Head of Finance Business Partnering

Location: IWM London (Hybrid: 2 days a week in office)

Salary: £65,000 – £67,500 per annum

Working Hours: 36 hours per week (full time)

Contract Type: Permanent

What It’s Like to Work Here

Imperial War Museums (IWM) connects people with the stories of modern conflict, helping shape understanding of its impact on society. You’ll join a collaborative, purpose-driven organisation with a strong public mission and a focus on accountability, innovation and continuous improvement. Teams work closely across disciplines to deliver high-quality experiences for visitors while ensuring long-term sustainability.

Why This Role Matters

This role is central to how financial insight shapes decision‑making across IWM. As Head of Finance Business Partnering, you’ll lead the function that connects finance with the wider organisation—ensuring leaders have the clarity, challenge and support they need to deliver against strategic and commercial objectives. You’ll play a key role in aligning financial planning with IWM’s mission, supporting both public‑facing activity and commercial operations, while maintaining strong governance and value for money.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Lead and develop the Finance Business Partnering function, building a high‑performing and well‑structured team
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, providing clear financial insight and constructive challenge
• Partner closely with the Commercial directorate to support income growth, pricing decisions and business planning
• Translate strategy into financial plans, budgets and performance measures
• Lead budgeting, forecasting and reforecasting processes, ensuring alignment with organisational priorities
• Deliver high‑quality reporting, analysis and scenario modelling to support decision‑making
• Support major strategic initiatives, investment cases and organisational change
• Improve financial systems, reporting and processes to increase efficiency, insight and transparency
• Promote financial understanding across the organisation, enabling better decision‑making at all levels

What We’re Looking For

• Proven experience leading a finance business partnering or FP&A function
• Strong experience influencing and challenging senior stakeholders
• Track record of supporting commercial performance and strategic decision‑making
• Experience leading budgeting, forecasting and financial planning processes
• Ability to turn complex financial data into clear, actionable insight
• Strong team leadership skills, with experience building or developing teams
• Qualified accountant (e.g. ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA) or equivalent experience
• Strong analytical skills and a proactive, problem‑solving mindset
• Understanding of public sector, charity or grant‑funded environments (desirable)

How You’ll Work

You’ll work closely with senior leaders across commercial, operational and support functions, acting as a key link between finance and the wider organisation. The role requires strong collaboration across directorates, including Collections, Exhibitions, Learning and Estates, to ensure consistent and high‑quality financial support.

What Success Looks Like (First 6–12 Months)

• Build strong, trusted relationships with senior stakeholders across all directorates
• Establish a clear, effective Finance Business Partnering model and team structure
• Improve the quality and consistency of financial reporting, planning and insight
• Strengthen financial support to commercial decision‑making and income generation
• Deliver measurable improvements to budgeting and forecasting processes
• Embed finance as a proactive and valued partner to the business

Benefits

• Annual Leave: You'll have 25 days of annual leave, with public holidays on top. After 3 years, this increases to 27 days and after 5 years, you’ll get 30 days
• Company Group Pension Plan: Our commitment to your financial well‑being includes competitive employer contributions to your pension starting at 7% to a maximum of 12%.
• Enhanced Maternity and Paternity Benefits: Celebrate life’s milestones with confidence, knowing that our policies support growing families.
• IWM4me: Tailor your benefits to your unique needs through IWM4me. Access health, protection, and lifestyle benefits at corporate rates, ensuring your holistic well‑being.
• Free Sanitary Products: We prioritise your comfort by providing free sanitary products across all our sites.
• Retail Discounts: 25% off IWM Cafes, 20% discount in on‑site shops, Benefits hub offering retail discounts to several high street shops (via our EAP provider) and MyActive discounts for health and wellbeing based retail discounts (via IWM4me)
• Free Entry to IWM Air Shows: Witness the thrill of vintage aircraft at our air shows.
• Free Entry to Partner Museums & Galleries: Immerse yourself in art, history, and culture through our reciprocal arrangements with other institutions.
• In‑House Training Programmes: Fuel your intellectual curiosity and professional growth through our comprehensive training initiatives.
• Season Ticket Loan Scheme: Simplify your daily commute with our interest‑free loan program.
• Cycle 2 Work & Cycle Hire: Promote well‑being and environmental consciousness by cycling to work.
• Eye Tests: Money back up to £80 for an eye test and a new pair of glasses.
• Employee Assistance Programme: Access confidential support for personal or work‑related challenges.
• Benenden Healthcare & Dental Insurance: Prioritise your health with access to quality healthcare services (subject to terms and conditions).
• Civil Service Sports Club Membership: Opportunity to join and enjoy additional discounts and perks as part of a vibrant community.
• Staff Events and Networks: Join fellow colleagues in social gatherings and events, fostering camaraderie and shared experiences.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions. This role is subject to: A basic check, which shows unspent convictions and conditional cautions.

Equal Opportunities and Flexible Working

IWM is committed to a policy of Equal Opportunities. We miss out when people feel IWM isn't for them, and are committed to removing and reducing barriers to make IWM open to everyone. Our Access and Inclusion strategy has been developed to promote openness, equal opportunities to access, inclusivity and encourage diversity in everything that we do, from employment practices, the services we provide to our visitors to the facilities we make available to public. At IWM we seek to address the need for greater diversity within our workforce as well as the wider museum and heritage sector. In all our practices we embrace diversity and promote equality of opportunity and we welcome applications from suitable candidates of all backgrounds. We value and respect difference and are committed to building an inclusive culture by creating an environment where you can balance a successful career with your commitments and interests outside of work. We believe that you will do your best at work if you have a work / life balance. Some roles lend themselves to flexible options more than others, so if this is important to you please raise this with your recruitment contact, as we are open to discussing agile working opportunities during the hiring process.