Senior Finance Business Partner in St Albans

As a Senior Finance Business Partner in the manufacturing sector within St Albans, you'll play a key role in driving financial performance by providing insights and analysis to support decision-making. Working closely with key stakeholders, you'll ensure the business runs efficiently and achieves its financial goals.

Client Details

This role is within manufacturing industry and offers the chance to work in a varied and professional environment

Description

1. Strategic Business Partnering

The successful candidate will be expected to:

• Act as the primary finance partner to departmental leaders.
• Influence operational and strategic decision-making.
• Challenge assumptions and provide constructive commercial insight.
• Identify financial risks and opportunities.
• Support strategic initiatives through financial modelling and business case preparation.

2. Financial Leadership

You'll be responsible for:

• Ownership of monthly management accounts.
• Delivering high-quality financial reporting and analysis.
• Maintaining strong governance, controls, and compliance.
• Supporting statutory accounts and audit activities.
• Improving reporting processes and financial controls.

3. Budgeting and Forecasting

A major focus area includes:

• Leading annual budgets and quarterly forecasts.
• Working with budget holders to challenge costs and assumptions.
• Improving forecast accuracy.
• Supporting long-term planning and performance management.

4. Performance Analysis

The role requires a data-driven approach:

• Developing KPIs and dashboards.
• Providing performance insights and trend analysis.
• Producing meaningful management information.
• Delivering recommendations that improve efficiency and profitability.

5. Team Leadership

This is a people-management role requiring:

• Leadership of qualified and trainee accountants.
• Coaching and mentoring team members.
• Building a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

Profile

Essential Technical Skills:

• ACA or ACCA qualified.
• Strong management accounting experience.
• Budgeting and forecasting expertise.
• Financial control and governance knowledge.
• Advanced financial modelling and analytical capability.
• Experience driving business improvement initiatives.

Essential Leadership & Stakeholder Skills:

• Proven experience partnering with senior operational leaders.
• Ability to influence and challenge stakeholders constructively.
• Experience presenting financial information at senior level.
• Previous finance team management experience.
• Excellent communication skills.

Based on the advert, expect questions around:

• Business partnering and stakeholder management.
• Influencing senior leaders.
• Budgeting and forecasting improvements.
• Financial modelling and business cases.
• Process improvement and change management.
• Leadership and team development.
• Managing financial risk and controls.
• Delivering commercial insight from financial data.

Examples you should have prepared:

• A time you challenged a senior stakeholder's decision.
• A forecasting or budgeting improvement you introduced.
• A financial model or business case that influenced investment decisions.
• A process improvement that saved money or improved controls.
• How you developed or managed a finance team.

Valuable experience would include:

• Construction, engineering, infrastructure, utilities, transport, or project-based industries.
• Working within complex multi-site organisations.
• Supporting operational leaders in commercially focused environments.
• Experience with large-scale budgets and cost control.
• Demonstrating measurable business improvements and value creation.

Job Offer

• Competitive salary ranging from £70,000 to £80,000, dependent on the level of experience.
• Private medical insurance and access to a 24/7 GP service.
• Permanent position offering stability and growth opportunities.

We are committed to creating an inclusive environment.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities and experiences.

If you require any adjustments or accommodations during the recruitment process, we'll work with you to ensure you can perform at your best.