Finance Business Partner

The Finance Business Partner will work closely with senior leaders across the business to provide commercial insight, constructive challenge and robust financial support that improve decision-making and business performance. This role will support the operating businesses and selected cross-business functions, providing leadership across performance management, planning, business cases, governance and financial analysis. The postholder will help shape strategic and operational decisions, ensuring resources are allocated effectively and commercial outcomes are maximised in line with the organisation’s objectives.

Finance Business Partner Responsibilities Commercial Business Partnering and Decision Support

• Act as the finance business partner for the operating businesses and selected cross-business functions (with an emphasis on Customer Operations and sales), supporting all key financial areas including revenue, cost of sales, operating expenditure, capital expenditure and cash.
• Partner with senior stakeholders, including Executive Committee members and their leadership teams, to provide insightful analysis, constructive challenge and clear commercial recommendations.
• Lead financial evaluation of commercial initiatives including pricing and tariff proposals, customer and product profitability, supplier negotiations, capital investment and strategic projects.
• Support business decisions that improve profitability, cash flow, return on investment and risk management.
• Develop robust business cases and ensure appropriate financial governance is applied to key decisions, including bids, product launches, investment proposals and major change initiatives.

• Drive performance management across supported areas through regular review meetings, analysis of results against budget and forecast, and identification of actions to improve outcomes.
• Analyse business performance to identify trends, risks and opportunities, using scenario modelling and "what if" analysis to support strategic and operational decisions.
• Review sales pipeline performance, win rates, customer profitability, organisational effectiveness and resource allocation to ensure informed decision-making.

• Develop meaningful KPIs and management information for the supported areas, ensuring reporting is accurate, timely and focused on the key drivers of performance.
• Work with finance and technology colleagues to improve, standardise and automate reporting, reducing reliance on ad hoc analysis where possible.
• Support the preparation and review of board and management reporting to ensure it provides clear insight into performance, risks and opportunities.

• Identify opportunities to improve financial processes, systems, controls and ways of working across the business.
• Contribute to the development of a high-performance, commercially focused finance function that supports delivery of the organisation’s goals.

• Qualified accountant (ACA, CIMA, ACCA or equivalent).
• Proven experience in a commercial finance, finance business partnering or decision support role.
• Strong track record of influencing business decisions and driving improved financial and commercial performance.
• Excellent financial modelling, analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to turn data into clear insight and recommendations.
• Strong stakeholder management skills with the credibility and confidence to challenge senior leaders constructively.
• Experience of budgeting, forecasting, performance reporting, business case development and investment appraisal.
• Good understanding of commercial drivers, governance and risk management within a complex business environment.
• Experience in energy, utilities, infrastructure or another regulated or asset-intensive sector would be advantageous.

• Commercially minded, curious and proactive, with a strong focus on outcomes.
• Able to build credibility quickly and work effectively across a wide range of stakeholders.
• Confident communicator who can explain financial issues clearly to non-finance audiences.
• Resilient and comfortable operating…