecycle, from opportunity creation to final record archiving.

Please note:

this is not a technical accounting role.

As an Engagement Business Partner, you will play a pivotal role in supporting client-serving teams by ensuring the accurate and timely execution of all engagement lifecycle activities. The main components of this role are:

• Serving as the Finance single point of contact for Engagement Partners and Managers, offering guidance and overseeing all aspects of the Opportunity Engagement Lifecycle (OEL).
• Overseeing the completion of OEL tasks by delegating to Centres of Excellence (CoEs), and monitoring progress to ensure timely delivery.
• Proactively managing financial and quality related risks across your engagement portfolio, intervening where needed to provide strategic advice to uplift the compliance and revenue stability of your portfolio.
• Ensure compliance with service line specific policies and parameters.
• Supporting the annual external audit process.

• Manage a portfolio of client opportunities and engagements as the Finance single contact point for assigned Engagement Partners and Managers.
• Coordinate with client servers and CoEs to:
  • Apply knowledge of service line specific OEL policies and guidelines to ensure compliance across the OEL lifecycle.
  • Monitor and advise on risk assessment and compliance processes.
  • Advise on pricing models and engagement budgets.
  • Assess financial implications of engagement structures and budgets.
  • Support and challenge the Estimate-to-Complete (ETC) processes and related financial updates.
  • Support the portfolio’s working capital activity.
• Provide challenge and best practice insights to client servers where required such as through optimal margin, pricing plans or engagement structures.
• Upskill and share knowledge with client servers on OEL best practice, standards and tools.
• Develop a diverse network of relationships across Finance and non-Finance stakeholders to provide holistic Finance support for Engagement Partners and elevate queries beyond remit to other functional experts within Finance (e.g. PFAs).
• Review work performed by CoEs for accuracy and take ownership of OEL tasks when urgent needs arise.
• Seek to understand client-server needs, demands, and the nuances of the specific Service Line to deepen insights and strategic thinking.
• Share best practices across the EBP group to drive consistency and excellence.
• Engage with CoE Managers to flag issues, trends or knowledge required for CoE upskilling.
• Provide subject matter expertise in delivering training on OEL best practices for CoEs.
• Support continuous improvement through identifying opportunities for innovation and automation.

• Deliver with pace ensuring activities are executed accurately in a fast-moving environment.
• Ability to engage proactively with Engagement Partners to anticipate upcoming needs and ensure OEL requirements are met on time.
• Strong interpersonal skills with a good understanding of the client server perspective and ability to build relationships with them.
• Confident communicator who can challenge constructively and influence outcomes.
• Excellent analytical and commercial acumen, with high attention to detail.
• Take ownership of monthly activities, driving progress and proactively managing business outcomes to meet deadlines and performance targets.
• Quick learner with a proactive approach and eager to share knowledge with others.
• Ability to translate complex technical system language into business-relevant terms.
• Skilled listener with sound judgment and the ability to elevate appropriately.

• Experience in a client-facing or finance-related role within a professional services or corporate environment.
• Experience managing stakeholders and…