Finance Business Partner

Contract Term: 12 Months

Contracting Authority: Network Rail

Location: Hybrid - Bristol

Network Rail is at the heart of revitalising Britain’s railway. From Crossrail – Europe’s largest civil engineering project – to investment in world-class stations and major programmes of electrification, we're involved in some of the most ambitious and diverse ventures that this country has ever seen. We at Network Rail are dedicated to becoming one of Britain's best employers and believe this starts with placing the candidate at the heart of everything we do!

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

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

As a Finance Business Partner your main responsibilities would be:

• Lead and provide financial advice and guidance to senior budget holders in understanding the impact of the period results and forecasts against budges so they can understand their business better.
• Be the expert in the function on accounting practices and advise on financial results and forecasts for budget holders, including preparing period accruals, transfers and adjustments to validate accounts are reflective, relevant.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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
• 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
• 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.
• Manage the performance of central accounting functions to deliver for the cost centre area to enable an efficiently and effective accounting service.
• Collate, investigate and make recommendation for investment appraisals and business case analysis to aid business decisions.
• Model and analyse cost base and identify and drive opportunities and efficiencies to achieve area targets.

You will have essential experience in:

• Demonstrate strong understanding of business needs and relevant application of accounting standards
• Membership (Or working towards a membership) of a relevant accounting body (CIMA/ACCA) or equivalent experience
• Expert knowledge and experience of creating and maintaining accounts and annual budget
• Significant experience within relevant finance disciplines
• Strong excel skills and use of data manipulation
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to interpret technical accounting regulations into everyday language
• Demonstrable effective influencing skills at a senior level
• Significant understanding of financial control and risk
• Excellent technical finance and accounting knowledge

Desirable experience:

• Understanding of project management principles and experience of managing complex projects
• Membership of a relevant accounting body
• Experience of Oracle based systems
• Degree or equivalent qualification in finance and accounting or business management or experience

If this Finance Business Partner role sounds like something that you would be interested in, please click the link to apply.

Network Rail are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. They welcome applications from everyone

"In applying for this role, you acknowledge the following: this role falls in scope of the Off Payroll Working in the Public Sector legislation. Any rates of payment quoted will reflect the gross rate per day for the assignment and will be subject to appropriate taxes and statutory costs. As such the payment to the intermediary and your income resulting from this contract will be different."

Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not Overseas.