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 Supply Chain Services team 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. The Senior Finance Business Partner (Off-charging) role responsible for operational off-charging and route and region reporting. It also oversees the operational services off-charging process to route and regional colleagues, provides utilisation data and is the central point of contact for all route and regional colleagues for advice, query resolution and updates for SCO rates, processes etc. Lastly, the role also includes efficiency reporting to customers for SCO services and also responsible for finance support to External Trading. The role has 2 direct reports, so line management experience is necessary. The Supply Chain Operations Finance team support the business who are responsible for c£1bn of gross expenditure a year – of which 60% is recovered to the business. A significant part of the role will be supporting the business with engaging it’s customers (Route & Regions). Therefore, we are looking for an individual who has experience ideally of working in a Region and / or significant abilities in dealing with a wide customer base. 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.About the role (External) 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; 3rd 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.
  
  Remote working opportunity! this role requires working in the office 2/3 days a week
You can visit Evenbreaks Career Hive for advice on accessibility support if you're unsure of the options available. Should you require any reasonable adjustments/modifications, please add a note to your application. Network Rail Benefits - We’re an organisation where people matter. We matter to millions. 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 We are proud to be recognised as a Times Top 50 Employer for Gender Equality for the third year in a row.