Finance Business Partner - 12 month secondment

An exciting 12 month Finance Business Partner opportunity has become available to get front line operational maintenance business exposure as part of Lancs and Cumbria Delivery Unit (DU) supported by an established North West Route finance team.

The purpose of this role is to work with the business leadership team, under the direction of the Financial Controller/Senior Finance Business Partner, to deliver professional finance and accounting advice. You will also be engaging with the Infrastructure Delivery Maintenance team to drive efficiencies and budget management.

The role is based out of Manchester Square One but travel is required to Preston & Carlisle, where the Delivery Unit is based.

If your strengths are in stakeholder management and you want to make a difference and be part of a team that is going through change as part of the new business operating model, then this might be the role for you.

About the role (External)

Every day will be different, but you can expect to be involved in the following activities:

1. Lead and provide financial advice and guidance to senior budget holders in understanding the impact of the period results and forecasts against budges so they can understand their business better.

2. Be the expert in the function on accounting practices and advise on financial results and forecasts for budget holders, including preparing period accruals, transfers and adjustments to validate accounts are reflective, relevant.

3. Manage corporate governance throughout the cost centres they manage, conducting deep dives and reviewing compliance with financial regulations to protect the business from legal or negative consequences.

4. Deliver expert and accurate business review information and reporting, and highlight any significant issues with financial and other business results to enable informed decision making by the business area.

5. Engage and influence senior members of the team to help them understand their financial position and use professional expertise to guide in initiatives to improve business performance

6. Build bottom up, detailed plans to manage and develop the production of business plans and budgets to enable good corporate governance and value add analysis for senior leaders

7. Identify and proactively manage commercial risks, including the financial suitability of new customers or suppliers reducing the potential risk impact on the business area and influencing decision makers.

8. Manage the performance of central accounting functions to deliver for the cost centre area to enable an efficiently and effective accounting service.

9. Collate, investigate and make recommendation for investment appraisals and business case analysis to aid business decisions.

10. Model and analyse cost base and identify and drive opportunities and efficiencies to achieve area targets.

· Demonstrate strong understanding of business needs and relevant application of accounting standards

· Membership (Or working towards a membership) of a relevant accounting body (CIMA/ACCA)

· Expert knowledge and experience of creating and maintaining accounts and annual budget

· Significant experience within relevant finance disciplines

· Strong excel skills and use of 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, Safe behaviour is a requirement of working for Network Rail. Applicants should be able to demonstrate their awareness of our safety vision

Network Rail operates and maintains the railway infrastructure 24/7 365 days a year. Our purpose is to connect people and goods with where they need to be and our vision is for a simpler, better, greener railway.

· Salary: Band 4C, starting at £43,588 and increasing to £49,037

• Pro-rata annual leave entitlement (28 days)


• My benefits – our discounted online shopping site


• A range of discounted offers including, childcare vouchers, healthcare offers – cycle to work, healthcare club discounted membership and other benefits


• Subsidies of up to 75% on rail and underground season tickets


• 75% discount on leisure travel


• A choice of contributory pension schemes


• 2 weeks paid reserve leave for our Armed Forces community