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- Tasks: Join us as a Senior Finance Business Partner, driving financial performance and supporting strategic investments.
- Company: UCAS is a leading organisation in the education sector, dedicated to helping students navigate their future.
- Benefits: Enjoy 30 days of leave, hybrid working, discounts, and a generous pension scheme.
- Why this job: Be a trusted advisor, make an impact, and thrive in a culture of innovation and improvement.
- Qualifications: Qualified accountant or equivalent experience with strong financial acumen and communication skills.
- Other info: Work in a dynamic environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 £ per year.
This role is a UK-based, hybrid position located in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.
About the role:
The Senior Finance Business Partner will provide a commercially focused finance business partnering service across UCAS. Acting as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders, this role is critical to driving financial performance across the organisation, providing insight, challenge, and support to ensure the effective delivery of the UCAS strategy.
A key focus will be on evaluating strategic investments, supporting business cases, and ensuring robust benefits realization to deliver impact and maximize return on investment.
Please read the full job description and accountabilities for full details of the role.
Skills, qualifications and experience:
- Qualified accountant or able to demonstrate an equivalent level of work experience with excellent knowledge and understanding of financial accounting principles and processes.
- Strong expertise in investment appraisal, business case development, and benefits realization.
- Line management experience.
- Outgoing, persuasive, and a confident communicator with internal and external stakeholders at all levels.
- Comfortable operating in detail, but also with the ability to understand the big picture.
- Ability to analyze and report at strategic and operational levels in a concise, agile manner suited to the audience.
- Confident and organized in leading projects in a structured way.
- The workload is diverse and time-pressured, so you will be a \’right first time\’ type of person, comfortable managing multiple tasks while always delivering on time and to a high standard.
- Curious and constantly striving for improvement; able to challenge the status quo and look for innovative and creative solutions to problems and process improvements.
- Proven experience in financial performance reporting and planning, with the ability to present information clearly and make recommendations.
- Experience with partnerships and acquisitions.
- Highly proficient in Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
- Discrete and trustworthy.
Package:
- 30 days of annual leave (plus 3 concessionary days over Christmas and bank holidays).
- Flexibility – UCAS supports hybrid working, allowing you to work between home and the office in a way that suits you and the organization, supported by a comprehensive Flexible Working Policy.
- A generous pension scheme.
- Hundreds of high street discounts and offers via Perkbox.
- Internal training and development opportunities.
- Subsidised gym and café facilities.
- Recognition for exceptional performance through our ex-gratia bonus scheme and Celebrating U, our quarterly employee recognition program.
- Dedicated employee networks promoting wellbeing, awareness, and inclusion.
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Senior Finance Business Partner employer: UCAS
Contact Detail:
UCAS Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Finance Business Partner
✨Tip Number 1
Network with professionals in the finance sector, especially those who have experience in business partnering roles. Attend industry events or webinars to connect with potential colleagues and learn more about the specific challenges they face.
✨Tip Number 2
Familiarise yourself with UCAS and its strategic goals. Understanding their current projects and financial performance will allow you to tailor your discussions and demonstrate how your skills can directly contribute to their objectives.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your experience with investment appraisal and business case development in detail. Be ready to provide examples of how you've successfully evaluated investments and contributed to benefits realisation in previous roles.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your communication skills by engaging with stakeholders in a confident manner. Practice articulating complex financial concepts in a way that is accessible to non-financial audiences, as this will be crucial in your role as a trusted advisor.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Finance Business Partner
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your qualifications as a qualified accountant and showcases your experience in financial performance reporting, investment appraisal, and business case development. Use specific examples that demonstrate your ability to provide insight and support to senior stakeholders.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, emphasise your strong communication skills and your experience in managing multiple tasks under pressure. Mention your curiosity and drive for improvement, and how you can challenge the status quo to deliver innovative solutions.
Highlight Relevant Skills: Clearly outline your proficiency in Excel, Word, and PowerPoint, as well as your line management experience. Make sure to mention your ability to analyse and report at both strategic and operational levels, tailored to the audience's needs.
Showcase Your Achievements: Include specific achievements related to financial performance and planning in your application. Use metrics where possible to quantify your impact, such as improvements in return on investment or successful project completions.
How to prepare for a job interview at UCAS
✨Understand the Role Thoroughly
Before the interview, make sure you have a solid grasp of what the Senior Finance Business Partner role entails. Familiarise yourself with UCAS's financial strategies and how this position contributes to their overall goals. This will help you articulate how your skills align with their needs.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that assess your ability to handle real-world financial scenarios. Be ready to discuss your experience with investment appraisal and business case development. Use specific examples from your past roles to demonstrate your problem-solving skills and strategic thinking.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
As a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders, strong communication is key. Practice explaining complex financial concepts in simple terms. Highlight your experience in presenting information clearly and making recommendations, as this will be crucial in the role.
✨Demonstrate Your Curiosity and Improvement Mindset
UCAS values individuals who challenge the status quo and seek innovative solutions. Be prepared to discuss how you've identified areas for improvement in previous roles and the steps you took to implement changes. This will show your proactive approach and commitment to excellence.
