Finance Business Partner

A member of the Finance Planning and Analysis ( FP&A) team, responsible for the successful provisionof an effective FP&A function to key stakeholders across the RAU, providing the necessary informationand insight to assist in the decision-making process and deliver the Corporate Strategy objectives.The post supports the annual business and financial planning cycle including the production of theRAUs long-term financial plans. It includes the delivery of monthly management reporting packs; theproduction and submission of regulatory returns; provision of business partnering to seniorstakeholders and investment and project appraisals across the RAU as and when required.Key Responsibilities1. Assist in the production and submission of all regulatory returns to external bodies such as the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) and the Office for Students (OfS).2. As Finance Business Partner, build strong and positive relationships with budget holders and senior managers across all functions as required.3. Prepare Monthly Management Reporting Packs for relevant areas across the RAU and meet with budget holders to discuss and review, ensuring deadlines are met and significant major variances are explained and, where appropriate, remedial action is taken.4. Support the FP&A Lead and Deputy Finance Director through the annual business and financial planning process, working closely with senior management across the RAU, challenging business 1Updated November 2024 assumptions, providing financial support and ensuring that all key milestones are met.5. Work closely with budget holders and management across the RAU to prepare phased annual budgets, providing the necessary financial and business support to enable managers to understand and take responsibility for their budgets and receive analysis that informs and supports effective decision making.6. Assist in the production of the RAUs long term financial plans.7. Lead, or assist as appropriate, with investment and project appraisals across the RAU as and when required. Apply various tools such as investment appraisal techniques to better inform decision making and adopt a partner/challenger role in evaluating business plans and business cases.8. Lead, or assist as appropriate, with ad hoc projects as required.9. Assist in the production of supporting presentations for senior management and other internal stakeholders, including the Finance & Estates Committee and the Governing Council.10. Deputise for Finance colleagues as required.11. Undertake such other tasks as may be reasonably requested.General responsibilities:

• The University is committed to equality of opportunity. All staff are required to comply with
current legislation, University policies and good practice guidance.
• All staff are required to act in a way that safeguards the health and wellbeing of children and
vulnerable adults at all times. The post holder must be familiar with and adhere to appropriate safeguarding policies and guidance and participate in related mandatory/statutory training. Managers have a responsibility to ensure their team members understand their individual responsibilities with regard to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults.
• All staff are required to participate in the University appraisal process and should ensure they
are familiar with the process and plan time to prepare for their appraisal. Following the appraisal, staff are expected to undertake in any necessary learning and development and work towards the objectives that have been set.
• The University expects staff to attend any training designated as mandatory and to undertake
learning and development activities to support their role. Managers must facilitate learning and development within their teams.
• It is a condition of employment that staff will not disclose any information obtained in the
course of their duties other than to those entitled to receive it. The post holder must ensure that the confidentiality of personal data remains secure and that restricted information or highly restricted information to which they have access remains confidential during and after their employment at Royal Agricultural University. All staff must undergo appropriate data protection training as required.
• All absence from work must be reported in accordance with the University's absence
procedures and recorded on iTrent.,
• The University acknowledges its responsibility to provide a safe, smoke free environment, to
its employees, service users and visitors. It is the policy of the University not to allow smoking on University premises other than in specifically designated areas.University ValuesAs a University we have chosen five values to underpin our learning community. These are the valueswhich we will all work by and for which we want the RAU to be known. We are:
• Collaborative - we believe in the power of working together. We are stronger as a community
of practice - inspiring each other, identifying shared goals, and providing reciprocal support leads to greater success.
• Open-Minded - we are receptive to new ideas and we value the diversity of experiences and
skills. We are committed to listening to everyone across the RAU community.
• Resourceful - we adopt creative approaches to achieve our goals while setting higher
standards, promoting professionalism and sustainability.
• Responsible - individually and collectively we take accountability for our actions working with
integrity to achieve the highest ethical standards.
• Inclusive - we acknowledge the fundamental value and dignity of all individuals and are
committed to maintaining an environment that seeks to eliminate all forms of discrimination and respects diverse traditions, heritages, and experiences.

Requirements Essential Measured By The post holder must be able to demonstrate: or A) Application Form Desirable B) Interview C) Presentation, Qualified or working towards relevant accountancy D A, B qualification, ACA/CIMA/ACCA or equivalent Evidence of continuing professional development D A Knowledge, Experience and Skills: Experience of working in Financial Planning and Analysis, E A, B with a background in management accounting and financial analysis Experience as a Finance Business Partner E A, B Experience of ensuring financial controls are effective and E A, B appropriate Experience of producing a management reporting pack for E A, B stakeholders Experience of budgeting and forecasting in a complex E A, B environment Ability to understand the strategic business goals of the RAU E A, B and understand the wider business context Excellent organisation and problem-solving skills E A, B, Requirements Essential Measured By The post holder must be able to demonstrate: or A) Application Form Desirable B) Interview C) Presentation Strong analytical skills, able to identify and interpret trends and E A, B improve financial forecasting Team player, with exceptional interpersonal skills, able to work E A, B with a diverse and broad range of stakeholders across the organisation Good written and oral communication skills, able to E A, B communicate clearly, concisely, accurately and in ways that promote understanding, to both finance and non-finance specialists. Demonstrable ability to influence and challenge stakeholders E A, B at all levels when needed Experience of accounting software packages and strong D A, B finance system skills, including excel, and using and developing reporting tools Ability to work flexibly with conflicting demands so that work E A, B is scheduled in order to meet changing priorities and deadlines. Ability to plan and organise own workload effectively and get things done