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- Tasks: Lead financial analysis and support decision-making for wastewater services.
- Company: Join South West Water, part of Pennon Group, committed to a greener future.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous holiday, bonus, pension, and health benefits.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on essential services while shaping your finance career.
- Qualifications: Qualified or part-qualified accountant with strong analytical skills.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive culture with ongoing development opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 70000 £ per year.
Powered by Water, Driven by Purpose. South West Water keeps the South West flowing with safe, reliable drinking water and wastewater services across some of the UK's most stunning landscapes. We're proud to be part of Pennon Group, a leader in the UK water sector, working towards a greener future. Our goals? As well as lowering our carbon footprint, we're working with partners to plant 300,000 trees, restore peatlands and support farmers and landowners to improve water quality and wildlife.
Whether you're starting out or seeking a new challenge, our scale and ambition create opportunities for you to shape your own career. Ready to make a splash? Join our team today. We're looking for a Lead Finance Business Partner to join our Finance team providing dedicated support to our Wastewater Directorate. This is a high-impact role, working closely with senior operational leaders to help deliver performance, manage costs, and ensure delivery against business plans and budgets across wastewater services.
As a trusted finance partner, you'll provide clear insight, robust challenge and forward-looking analysis to support both strategic and operational decision-making within the Wastewater Directorate. You'll play a key role in helping non-finance stakeholders understand financial performance and translate insight into action.
Why join us? This is a full-time, permanent opportunity offering a competitive salary of £60,000-£70,000, with real scope to influence decision-making within the Wastewater Directorate. You'll work on complex, meaningful challenges that support essential services and long-term investment, while having the autonomy to shape how finance adds value across the directorate.
What you'll be doing: As Lead Finance Business Partner you will:
- Deliver accurate, timely and insightful management information for Wastewater leadership teams
- Support the preparation of wastewater budgets, forecasts and financial targets
- Produce clear monthly financial commentary for senior management and Executive leadership
- Provide ad-hoc financial analysis to support wastewater-related projects, investment decisions and improvement initiatives
- Translate complex financial data into clear, relevant insights for operational and non-finance stakeholders
- Act as a key finance advisor to help manage costs and drive improved financial and operational performance across wastewater services
- Ensure financial processes and controls are executed accurately and in line with company policies
- Work closely with the Financial Control team to support audit requirements and maintain high-quality accounting records
What we're looking for:
Essential:
- Qualified or part-qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent)
- Experience in a finance business partnering or commercial finance role
- Strong analytical and financial modelling skills
- Proven ability to influence and build trusted relationships with senior stakeholders
- Confident communicator who can explain finance clearly to non-finance audiences
Desirable:
- Experience supporting operational, infrastructure or utilities-based functions (wastewater, water, engineering or asset-heavy environments advantageous)
- Advanced Excel skills and experience with business reporting tools
- Flexible and adaptable, with the ability to manage month-end pressures and occasional site or operational engagement
What's in it for you? We know that the support and commitment of our staff is key to our success so you will receive the opportunity for ongoing development and training for a long-term career with us. In return, we offer an excellent range of benefits including:
- Generous holiday allowance plus bank holidays
- A discretionary Bonus
- Competitive Contributory Pension
- Share-save Scheme
- Various health benefits
- Wellbeing support programmes
- A range of Group Discounts
- Cycle to Work Scheme
- Financial support services
- And plenty more!
Closing Date: 6th May 2026. We may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible. Please note that the successful candidate will be subject to a mandatory DBS check as part of the onboarding process. Be yourself, we like it that way. Together, we will build a culture of belonging, where inclusion is instinctive. Diversity is our strength and a reflection of our communities. We care, we value everyone, we celebrate uniqueness.
Our core values, which are essential to our success, are:
- Be Rock Solid - Build trust and be trusted. Be the one we all look to and can depend on.
- Be You - We want you to bring your best every day. Be yourself and make your mark in your individual way.
- Be the Future - Embrace change. Drive Progress. Own the challenge.
Lead Finance Business Partner in Exeter employer: South West Water
Contact Detail:
South West Water Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Finance Business Partner in Exeter
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at South West Water on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give you insider info and maybe even a referral, which can really boost your chances.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by understanding their mission. Dive into their sustainability goals and think about how your skills as a finance partner can help them achieve those. Show them you’re not just about numbers, but also about making a difference!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your storytelling! Be ready to share examples of how you've influenced decision-making in previous roles. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to keep your answers clear and impactful.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining the team at South West Water.
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Finance Business Partner in Exeter
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Lead Finance Business Partner role. Highlight your relevant experience in finance business partnering and how it aligns with our goals at South West Water.
Showcase Your Analytical Skills: We’re looking for someone with strong analytical skills, so don’t shy away from showcasing your financial modelling abilities. Include specific examples of how you've used data to influence decision-making in previous roles.
Communicate Clearly: As a finance partner, you’ll need to explain complex financial concepts to non-finance stakeholders. Use clear, straightforward language in your application to demonstrate your communication skills right from the start.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, it shows us you’re genuinely interested in joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at South West Water
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Lead Finance Business Partner, you'll need to demonstrate your financial acumen. Brush up on key financial metrics relevant to wastewater services and be ready to discuss how you've used data to influence decision-making in previous roles.
✨Communicate Clearly
You’ll be translating complex financial data for non-finance stakeholders, so practice explaining financial concepts in simple terms. Use examples from your past experiences where you successfully communicated financial insights to senior management.
✨Build Relationships
This role requires strong relationships with senior operational leaders. Think of ways you've built trust and rapport in previous positions. Be prepared to share specific examples of how you’ve influenced stakeholders and driven performance improvements.
✨Showcase Your Adaptability
The job mentions managing month-end pressures and engaging with operations. Prepare to discuss times when you’ve adapted to changing circumstances or tight deadlines, especially in finance-related projects. Highlight your flexibility and problem-solving skills.