At a Glance
- Tasks: Provide financial expertise and strategic support for data centre development projects.
- Company: Join a fast-growing, innovative private equity-backed company.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, dynamic work environment, and professional growth opportunities.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with a talented international team.
- Why this job: Shape investment decisions and optimise capital expenditure in cutting-edge projects.
- Qualifications: Professional accounting qualification and extensive finance experience required.
The predicted salary is between 49500 - 60500 £ per year.
Job Type: Full time
Role Overview
Verne require an experienced Commercial Business Partner to join our Data Centre Development team.
In this role, you will provide critical commercial and financial expertise, analysis, and strategic support to our development and construction operations, ensuring commercial compliance to contracts, budgets and programmes.
The role will also act as a bridge between Development and Verne Finance ensuring key financial information is documented and presented in a timely fashion to meet tight reporting deadlines.
As a Commercial Business Partner specializing in data centre development, you will work primarily alongside our Development teams while when required assist operational, and asset management teams by providing in-depth project financial insights and strategic commercial guidance.
You will help shape project investment decisions, optimize capital expenditure, and ensure the financial viability of our data centre development projects.
This role requires a blend of technical financial expertise, commercial acumen, and the ability to communicate effectively with both financial and non-financial stakeholders.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Commercial Planning and Analysis
- Develop comprehensive commercial processes for new data centre development projects, including capital expenditure forecasts, operational cost projections, and return on investment analyses
- Partner with Business Development on project evaluations to ensure operational cost assessments are realistic and thoroughly evaluated
- Create and maintain a Cost Driver Matrix that identifies key cost drivers and determines actionable levers within each driver to optimize project financial performance
- Support the development of annual and long-term financial plans, ensuring alignment with company growth objectives
- Project Finance and Investment
- Evaluate and structure financing options for data centre developments, which may include project financing, real estate financing, or receivables financing approaches
- Assess and validate business cases for new data centre developments, expansions, or upgrades
- Develop risk trade-off curves in partnership with Operations Management, balancing cost, risk, and operational efficiency
- Support capital expenditure approval processes, ensuring thorough financial due diligence and alignment with strategic objectives
- Modelling
- Prepare and present clear, actionable project financial reports, project forecasts, and business cases to management and other stakeholders, ensuring recommendations are data-driven and aligned with project goals.
- Provide commercial analysis and insights to inform and support business decisions, identifying opportunities for growth, efficiency, and risk mitigation.
- Support the budgeting process, including setting realistic targets, monitoring performance, and providing variance analysis.
- Advise on the financial sustainability and impact of new projects, investments, or initiatives through detailed business case development.
- Ensure compliance with financial regulations and reporting standards, and support internal/external audits as needed.
- Commercial and Operational Support
- Collaborate closely with construction and asset management teams during budgeting processes, providing expertise and challenging assumptions
- Partner with procurement teams to foster commercial mindset in decision-making and maximize value from vendor relationships
- Identify and capitalize on cost-saving opportunities within current projects and development operations
- Analyze project performance against financial KPIs and provide recommendations for improvement
- Contract & Risk
Management: Oversee the negotiation and implementation of prime and subcontracts (e. g., NEC4, FIDIC).
Responsible for identifying commercial risks and embedding mitigation procedures across all project phases.
- Commercial
Strategy: Develop and execute strategies to drive revenue growth and market share.
This includes advising on pricing, market trends, and competitive benchmarking to support new bids and business development.
- Team Leadership: Lead and mentor commercial teams, fostering a high-performance culture and ensuring continuous professional development.
- Reporting and Analysis
- Prepare regular reports for senior leadership on development project performance, highlighting variances, risks, and opportunities
- Develop and maintain dashboards that translate complex project related financial data into clear, actionable insights for non-finance stakeholders
- Conduct variance analysis against budgets and forecasts, identifying root causes and recommending corrective actions
- Support month-end financial processes related to development activities, including accruals and WIP calculations
Skills and Experience Required
- Professional accounting qualification (CIMA, ACCA, or ACA)
- Minimum 15 years experience in finance, with at least 5 years in a business partnering role
- Experience in project finance, construction finance, or capital-intensive industries
- Clear and demonstrable negotiation skills and dispute resolution track record.
- Demonstrated experience in developing and analyzing budgets for large-scale capital projects
- Understanding of data centre development projects or large scale industrial projects.
Skills and Competencies
- Advanced analytical skills, including scenario and sensitivity analysis with expert proficiency in Excel and commercial/financial planning tools
- Strong commercial acumen with the ability to identify business risks and opportunities
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to translate complex financial information for non-financial stakeholders
- Problem-solving mindset with the ability to proactively identify issues and recommend solutions
- Ability to build effective relationships across different departments and influence decision-making
- Detail-oriented with strong project management capabilities
What We Offer
- Opportunity to be part of a fast-growing, private equity-backed company.
- A dynamic, innovative, and inclusive working environment.
- Competitive compensation and benefits package.
- The chance to work with a talented and ambitious international team.
- #J-18808-Ljbffr
Commercial Business Partner - Development in City of London employer: VERNE
Verne is an excellent employer that fosters a collaborative work culture in the heart of London, offering employees the chance to engage with diverse teams across legal, finance, and operations. With a strong emphasis on professional development, employees are encouraged to grow their skills in insurance management while enjoying competitive benefits and a supportive environment that values innovation and compliance.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Commercial Business Partner - Development in City of London
✨Tip Number 1: Tap Into Professional Networks
The finance world loves a good connection, so jump into industry-specific groups on platforms like LinkedIn where you can find discussions on financial controlling. Engaging in these communities can expose you to hidden job leads that aren't openly advertised!
✨Tip Number 2: Attend Finance Events and Conferences
Make it a mission to attend finance-related events and conferences, even virtual ones! This is a golden opportunity to network face-to-face with people from companies like VERNE. You never know who might be your next boss or a crucial contact!
✨Tip Number 3: Showcase Your Expertise
Consider writing articles or sharing insights related to financial controlling or industry trends. Publish these on platforms like LinkedIn to establish yourself as a knowledgeable player in the field. This not only increases your visibility but also catches the attention of recruiters from VERNE.
✨Tip Number 4: Apply Directly on Company Websites
Since you're going for a full-time gig, don't forget to keep an eye on the careers page of companies you're interested in, like VERNE. Many companies prefer candidates who apply through their website as it shows genuine interest and makes your application stand out!
We think you need these skills to ace Commercial Business Partner - Development in City of London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Numbers Game:In financial controlling, detail is everything! Make sure your CV showcases your proficiency with numbers—highlight any relevant experience in budgeting, forecasting, or working with financial software. Quantifying your past achievements will make you stand out, so don’t be shy about flaunting those impressive percentages or cost savings you've implemented.
Tailored Cover Letter is Key:Your cover letter is a chance to shine, especially for a full-time role. Use it to express your genuine interest in VERNE and the specific impact you hope to make in financial controlling. Mention any relevant qualifications or experiences that align with the company’s goals, and don’t forget to show that you're ready for a long-term commitment!
Certifications Matter:List relevant certifications such as ACCA or CIMA on your CV. These qualifications not only showcase your dedication to the field but also your technical competence in financial principles. If you have any ongoing training or courses, make sure to mention those as well to demonstrate your commitment to continual learning in financial controlling.
Don’t Overlook Soft Skills:While numbers are crucial, so are those soft skills! Financial controllers need strong communication and analytical reasoning abilities. We recommend embedding examples of these skills in your CV and cover letter, like how you’ve successfully delivered financial reports to stakeholders or collaborated with teams to improve processes. Let’s show VERNE how you can be a team player!
How to prepare for a job interview at VERNE
✨Brush Up on Technical Skills
Make sure you're comfortable with key financial concepts, especially around forecasting, budgeting, and variance analysis. Sometimes, interviewers may throw in technical questions or case studies, so practicing these types of scenarios will help you shine!
✨Showcase Your Financial Acumen
If you've had experience with specific financial software like SAP or Oracle, make it known! Be ready to discuss how you used these tools to improve processes or reporting, as this hands-on knowledge can really set you apart in a full-time role with VERNE.
✨Know Your Numbers
In full-time interviews, especially in financial controlling, be prepared for numerical reasoning tests or questions. Brush up on your mental maths and understand how to interpret and analyse financial statements on the spot, as this may come up during the assessment.
✨Connect with Company Goals
Familiarise yourself with VERNE's financial objectives and any recent developments. During the interview, try to weave your understanding of their business model and challenges into your answers—this shows your genuine interest and alignment with their goals!
