Finance Business Partner

London/Hybrid 3 months contract initially £400 per day via Umbrella Company.

Our commitment is to provide equal opportunity regardless of, for example, your gender, age, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or beliefs. We also engage with employers to develop programmes and pathways that embrace diverse talent and promote more inclusive employment worldwide through partnerships and other initiatives.

My client is a leading global centre for the study of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, renowned for its interdisciplinary approach to teaching and research. It brings together expertise in languages, cultures, and societies with a strong focus on addressing contemporary global challenges.

About the department:

The Finance and Procurement department is part of the central administration of the University. The department is responsible for leading on the annual finance and planning cycles including supporting staff in financial and student number forecasting and reporting; preparing returns to regulatory bodies; financial analysis to support decision-making, investment appraisal and performance benchmarking; audited statutory accounts; processing and maintenance of the University's financial receipts and payments; compliance with internal financial controls and tax legislation; and procurement. The principal financial software is Agresso Business World (Unit4).

Purpose of the role:

The Finance Business Partner (FBP) will be the lead finance professional providing support to Professional Services Departments. The FBP will work in a cluster alongside other business partners, while reporting to the Senior Finance Business Partner in the central Finance and Procurement Directorate.

Key responsibilities:

• Budgeting, Forecasting and Reporting: act as the interface between Professional Services Departments and central finance teams for planning, preparing the University's annual budget and for forecasting. Assist in reviewing, updating and monitoring the University's staffing budget.
• Monthly Performance Monitoring: produce monthly management accounts, monthly budget statements, commentaries and other information needed for the Departments and support the relevant Head of Department/Director of Professional Services in identifying risks of overspends and agreeing mitigations for Operational and Capital budgets.
• Analysis & Reporting: combine quantitative, qualitative data and statistical analysis to highlight trends, share insights and evaluate alternatives against business objectives.
• Support to Financial Operations: provide advice and support to academic and professional services staff and to students, including directions on appropriate routes into the University's financial transactions, University's procedures and processes.
• Knowledge Sharing & Change: identify and drive process and performance improvement, coaching and leadership to stakeholders as appropriate.
• Accounting: participate in month end and year end processes and support the preparation of the University's financial statements and ensure that the overall deadlines are met.
• Reporting: contribute to external and internal (for example monthly budget holder reports) reports as needed.
• Train: budget holders on financial management processes and deliver Agresso training to budget holders; update training material when necessary.
• Review: all new Programme proposals from both a Financial and Operational viewpoint, questioning and challenging assumptions and costings and ensuring all Financials are updated to reflect as accurate a position as possible.
• Assist: with the development of business cases including the provision of advice and information on the costs of new initiatives.
• Maintain: a Risks and Opportunities schedule against budget and KPIs.

Candidates must be able to show evidence of the above in their CV to be considered. Evidence of written work will be requested prior to your application being submitted to the business.