Senior Finance Business Partner

Senior Finance Business Partner | £600 per day (inside IR35) | 12-month initial contract | London | Hybrid (1 or 2 days office-based per week)

We are currently seeking a talented Senior Finance Business Partner to join our dynamic team for a 12-month contract, partnering with a leading retail company committed to driving innovation and transformation within their sector. As a crucial member of our team, you will play a key role in providing financial support and guidance to the Head of Transformation and CIO Change Project Managers, driving excellence and continuous improvement across the organisation.

Position: Senior Finance Business Partner
Location: City of London, Hybrid (1 or 2 days office-based per week)
Reporting to: Finance Director

Key Responsibilities of the Senior Finance Business Partner:

• Co-ordinate, consolidate, and report on period-end forecasts for CIO Change projects, ensuring timely submission to meet POL deadlines.
• Provide Finance Business Partner support to the Head of Transformation, offering guidance on forecasting processes, Business Cases, and Change Requests.
• Deliver finance training sessions to onboard new Project Managers, ensuring understanding and proper application of financial processes.
• Promptly respond to finance-related queries, liaising with SMEs in FP&A and Technical Accounting for accurate cost classification.
• Identify, agree, and implement opportunities to enhance financial reporting packs, presenting improvements to senior management.
• Actively participate in the Finance Change Community to drive positive change, supporting initiatives to identify, improve, and implement changes to finance processes.
• Review financial models supporting Business Cases and Change Requests, ensuring accuracy in papers for submission to IADG and the Board.

Core Requirements:

• Reports to the Strategy and Transformation function, reporting into Finance.
• Oversees 25 projects in the CIO Change portfolio as a Senior Finance Analyst/Business Partner.
• Key stakeholders include the Portfolio Manager, FP&A, Project Managers, Head of Finance, FD, and Technical Finance.
• Accountable for month-end activities, financial planning and analysis, including preparation of month-end decks and budgets.
• Ensures forecast accuracy by critically challenging submissions from Project Managers.
• Manages a tight month-end timeline with review and sign-off calls prior to Anaplan submission.
• Minimal reporting involved, with some year-end journals/prepayments/accruals handled by junior team members.
• Reviews Business Cases to ensure funding is within governance and budgetary constraints.
• Ensures correct classification of project costs between Capex, Exceptional, and Opex costs in collaboration with Technical Finance.
• Drives process improvements to enhance overall effectiveness within the Finance function.
• Conducts balance sheet reviews, including AUC, Impairment reviews, and periodic balance reviews.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or related field; professional accounting qualification (e.g., ACCA, CIMA) preferred.
• Proven experience in a similar role, preferably within a large organisation undergoing transformation.
• Strong understanding of financial planning and analysis processes, with the ability to critically analyse forecasts and financial data.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to interact effectively with senior management.
• Demonstrated ability to drive process improvements and implement changes effectively.
• Advanced proficiency in financial modelling and Microsoft Excel.
• Experience with Anaplan or similar financial planning software is advantageous.

Location: London, Hybrid (1 or 2 days office-based per week)

Rate of Pay: £600 per day inside IR35

Duration: 12-month contract

Interested candidates should apply now and attach their current CV for consideration.

*Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an initial telephone interview. If selected from the shortlist, a two-stage formal interview process will commence.