Finance Business Partner

Network Rail; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 43,000 - 51,000

Job description

About Network Rail

Join Network Rail - Where People and Connections Matter

At Network Rail, we're dedicated to keeping passengers and freight moving safely and efficiently across the country. When you join us, you're not just part of a team - you're part of something that matters to millions. We believe that our people are at the heart of what we do, and every role plays a vital part in building a better, more connected railway. Click here to learn more.

We're committed to creating a diverse, inclusive workplace that reflects the communities we serve. To discover more about our ED&I commitments click here. We value flexibility and understand the importance of a healthy work-life balance. As a Disability Confident Leader, we'll do everything we can to accommodate any needs throughout the recruitment process.

If you're ready to make a real difference, we'd love to hear from you!

Brief Description

To work with the supported business leadership team, under the direction of the Financial Controller/Senior Finance Business Partner, to deliver professional finance and accounting advice.

Provides proactive, value-add finance support to the business leaders across the function/route.

About the role (External)

1. Lead and provide financial advice and guidance to senior budget holders in understanding the impact of the period results and forecasts against budgets so they can understand their business better.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. Collate, investigate and make recommendations for investment appraisals and business case analysis to aid business decisions.
8. Model and analyse cost base and identify and drive opportunities and efficiencies to achieve area targets.

Job Skills, Experience and Qualifications

Essential

1. Demonstrate strong understanding of business needs and relevant application of accounting standards.
2. Membership (or working towards a membership) of a relevant accounting body (CIMA/ACCA).
3. Expert knowledge and experience of creating and maintaining accounts and annual budget.
4. Significant experience within relevant finance disciplines.
5. Strong Excel skills and use of data manipulation.
6. Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
7. Ability to interpret technical accounting regulations into everyday language.
8. Demonstrable effective influencing skills at a senior level.
9. Significant understanding of financial control and risk.
10. Excellent technical finance and accounting knowledge.

Desirable

1. Understanding of project management principles and experience of managing complex projects.
2. Membership of a relevant accounting body.
3. Extensive experience of Oracle-based systems.
4. Degree or equivalent qualification in finance and accounting or business management or experience.

How to apply (External)

Salary: £43,588 - £50,018

Drugs and Alcohol Standard:

Our Drugs and Alcohol Standard is changing as of 16.01.2023. All prospective candidates who have not been offered a conditional role by 16.01.2023 will be required to undergo and pass a drugs and alcohol test. Your application will be rescinded if you record a positive test. All positive drugs and alcohol test results for prospective candidates will be securely held on the Sentinel database and a 5-year suspension from applying for a safety critical role, a role which requires PTS certification or a Key Safety role on Network Rail Managed Infrastructure will be enforced.

Network Rail adheres to pre-employment Baseline Personal Security Standard (BPSS), this is a government standard for pre-employment vetting. BPSS government standard pre-employment vetting requires Network Rail to screen a potential employee's unspent criminal convictions and undertake 3-year career checks. Employment at Network Rail is subject to employees meeting the BPSS government standard pre-employment vetting.

Network Rail welcomes applications regardless of age, disability, marital status (including civil partnerships), pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, transgender status, sex (or gender), employment status, trade union affiliation, or other irrelevant factor. We will interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria.

Keeping people safe on the railway is at the heart of everything we do; safe behaviour is therefore a requirement of working for Network Rail. Applicants should demonstrate their personal commitment to safety in their application.

Network Rail can offer you a rewarding career with competitive pay and excellent benefits including a choice of contributory pension schemes, a generous annual leave package, a bonus scheme and an annual subsidy on season tickets.

Network Rail positively embraces flexible working recognising that employees may wish to balance work and family/home life.

Closing date: 10th April 2025, late applications will not be accepted. We retain the right to close the advert before the listed closing date based on application volumes.