Senior Finance Business Partner

Network Rail; Glasgow; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 63,000; Full time

Job description

About Network Rail

At Network Rail, our passengers and freight users are at the heart of everything we do. We help connect people to their friends and families and get goods to their destination safely and efficiently. We're an organisation where people matter. Watch our video to find out more!

Scotland's Railway is part of this large family, and it covers a large geographical area from the Borders to Thurso at the far tip of the North East of Scotland, accounting for almost 20 per cent of the UK rail network. We provide rapid access along busy commuter routes to our seven cities, servicing the varied needs of our business and leisure commuter services, including cross border services and rural services. We have up to 50 freight services operating every day and we are steadily building capacity for this to grow. Our ambition to be responsive to passengers and freight users drives us every day and we're empowered to do the right thing for those who use the rail network. We actively challenge unsafe practices and take responsibility for addressing risks, resolving issues and protecting safety and wellbeing.

Our colleagues are encouraged to work flexibly as we know that busy lives don't always fit around a traditional working pattern. If you need flexibility to complete your role, just let us know and we will do our utmost to help you invest in your career with us while balancing other aspects of your life.

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 want to help deliver a railway that is safe, reliable, affordable and that provides great customer service to everyone. For more information about Network Rail click here.

Brief Description

This is an exciting opportunity to help shape and be part of the future of Scotland's Railway. As we are just finishing the first year of our current five-year strategic planning period, we are looking for a finance professional with experience in financial reporting and systems to help us develop and enhance our reporting and insights across the rail industry in Scotland. By combining financial information from within Network Rail and the wider industry, you will lead on a number of cross-cutting initiatives to help us drive down the net cost of the railway.

About the role (External)

Here are some of the duties your role will include:

1. Lead on the consolidation of financial reports from various parts of the business and wider industry, driving continuous improvement and best practices in their production.
2. Monitor and analyse financial performance against strategic objectives, highlighting areas of potential inefficiency and efficiency savings, and identifying risks and opportunities.
3. Support a programme of analysis to highlight areas of financial, process, and performance improvement to aid the development of long-term strategic plans.
4. Lead the development, upgrading, and improvement of financial reporting and analysis systems, processes, and tools.
5. Be part of a flexible analyst team, providing high-priority analytical support to the business.
6. Work with stakeholders across the rail industry to produce and develop financial reporting and insightful analysis to help drive down the net cost of the railway.
7. Be the expert in the function on financial systems and advise on improvements to reporting practices.
8. Develop and maintain financial reporting solutions and improve systems and procedures deployed in financial analysis and decision-making to ensure they are fit for purpose and reduce the need for human intervention.
9. Provide high-priority ad hoc reports and analytical support as required.

The role requires experience in data and tools such as Power BI, which should be highlighted in your application.

What you will bring to the role:

1. Membership (or working towards membership) of a relevant accounting body (CIMA/ACCA/ICAEW) or equivalent experience.
2. Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills at all levels.
3. Successful relevant experience working in a complex financial environment including demonstrable experience in managing business risks, professional financial control and forward planning.
4. Demonstrable record of budget management, governance and ability to understand and interpret commercial and financial landscapes (budgets, forecasts, actual status).
5. Significant experience in managing ambiguity in a financial environment with strong evaluation and decision-making skills.
6. Excellent technical Financial and Accounting knowledge and application of that knowledge in a complex and commercial environment.
7. Educated to degree level in a relevant discipline, for example accounting and finance, business management or equivalent demonstrable experience in finance.

It's desirable if you have it to help give you context to the role:

1. Full membership of relevant post graduate professional body (CIMA/ACCA/ICAEW).
2. Experience of Oracle based systems.
3. Substantial experience within multiple finance disciplines.
4. Knowledge and technical expertise of Government accounting and relevant financial governance.
5. Understanding of project management principles and experience of managing complex projects to successful conclusion.

How to apply (External)
Salary: Starting at £55,596 and rising to £62,546 per annum.

Network Rail Benefits - To find out about what benefits we offer, click here.

Closing date: 14.04.2025.

Please get your application in as soon as possible, we may close the advert before the listed closing date if we receive enough applications. Late applications will not be accepted.

Click 'apply now' to apply.

We're dedicated to creating an inclusive environment and we welcome applications from everyone!

Network Rail is a Disability Confident Leader 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. You can visit Evenbreak's 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.

All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks. Click here for more information.

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. You should demonstrate your personal dedication to safety on your application.

Please note that more than one position may be available.