Finance Business Partner, Operations

We are a global investment manager. We help institutions, intermediaries and individuals around the world invest money to meet their goals, fulfil their ambitions, and prepare for the future. We have around 6,000 people on six continents. And we have been around for over 200 years but keep adapting as society and technology changes. What does not change is our commitment to helping our clients, and society, prosper. The base We moved into our new HQ in the City of London in 2018. We are close to our clients, in the heart of the UK's financial centre. And we have everything we need to work flexibly. The team Based at our HQ in London, the Financial Planning and Analysis ('FP&A') team assists senior management and heads of business units with planning, strategic decision making and performance evaluation. We are enthusiastic and driven, with a strong culture and we take our work seriously. What you will do We are looking to hire a talented and energetic individual as the Finance Business Partner, Operations Management function (''operations''), to ensure that operational expenditure is well controlled, allocated and key drivers of their cost well understood by the rest of the business segments and entities they support, and overall spend is aligned with the Group's strategic objectives and based on sound commercial decision making. The role reports into the Head of Cost Financial Planning and Analysis and will support the operation's function in planning and budgeting, performance reporting and analysis, and financial modelling. You will add real commercial value, by developing trusted relationships with the business and by shaping strategy and financial plans. You will also manage a financial analyst, as well as advance cohesion between various internal Finance teams, working closely in particular with Finance Data and Reporting teams, Compensation Accounting, Cost Accounting team and Group Reporting. The knowledge, experience, and qualifications you need. Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Financial and business strategy - provide senior management with relevant and timely analysis to enable it to assess performance against the Group's strategy and objectives; develop KPIs which will be used to assess the success of business and financial strategy; use internal and external benchmarking to assist decision making.
• Business performance reporting - track performance against key targets and outcomes and produce regular corporate level management information. Highlight trends, key actions, and strategic implications. Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders to help ensure Finance is well informed and has a strong voice in the organisation.
• Planning, budgeting, and regular forecasting - lead the annual budget process, as well as the production of periodic re-forecasts, to ensure financial risks and opportunities are highlighted, including communications, timetables, and data requirements; ensure the integrity of financial models and projections through implementation of suitable controls, documentation, and testing.
• Project reporting and investment appraisal - lead the review and appraisal of Operation's investment initiatives to ensure aligned with Group's strategy and based on sound commercial decisions. This will include the financial impact of significant business change proposals/plans and helping to develop business cases, model benefits and assess for capitalisation.
• Thought leadership - become an integral member of the FP&A team helping to deliver new insights and continuous improvement.
• Detective analytics and diagnostics - work with the Finance Data and Reporting teams to leverage our data assets by using advanced analytics, AI, and other data science techniques to run exceptions analysis and to develop reporting to enhance our control environment and deliver insights.
  
  A background in cost FP&A / Finance Business Partnering and an understanding of Investment Management operational cost drivers would be an advantage.
Qualifications and technical accounting knowledge
• Professional accounting qualification (ACCA, CIMA, ACA, or international equivalent) would be desirable.
• Finance Business Partnering experience - you will have experience working in an FP&A / similar role in a financial service environment.
What you will be like.
• Business partnering and communication - excellent written and verbal communication skills, business acumen and commercial awareness to communicate at an advanced level with stakeholders inside the organisation is expected.
• Management - evidence of managing, coaching, and motivating others and a team would be an advantage.
• Prioritisation - the candidate must evidence prioritising his/her team's workload and managing the team and stakeholders' expectations.
• Critical thinking and collaboration - the successful candidate will work side by side with senior functional stakeholders and should be influential in strategic decision making. Demonstrating strategic insight and collaborating well with other global Finance colleagues, local management and other departments will be imperative.
• Self-starter and autonomous working - effective, professional, and proactive support for the wider business is expected. The ability to evidence this and to demonstrate initiative is important.
• Innovation and process enhancement - the ability to analyse data, process flows and identify areas to improve efficiency and maintain an appropriate control framework is expected.