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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Partner with Commercial Heads to provide financial insights and support key business decisions.
- Company: GB Railfreight is a leading rail freight operator committed to safety, innovation, and diversity.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, supportive culture, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: This role can be based in Doncaster or Peterborough, offering flexibility.
- Why this job: Gain exposure to senior stakeholders and enhance your analytical skills in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Must be a qualified accountant with 2-3 years of post-qualification experience.
The predicted salary is between 42000 - 58000 £ per year.
Overview
Reporting to the Senior Commercial Finance Business Partner, the Commercial Finance Business Partner will partner with the Commercial Heads and the Account Management team. You will utilise commercial finance knowledge and well-developed analytical skills to generate financial insights to enhance the performance of your segments of the business.
This role will give you exposure to senior stakeholders, budgeting, forecasting, bids & tenders and performance analysis while supporting key business decisions. With one junior direct report you will be jointly responsible for covering our Energy & Industrial and Construction, Waste & Major Project segments (including property revenue).
You must be a qualified Accountant with a minimum of 2 years post-qualification experience to be considered for this role.
This role can be based on our Doncaster or Peterborough office. The salary on offer is £50,000 – £55,000
Closing date: 4th August 2025
Responsibilities
- Be the face of finance for the Commercial Heads and their team to offer advice and become a trusted business partner on all finance related matters.
- Coaching the Commercial Heads and their team on finance concepts relating to enhance the decision-making process.
- Discuss monthly performance with the Commercial Head and their team highlighting trends, risks and potential opportunities (e.g. pipeline) in your segment.
- Produce Month End Accruals for all income and expenditure relating to your segment.
- Liaise with the management accountants to allocate costs/ cost drivers relating to your segment.
- Produce monthly reporting packs including KPI\’s, variance analysis and commentary for your segment.
- Support and challenge the Commercial Heads in the production of Budgets, Forecasts and rolling Forecast.
- Assist the Commercial Heads and the Account Managers with the calculation and independently review the Inflation, Fuel Escalator, Contractual Minimums and Track Access increases on contracts.
- Assist with Cost Model preparation and reviews for new business.
- Support Accounts Receivable and Payable with Dispute resolution and credit control.
- Quarterly review underperforming contracts in your segment and discuss with senior leadership.
- Attend Customer/Supplier meetings when necessary, and influence and advise commercial stakeholders on ways to drive efficiency and improve business processes, and profitability.
- Monitor Claims for/against GB Railfreight impacting your commercial segment. Supplying costs/ Evidence where necessary.
Qualifications
- Qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA) with 2-3 years+ post-qualification experience
- Previous experience working in a similar role
- Proven business partnering skills & comfortable challenging senior leaders and influencing decision
- Experience in management accounting, FP&A, or cost analysis within industry.
- Exposure to budgeting, forecasting, bids & tenders or business case preparation.
- A strong level of computer literacy, especially using MS office applications
- Exposure to analytical platforms to generate insights, like Power BI (desirable)
- Knowledge of Microsoft Business Central Finance System (desirable)
- Previous experience working within the rail industry (desirable)
Personal Profile
- Demonstrated leadership and team management skills
- Proactive with a strong ability to work independently
- Excellent ability to prioritise tasks and manage multiple projects ensuring timely completion.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
- Proven ability to build relationships and influence at senior levels
Our Values
Professionalism – Safety and security is paramount in our business, and we feel that this embodies the foundation of a high achieving safety culture
Support – We look after our people and they in turn are encouraged to look after each other
Communication – The transparency of our is business is valued by our colleagues and customers
Trust and Empowerment – We believe that openness and honesty make for the best relationship because it leads to trust and confidence
Enjoyment – Taking pleasure in coming to work at GBRf is actively encouraged right from the top
At GB Railfreight we recognise that having a more diverse range of people leads to greater innovation. We want to create a diverse workforce and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds with the aim to have a workforce representative of wider society. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace in line with our values.
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Commercial Finance Business Partner employer: GB Railfreight
Contact Detail:
GB Railfreight Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Commercial Finance Business Partner
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the key financial metrics and performance indicators relevant to the Energy & Industrial and Construction sectors. Understanding these will help you engage in meaningful discussions with Commercial Heads and demonstrate your analytical skills.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the rail industry, especially those who have experience in commercial finance roles. This can provide you with insights into the specific challenges and opportunities within the sector, making you a more attractive candidate.
✨Tip Number 3
Brush up on your knowledge of budgeting and forecasting processes, as well as tools like Power BI. Being able to showcase your proficiency in these areas during interviews will set you apart from other candidates.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to discuss how you've successfully influenced senior leaders in past roles. Highlighting your business partnering skills and ability to challenge decisions will resonate well with the expectations for this position.
We think you need these skills to ace Commercial Finance Business Partner
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your qualifications as an accountant and your relevant experience in commercial finance. Emphasise your business partnering skills and any exposure to budgeting, forecasting, and performance analysis.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, explain why you are interested in the Commercial Finance Business Partner role. Mention specific experiences that demonstrate your ability to influence senior leaders and support key business decisions.
Showcase Analytical Skills: Provide examples of how you've used analytical platforms or tools, like Power BI, to generate insights in previous roles. This will show your capability to enhance business performance through data-driven decisions.
Highlight Leadership Experience: Since the role involves coaching a junior report, be sure to mention any leadership or mentoring experiences you have. Discuss how you've successfully managed teams or projects in the past.
How to prepare for a job interview at GB Railfreight
✨Understand the Role
Make sure you have a solid grasp of what the Commercial Finance Business Partner does. Familiarise yourself with key responsibilities like budgeting, forecasting, and performance analysis. This will help you speak confidently about how your skills align with the role.
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
Prepare to discuss specific examples where you've used your analytical skills to drive business decisions. Highlight any experience with financial insights, variance analysis, or KPI reporting that can demonstrate your capability in this area.
✨Build Rapport with Stakeholders
Since this role involves working closely with senior stakeholders, practice how you would build relationships and influence decision-making. Think of ways to convey your ability to communicate effectively and establish trust with commercial heads and their teams.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving abilities and how you handle challenges. Prepare scenarios related to budgeting, cost analysis, or managing underperforming contracts, and think through how you would approach these situations.