Senior Finance Business Partner

You'll be joining our finance team, which is part of the corporate structure known as Finance and Business Support, this feeds into Route Services. Your role involves supporting the function to deliver services that are vital to the running of the railway, deliver the provision of services agreed by the routes to allow them to benefit from economies of scale and the optimisation of our critical resources.

We offer business partnering insight, guidance and financial support to 6 primary functions; Business Services, Commercial and Procurement, Information Technology, Asset Information Services, Supply Chain Operations, and Engineering Services, along with the Routes and Regions

About the role (External)

Main responsibilities:

To work as an integral member of supported business senior leadership team, to proactively identify, plan and meet the finance needs of the business in order to improve business performance, in coordination with other members of the wider finance team as required. To positively challenge Senior Leaders, budgets and business activities to enable the best business outcomes are delivered.

What will you be doing?

· Consolidate, critically review and provide technical advice and guidance on periodic financial results and forecasts to Identify and monitor risks, opportunities and efficiencies to minimise the financial and legal impact on the business area.

· Provide robust professional recommendations and financial guidance on accounting guidelines and standards to enable the business to be financially and legally compliant.

· Provide technical and professional oversight of the periodic accounts, relevant analysis and preparation of business plans and budgets to enable the business to make effective decisions.

· Develop, understand and influence the cost and income drivers relevant to the business area to deliver the yearly business plan and manage to the overall settlement by effective decision making.

· Influence, coach and challenge senior budget holders in understanding the impact of their period results and forecasts against budgets in order to manage their business more effectively and manage within budgeting limits.

· Proactively challenge budget holders plans and budget submissions to understand the overall plan, providing advice and new initiatives to save costs and be more efficient as an organisation.

· Drive, adapt and deliver key KPI’S and deliverables for the function, highlighting any significant issues and trends with financial and other business results to aid decision makers to make efficiencies.

· Lead in budget holder key meetings on financial performance to provide professional financial advice and guidance to drive business decisions, minimise risk and deliver good corporate governance.

· Develop, drive and implement investment decisions and new business activities, working collaboratively with senior leaders to explore new opportunities and drive business performance.

· Membership (or working towards membership) of a relevant accounting body (CIMA/ACCA/ICAEW) or equivalent experience

· Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills all levels. This should include Customers; 3^rd party representatives, other business & functional leaders and key support personnel.

· Successful relevant experience working in a complex financial environment including demonstrable experience in managing business risks, professional financial control and forward planning.

· Demonstrable record of budget management, governance and ability to understand and interpret commercial and financial landscapes (budgets, forecasts, actual status).

· Significant experience in managing ambiguity in a financial environment with strong evaluation and decision-making skills.

· Excellent technical Financial and Accounting knowledge and application of that knowledge in a complex and commercial environment.

· Educated to degree level in a relevant discipline, for example accounting and finance, business management or equivalent demonstrable experience in finance

Desirable

· Full membership of relevant post graduate professional body (CIMA/ACCA/ICAEW)

· Experience of Oracle based systems

· Substantial experience within multiple finance disciplines

· Knowledge and technical expertise of Government accounting and relevant financial governance

· Understanding of project management principles and experience of managing complex projects to successful conclusion.

We're dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that reflects the passengers we serve. To achieve this, we're committed to becoming an open, diverse, and inclusive workplace, leveraging the skills and expertise of our talented workforce. Together, we strive to create a safe and accessible railway for everyone. Discover more about the importance of Diversity and Inclusion at Network Rail by clicking here.

Investing in our people is key to enhancing the safety, reliability, and efficiency of our railway system. If you're passionate about making a meaningful impact, then this opportunity is for you!, At Network Rail, we have a number of employee networks to reflect our diverse population and help to raise issues to the wider workforce and support their membership and support our Everybody Matters strategy, led by our central Diversity & Inclusion team. We have Diversity & Inclusion Champions who take part and lead on many activities, to drive through more initiatives to support an inclusive environment for all its people and promote a professional and positive working environment. For more information on Diversity & Inclusion at Network Rail, please follow this link

About our people and the recruitment process - We're an inclusive employer of choice and we welcome applications from everyone! We encourage our colleagues to work flexibly, as we know traditional working patterns don't always fit. If you want to consider working flexibly, just let us know and we'll do our best to help and invest in your career with us, whilst you have a healthy work life balance.

We're also a Disability Confident Leader employer and we'll try our best to adapt the process and offer a reasonable alternative to help support people with disabilities access, apply and interview for roles.

We offer excellent benefits, including:

Generous annual leave (28 days plus statutory days), with the option to buy/sell days.

Defined benefit pension scheme.

75% subsidy on rail and underground season tickets.

Up to 75% off leisure travel for you and your family (subject to terms and conditions)

️ Interest-free travel loan for train and car park season tickets.

Discounts at stations with your Network Rail pass.

Flexible/hybrid working arrangements.

️ Volunteer leave to make a positive impact.

Healthcare Scheme, GymPass discounts, Cycle to work plus more.

We offer generous maternity, paternity, and adoption leave to support our employees during significant life moments, Interviews: will take place W/C 23^rd September 2024, these will be held Virtually.

Salary: Band 3C £55,596 - £62,546

We are committed to a diverse workplace enriched with representation from diverse cultures, backgrounds and skills. We pride ourselves on creating an environment where difference is embraced, and individuals can thrive. We recognise that the success of the team is dependent on a multi-cultural, multi-disciplined group of individuals, aligned to deliver successful solutions.