Operations Finance Business Partner

We are on a mission to be the partner of choice for developing people and their communities. Reed in Partnership is a public service provider specialising in skills training for the long-term unemployed, increasing employment opportunities by working with employers and providing youth services.

Pay Range:
£38,000 to £45,000

Job Description:
Do you have the ability to confidently influence and support colleagues towards achieving business objectives? Are you a part or a qualified accountant? Do you have experience of financial reporting? Consider the role of Operations Finance Business Partner with Reed in Partnership!

About the role:
A primary purpose of the Operations Finance Business Partner role is to be the Finance representative supporting the Programme Director and Senior Operations team for the Programmes being partnered. Performing contract performance reviews with operational leads, utilising the suite of financial and KPI reports available. Facilitating focused Finance support, involving the preparation of detailed financial and performance models, regular information sharing and guidance in relation to financial performance and maximising revenue & profit generation in line with Contract plans and targets. Candidates should possess a strong work ethic and an agile mind-set. Candidates should also enjoy working in a fast-paced environment and a continuous improvement culture.

Reporting to the Financial Business Partner Lead, the Operations Finance Business Partner will develop models for monthly, periodic and long-range performance and finance forecasting. These models must also have the ability to feed into the annual budgeting and strategic review process. The Operations Finance Business Partner role will contribute to the provision and continuous improvement of accurate, timely and well-presented financial management information to the Board of Directors and Operations Management.

Key accountabilities:

• Using, monitoring & querying the periodic management accounts outputs, focusing on driving performance
• Enhancing the financial performance information available to Operations
• Confidently communicating with other key stakeholders and management teams
• Obtaining information required to inform a rolling forecast financial model updating in a timely manner
• Build and develop Excel financial models to support key contracts including summary reporting. Models will need to be easily adaptable and easily followed by users.
• Reports & Models must be user friendly with key information for decisions easily accessible.
• Perform periodic P&L & contract performance reviews with operational leads, utilising the suite of financial and KPI reports available. Discussing areas or suggestions for improvements. Provide timely and detailed cost centre management information with explanations for cost variances.
• Help drive financial focus and improved operational efficiency.
• Creation of financial and performance reporting tools for new contract implementation, along with embedding the use of these into Operational activities.
• Provide timely financial or forecasting information required externally by our Customers
• Regular communication supporting operational leads plan for resourcing requirement using commercial model workings Forecasts and Budgeting Develop models for monthly, periodic and long-range forecasting as well as the annual budgeting and strategic review process.
• Preparation of periodic, long range forecasts and annual budgets using models capable of consolidating up to 200 cost centres.
• Liaise with the Management Accountants to ensure processes and models are understood and accurately reflected on consolidation.
• Prepare periodic forecasts, focusing on the consolidation and analysis of variances to previous projections
• Regular communication with operational leads to understand their forecasting predictions and support in driving improved operational performance.

Other Duties:

• Responding to ad-hoc commercial analysis required by our customers and other stakeholders.
• To support the Head of Commercial Accounting, Commercial Business Partners & wider Finance function in continually embracing emerging technology to enhance the operation of the department
• To ensure that the ethos of continuous improvement exists within the Commercial Finance function by reviewing the quality and relevance of the output of the department and reviewing procedures routinely, working with management to implement to the most efficient and effective methods for the business

What's in it for you?
Alongside a generous base salary (pro-rata for part time), and great flexibility with your working schedule, we offer training, development and progression opportunities. You will have access to the range of Reed in Partnership benefits, which include:

• 25 days annual leave (pro-rata for part time) plus statutory bank holidays
• Reed Pension Scheme
• Award Winning Management & Leadership training
• Professional & Personal Development Funds
• Bi-annual pay reviews
• Plus much more

With the chance to dramatically make a difference to the local community, this role offers immense job satisfaction.

Person Specification:

Essential Criteria:

• Part or Qualified accountant
• Management accounting experience in a private sector environment. Involving experience of financial reporting, KPI preparation and communication and management reporting.
• Confident communicator with experience in building relationships & trust with Operational teams
• Ability to set up & maintain detailed forecast models using Microsoft excel or other tools where necessary
• Proven ability to convey financial information to non-financial managers in a coherent, confident manner. Relevant experience might come from monthly management accounts review meetings, budget or forecast negotiations
• Proven analytical and reporting skills
• Power BI (or similar) knowledge and ability to set up reports using Power BI desktop
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Excel
• Proactive, self-motivated and agile attitude
• Excellent organisational and time management skills and attention to detail
• A team player with good interpersonal, relationship building, networking and communication skills.
• Ability to deal with and manage through conflicting priorities and a number of tasks running concurrently

Desirable Criteria:

• Ability to confidently influence and support colleagues towards achieving business objectives
• Business partnering or commercial accounting experience in a private sector and/or contracting environment or in a fast moving, high volume, multi-site environment, with specific focus on business planning, budgeting and forecasting
• Experience and ability in presentation to Senior Stakeholders including Board level
• Good accounting systems knowledge, gained through in-depth exposure to systems such as Oracle, SAP, CODA
• Demonstrable experience of working in a fast paced, changing finance environment
• Experience of best practice communicating

Diversity and Inclusion:
We aim to ensure that no candidate or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity. We offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria.

Please note internal applications for this role close on Friday 21st June.