Finance Business Partner, Global Technology and COO Office

Finance Business Partner, Global Technology and COO Office

Who we're looking for
We are looking for a Finance Business Partner to join the Schroders' FP&A Business Partnering team with a specific focus on supporting the Global Technology & Executive COO Office functions to deliver their financial goals.

The Finance function within Schroders is undergoing significant change to enhance decision making through expansion and enhancement of both financial MI and our Finance Business Partnering capability.

Our vision for Finance Business Partners is to be trusted advisors to the business by demonstrating a good understanding of their functions' commercial contribution that enables Schroders to deliver its goals.

The Technology function remains critical in enabling Schroders' success and we are looking to hire an experienced IT Finance Business Partner who can partner with Technology to ensure their expenditure is well controlled and understood, as well as work collaboratively across various stakeholders to enhance decisions and cost transparency of the IT cost base.

About Schroders
We're 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've been around for over 200 years, but keep adapting as society and technology changes. What doesn't change is our commitment to helping our clients, and society, prosper.

The team
Based at our HQ in London, the FP&A team is integral in driving business performance through assisting senior stakeholders with planning, strategic decision making and performance evaluation.

We are a dedicated team, defined by our strong culture, enjoyment in our work, and commitment to achieving high standards. We foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment where everyone's contributions are valued. The team also works closely with Revenue Accounting, Cost Accounting, and other operational finance teams to ensure results are correct and fit for use.

You will be encouraged to develop a range of financial expertise and build your commercial awareness and acumen which will provide you with an understanding of how our business operates and underscore the critical role the FP&A function plays in strategic decision-making and financial performance management.

What you'll do

1. Reporting & Performance Analysis: Ensure the integrity of actual spend, allocations and finance data; prepare insight packs which highlight any risks to meeting budget/targets. Review appropriateness of cost and statutory allocations to ensure charges to segments & entities remain materially accurate/changes communicated to appropriate stakeholders.
2. Budgeting & Forecasting: Proactively support Technology to develop, understand and challenge their annual budget and forecast - Ensuring material accuracy of financial data; timeliness of submissions in line with Exco planning deadlines & timetables; and preparation of Quarterly Business Review (QBR) finance packs that ensure key issues are called out and discussed with senior stakeholders.
3. Investment Appraisal & Change Management: Evaluate Technology's potential investments to ensure they align with strategy and expected returns. Track and monitor investments performance and adjust where necessary.
4. Process Improvement: Ensure the delivery of accurate and timely finance process (month-end close, budget, and forecast system updating, reconciliations, allocation updates and ensure finance systems remain aligned to business structures and changes) while also identifying opportunities supporting simplification and continuous improvement.
5. Build Relationships, Challenge, & Influence: Build strong relations with the Technology leaders, gaining trust and respect. Use your financial expertise to influence decisions, ensuring that sound financial principles are applied. Question the assumptions underlying business decisions, ensuring that all potential options are considered.

The knowledge, experience and qualifications that will help

• Experienced IT Finance Business Partnering, cost analysis and IT cost allocations.
• Qualified (+5 years post qualified experience) with a professional accounting qualification (ACCA, CIMA, ACA, or international equivalent).
• Strong commercial acumen, leadership, and ability to build strong relationships and influence senior leaders.
• Good written and verbal communication skills and proven experience dealing with a range of stakeholders, both within Finance and in the business.
• Manage others, deliver within tight deadlines, work well with others, and improve efficiency while maintaining an appropriate control framework.
• Financial Services Industry / Investment Management experience an advantage, but not mandatory.

What you'll be like

• Highly energetic, curious, and self-motivated, demonstrating an ability to self-solve and seek to be a good example in terms of the 'what' and the 'how.'
• Be able to engage and collaborate with various stakeholders including tailoring messaging to the audience.
• Proactive team player with excellent interpersonal skills and able to establish and maintain effective, cooperative working relationships.
• Able to manage competing demands on time where necessary.
• Aptitude to distil significant amounts of data and information into succinct takeaways for executive level leaders.

We recognise potential, whoever you are
Our purpose is to provide excellent investment performance to clients through active management. Diversity of thought, facilitated by an inclusive culture, will allow us to make better decisions and better achieve our purpose. This is why inclusion and diversity are a strategic priority for us and why we are an equal opportunities employer. You are welcome here, regardless of your age, disability, gender identity, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, socio-economic background, or any other protected characteristic.