Slough, UK
Full-time
Company Description
John Crane, a business of Smiths Group, is a global leader in mission‑critical flow control solutions for energy and process industries. Our products include mechanical seals and systems, couplings, bearings, filtration systems, and predictive digital monitoring technologies.
We have a global network of more than 200 sites in over 50 countries and employ more than 6,000 people worldwide. We partner with our customers to help them keep their operations safe, reduce downtime, improve efficiency, and meet the latest environmental standards.
John Crane is part of Smiths Group. For over 170 years, Smiths has been pioneering progress by engineering for a better future. We serve millions of people every year, helping to create a safer, more efficient, productive, and better‑connected world across four global markets: energy, security & defence, space & aerospace, and general industrial. Listed on the London Stock Exchange, Smiths employs approximately 16,000 colleagues in over 50 countries.
Job Description
We're looking for a Finance Business Partner – Marketing, Portfolio & Technology to join our finance team in Slough, United Kingdom. This is a key finance partnering role supporting Marketing, Portfolio and Technology, providing high‑quality insight, constructive challenge and commercial guidance to drive better decision‑making and performance. Reporting to the Finance Director – Portfolio & Technology, you will lead performance reporting and analysis across key areas including Portfolio, Vitality, fixed costs and capex, while playing a central role in investment decisions, business case development, and planning cycles. You will help enable delivery of the strategic roadmap through strong financial governance, disciplined planning, and a clear focus on accountability and value creation.
Key Responsibilities
- Oversee all monthly consolidated data for the portfolio, managing the financial planning process for monthly, quarterly, annual, and strategic plans, along with the delivery of supporting materials.
- Assist the Technology team in developing comprehensive business cases for capital expenditures (capex), ensuring accurate monthly reporting of capex forecasts for the CIC meeting.
- Function as a portfolio expert, understanding business drivers and nuances, and providing timely, independent insights and updates to the Finance Director - Technology & Portfolio.
- Manage the vitality report, ensuring data integrity and accountability among Product Line Managers (PLMs). Collaborate with the Commercial teams to ensure clarity on key scorecard products and utilize data for their regional kicker programme.
- Implement and oversee cost control measures within the Portfolio and Marketing and Technology functions, along with ongoing cost forecasting reporting.
- Finance lead for the NPD & EPD process, driving robust financial model and cost schedule for all NPD projects.
- Support of the Energy Transition financial reporting and analysis.
Qualifications
- Degree educated, ideally in Finance, Economics, Mathematics, or a related analytical discipline.
- Qualified accountant (ACA / ACCA / ACMA / CFA) with 5+ years of relevant professional experience with a strong focus on Commercial, Operational and/or Strategic Business Analysis preferably in a large multi‑national business.
- Demonstrated experience partnering with Senior Business Leaders.
- Demonstrated proficiency in financial and economic modelling and investment appraisal techniques.
- Demonstrated proficiency in ERP system utilisation.
- Deep analytical capability, intellectual curiosity, and ability to operate strategically and hands‑on.
- Demonstrated ability to influence and build strong trusted working relationships with internal stakeholders.
- Demonstrated ability to persistently pursue and achieve results. Uses data/analytics to proactively monitor and review plans to hit or exceed targets and drives continuous improvement.
- Ability to make good judgments in an increasingly complex global business by effectively sourcing and analysing critical information and making effective, timely recommendations whilst considering the needs and impacts on business stakeholders.
- Self‑starter with flexibility and willingness to balance multiple, changing priorities and work independently under tight deadlines.
- Enthusiasm to understand key nuances across product portfolio and their impacts on KPIs.
- Effective written, verbal and presentation skills.
Equal Opportunity Statement
All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment regardless of color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, economic status, disability, age or any other legally protected characteristics. We are proud to be an inclusive company with values grounded in equality and ethics, where we celebrate, support and embrace diversity.
