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- Tasks: Partner with leaders to drive financial insights and support transformation initiatives.
- Company: Join United Utilities, the North West's leading water company.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, generous leave, and a fantastic benefits package.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on financial performance in a FTSE 100 company.
- Qualifications: Fully qualified accountant with experience in large organisations.
- Other info: Be part of a culture focused on inclusion, innovation, and continuous improvement.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Location: Warrington, Lingley Mere
Company: United Utilities
Salary: Competitive + excellent benefits package
United Utilities is proud to be the North West's Water company. Every day, we deliver great water for a stronger, greener, healthier region and we're looking for a proactive, commercially minded County Finance Business Partner to help us shape the future. This is a high-impact role at the heart of our Finance function. You'll partner with operational leaders, provide insightful financial analysis, challenge assumptions, and support transformation initiatives that drive long-term value. If you thrive on turning complex data into meaningful insight, influencing decisions, and building strong relationships across a large organisation, this is your opportunity to make a real difference.
We're a FTSE 100 business with a clear purpose and a culture built on inclusion, innovation, and continuous improvement. You'll join a supportive team where your expertise is valued, your development is encouraged, and your contribution directly shapes performance across the region.
Benefits
- 26 days' annual leave (rising to 30 with service) plus bank holidays
- Competitive pension scheme with up to 14% employer contribution
- Up to 10.5% performance-related bonus
- Company-funded healthcare plan
- Discounts, wellbeing support, EV car scheme, ShareBuy, and more
- Enhanced parental leave and flexible benefits
Performance Measurement & Reporting
- Partner with County Business Leaders to embed a culture of performance management and cost-conscious decision-making.
- Identify, analyse, and track cost efficiency opportunities across county operations.
- Review historic and forward-looking cost trends, recommending corrective actions.
- Assess financial risks and support development of mitigation strategies.
- Develop and interpret KPIs and operational metrics to highlight performance gaps.
- Provide insightful reporting comparing actuals to plan, driving accountability and informed decision-making.
Transformation Support & Benefits Tracking
- Work closely with transformation programme teams, offering robust financial insight and challenge.
- Support development of business cases and financial models for change initiatives.
- Track delivery of financial and non-financial benefits, identifying risks and gaps early.
Decision Support
- Deliver high-quality financial analysis to support investment decisions and business cases.
- Assist in prioritising capital projects based on value, affordability, and strategic alignment.
- Challenge assumptions and ensure decisions are grounded in robust financial insight.
Planning, Budgeting & Forecasting
- Contribute financial expertise to strategic planning cycles.
- Support budgeting and forecasting, ensuring alignment with efficiency targets and business objectives.
- Collaborate with the Totex Performance Team to deliver integrated financial plans.
General Responsibilities
- Coach and mentor colleagues across the Finance team.
- Champion continuous improvement in financial processes and reporting.
- Provide ad-hoc support including regulatory review and compliance activities.
Influencing & Stakeholder Engagement
- Proven ability to challenge and influence senior stakeholders.
- Confidence to act as a critical friend - supportive, constructive, and commercially focused.
- Strong relationship-building skills, particularly within operational environments.
Commercial & Strategic Insight
- Strong commercial mindset with the ability to understand business drivers and external factors.
- Experience contributing to medium- and short-term business planning.
- Ability to translate financial insight into strategic recommendations.
Communication & Relationship Building
- Excellent communication, presentation, and negotiation skills.
- Ability to explain complex financial issues clearly and concisely.
- Skilled at managing multiple priorities in a large, matrix organisation.
Analytical & Technical Expertise
- Ability to analyse complex financial data, identify trends, and generate actionable insight.
- Strong experience in budget and target management.
- Understanding of operational performance metrics, KPIs, and financial systems.
- Knowledge of United Utilities' financial reporting processes and regulatory environment (or ability to learn quickly).
Leadership & Personal Attributes
- Highly motivated with a proactive, solutions-focused approach.
- Confident in challenging constructively and navigating ambiguity.
- Passionate about continuous improvement and personal development.
- High levels of integrity, professionalism, and accountability.
- A true business partner who understands that fixing operational issues ultimately fixes the P&L.
Fully qualified accountant (CIMA or equivalent) with significant post-qualification experience. Experience working in large, complex organisations and managing competing priorities at pace. Strong commercial experience and stakeholder management capability.
If you're ready to make a meaningful impact, influence strategic decisions, and help shape the financial performance of a leading FTSE 100 organisation, we'd love to hear from you.
County Finance Business Partner in England employer: UNITED UTILITIES GROUP PLC
Contact Detail:
UNITED UTILITIES GROUP PLC Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land County Finance Business Partner in England
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at United Utilities 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 diving deep into the company’s values and recent projects. Show us how your skills align with their mission of delivering great water and driving transformation initiatives.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your financial analysis skills! Be ready to discuss how you've turned complex data into actionable insights in past roles. We want to see that you can challenge assumptions and support decision-making.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the team at United Utilities.
We think you need these skills to ace County Finance Business Partner in England
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the County Finance Business Partner role. Highlight your relevant experience and skills that align with the job description, especially your ability to analyse complex data and influence decisions.
Showcase Your Financial Insight: In your application, emphasise your analytical skills and how you've used financial insights to drive performance in previous roles. We want to see examples of how you've turned data into meaningful recommendations.
Be Authentic: Let your personality shine through in your written application. We value authenticity and want to get a sense of who you are beyond your qualifications. Share your passion for finance and continuous improvement!
Apply Through Our Website: For the best chance of success, make sure to apply directly through our website. This way, your application will be seen by the right people, and you'll be one step closer to joining our supportive team at United Utilities.
How to prepare for a job interview at UNITED UTILITIES GROUP PLC
✨Know Your Numbers
As a County Finance Business Partner, you'll need to demonstrate your analytical skills. Brush up on key financial metrics and be ready to discuss how you've used data to influence decisions in the past. Prepare examples that showcase your ability to turn complex data into actionable insights.
✨Build Relationships
This role requires strong relationship-building skills. Think about how you can demonstrate your ability to engage with stakeholders. Prepare anecdotes that highlight your experience in collaborating with operational leaders and how you've successfully influenced their decision-making.
✨Challenge Assumptions
One of the key responsibilities is to challenge assumptions and provide robust financial insight. Be prepared to discuss a time when you questioned the status quo and how it led to better outcomes. Show that you're not afraid to be a 'critical friend' while maintaining a supportive approach.
✨Showcase Continuous Improvement
United Utilities values continuous improvement, so come armed with examples of how you've championed process enhancements in your previous roles. Discuss specific initiatives you've led or contributed to that resulted in improved efficiency or performance, and how you plan to bring that mindset to this new role.
