Senior Finance Business Partner

Senior Finance Business Partner

Full-Time 49500 - 60500 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
London Business School

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Partner with leaders to provide financial insights and support strategic decision-making.
  • Company: Join London Business School, a vibrant global community shaping the future of business.
  • Benefits: Enjoy 27 days annual leave, a generous pension, and a free gym.
  • Other info: Flexible hybrid working model with a focus on inclusion and belonging.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on business education while developing your career in finance.
  • Qualifications: Professional accounting qualification and strong analytical skills required.

The predicted salary is between 49500 - 60500 £ per year.

Partner with senior leaders to shape strategic decision-making through insight, robust forecasting and high-quality financial advice.

Why London Business School?

London Business School; a global and vibrant business community based in three of the world’s most dynamic cities, London, Dubai and Riyadh.

It’s where extraordinary minds and diverse perspectives connect, to have a profound impact on the way the world does business and the way business impacts the world.

We offer best in class hybrid learning to our students and participants, whilst creating a flexible, supportive and dynamic working environment for our people to excel in, whatever their location.

The Role

London Business School is looking for an experienced and commercially minded Senior Finance Business Partner to join our Finance team.

Working within Financial Planning & Analysis, you will provide a full finance business partnering service to key operational and commercial functions across the School.

You will play an important role in supporting strategic and operational decision-making through insightful analysis, robust forecasting, high-quality reporting and trusted financial advice.

As a senior member of the FP&A leadership team, you will work closely with senior stakeholders across the School, including the CFO, Deputy CFO, senior leadership colleagues, Finance leaders and wider management teams.

You will lead the coordination and delivery of long-term plans, annual budgets and periodic forecasts, while ensuring business stakeholders are fully engaged and supported.

This is an opportunity to contribute directly to the School’s medium and long-term strategy by helping colleagues understand performance, identify opportunities, manage resources effectively and make well-informed decisions.

  • Main Responsibilities
  • Act as a senior member of the FP&A leadership team, providing financial insight suitable for senior executive audiences.
  • Lead the coordination and delivery of long-term plans, annual budgets and periodic forecasts, ensuring strong engagement with business stakeholders.
  • Provide day-to-day financial support to senior managers, ensuring accurate and timely reporting of revenue, costs and performance.
  • Develop and maintain financial models to support strategic planning, scenario analysis and business case development.
  • Support new initiatives, commercial opportunities and strategic projects through high-quality financial advice and analysis.
  • Manage a small team to ensure high-quality analysis, reporting and workload delivery.
  • Partner with relevant areas to understand their business goals and provide professional advice, technical expertise and financial information to support effective decision-making.
  • Extract, check and analyse data from multiple sources, producing reports that inform review, planning and management decisions.
  • Liaise across Finance and the wider School to prepare complex reports and support cross-functional planning.
  • Provide advice on policies, procedures and compliance requirements, supporting monitoring and assurance across the School.
  • Monitor work delivered by third-party suppliers and agencies where relevant, ensuring agreed service levels and quality standards are met.
  • Build strong relationships with stakeholders across the School and represent Finance on cross-School groups where required.
  • Lead or support projects within your area of expertise, ensuring delivery within agreed budgets, quality standards and timescales.
  • Contribute to process improvement by reviewing best practice, analysing business models and helping develop policies, processes and systems.
  • Champion change by role-modelling expected behaviours, advising on change programmes and supporting successful implementation.

Who We Are Looking For

  • A professional accounting qualification, or equivalent experience.
  • Significant experience using relevant software to build basic financial models or tools.
  • Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
  • Strong communication skills, with the ability to engage a wide range of audiences and explain financial information clearly.
  • Sound working knowledge of relevant policies, regulations and legislation within a finance or specialist area.
  • The ability to manage multiple internal and external stakeholders effectively.
  • The ability to prioritise and focus on material issues in a busy environment.
  • In‑depth knowledge of business education or a relevant specialist area.
  • Experience leading projects and supporting change.
  • Experience managing external suppliers or contractors effectively.
  • Strong financial management experience and commercial acumen.
  • The confidence to work with senior leaders and provide constructive challenge where needed.
  • A collaborative, service-focused approach and commitment to continuous improvement.

Benefits You Can Enjoy

  • Generous annual leave of 27 days plus extra days between Christmas and New Year
  • USS pension, 14.5% employer contribution (in return for employee enrolment and contribution)
  • Free onsite gym and swimming pool
  • Amazing range of professional development to support your career path
  • Enhanced cycle to work scheme
  • Wellbeing offering to support your physical, mental and financial health

At London Business School, we support Smart Working - a hybrid approach designed to help you achieve a healthy work‑life balance while delivering the best outcomes for your role and the needs of our customers.

All roles require a minimum of two days on campus each week to foster a vibrant, collaborative community.

For this role specifically, you will be expected to be on campus x days per week.

We operate with ‘core hours’ – 10:00-15:00 – to maximise opportunities for connection and collaboration across teams during the working day.

Outside of these hours, you may still be required for meetings or collaboration based on your role and customer needs.

Additionally, we offer Protected Time - a flexible, one-hour slot, within the working week dedicated to your learning and development, wellbeing, or focused, quiet work.

Our commitment to driving inclusion and belonging

We are a globally reaching institution, committed to creating tangible and sustainable change in driving inclusion & belonging within our School, education and society at large.

We are dedicated to creating an environment where everyone in our community feels they belong and thrive.

This is a key school priority, and we want everyone who joins LBS to feel respected, welcomed, and heard.

Candidates needing sponsorship should assess their eligibility for a Certificate of Sponsorship by evaluating their circumstances against the relevant criteria before applying.

Please note we start screening CVs and interviewing candidates from the start of a campaign.

A successful candidate could progress to offer before the advertised closing date.

We encourage you to apply as soon as possible if you are interested in any roles.

  • Competitive Salary dependent upon experience
  • #J-18808-Ljbffr

Senior Finance Business Partner employer: London Business School

London Business School is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment that fosters professional growth and collaboration. With generous benefits such as 27 days of annual leave and a comprehensive pension package, employees enjoy a supportive culture that values their contributions while providing opportunities to engage with senior leaders in a prestigious academic setting.

London Business School

Contact Details:

London Business School Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Senior Finance Business Partner

Tap into Campus Networks

If you're still in uni, don’t forget to engage with your campus's career services and attend finance-related events. Banks often do presentations and recruitment drives on campus, so put yourself out there and make use of these opportunities to show off your passion for the field.

Get Certified

Consider pursuing relevant certifications like the CFA or ACCA while you’re job hunting. They not only beef up your CV but also connect you with professional bodies which can lead to networking opportunities and even job openings in banking and financial services.

Connect on Professional Platforms

Join finance-focused groups on platforms like LinkedIn and engage in discussions. This can really help you stand out from the crowd, allowing potential employers to see your knowledge and interest in industry trends. Plus, you might stumble upon job postings shared exclusively within the group.

Apply Directly and Be Proactive

Don’t shy away from reaching out directly to firms like London Business School. Use their websites and apply through them, but also consider following up with a polite email to express your enthusiasm. Being proactive can make a huge difference in getting noticed in the competitive financial services sector.

We think you need these skills to ace Senior Finance Business Partner

Financial Modelling
Forecasting
Financial Analysis
Stakeholder Management
Reporting
Strategic Planning
Problem-Solving Skills

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Off Your Numbers!:In the banking and financial services world, quantifiable achievements are key. Make sure your CV highlights your grades in relevant subjects, any financial certifications you hold, and specific projects where you've delivered measurable results. Employers love to see how your skills translate into real-world success.

Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Role:When applying for a full-time position, your cover letter should make a direct connection between your experience and the job description. Don't just state your enthusiasm for finance—dive into how your background in banking or financial analysis sets you apart. Let your passion shine through while being specific about what you can bring to London Business School.

Include Relevant Financial Software Experience:If you've worked with financial modelling tools or software like Excel, SAP, or specific analytical tools during your studies or internships, bring that up! Highlighting your proficiency can really make your application pop and show you're ready to hit the ground running in a full-time role.

Research and Reflect:Before hitting that 'apply' button on London Business School's website, do a little digging. Look up their recent projects, values, and culture. Reflecting their ethos in your application can make a huge difference and show you’re genuinely interested in being part of the team!

How to prepare for a job interview at London Business School

Brush Up on Financial Analysis Skills

Make sure you're well-versed in financial concepts and analytical techniques relevant to banking and financial services. Get comfortable with tools like Excel for modelling or financial forecasting, as technical questions in this area are common during interviews with London Business School.

Prepare for Case Studies

Expect to tackle case studies that demonstrate your problem-solving skills in real-world banking scenarios. Familiarise yourself with the types of problems you might face—think risk assessments or investment evaluations—and be ready to articulate your thought process clearly.

Show Your Passion for Finance

Since this is a full-time position, employers at London Business School will be keen to see your genuine interest in finance. Be prepared to discuss recent industry trends or news articles that excite you, showcasing your enthusiasm and engagement with the field.

Network with Industry Professionals

Before your interview, reach out to current or former London Business School employees on platforms like LinkedIn. They'll offer unique insights into the company's culture and the interview process, which can give us a delightful edge in showcasing a good fit for the team.