Finance Business Partner
About Network Rail
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Network Rail operates and maintains the railway infrastructure 24/7 365 days a year. Our purpose is to connect people and goods with where they need to be and our vision is for a simpler, better, greener railway.
You will be part of the NW&C Region which consist of three routes:
• North West Route, covering Manchester, Liverpool, Lancashire and Cumbria.
• Central Route, covering the West Midlands and Chiltern areas.
• West Coast South Route, covering the south of Crewe to London Euston.
There is also a Regional Team which supports Regional Major Programmes & Professional services.
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We value the commitments you may have outside of work and will consider flexible and hybrid working applications. If we can make it work - we will! Please click here for more information.
Brief Description
An exciting Finance Business Partner opportunity has become available to get front line operational maintenance business exposure as part of Manchester Delivery Unit (DU) supported by an established North West Route finance team.
The purpose of this role is to work with the business leadership team, under the direction of the Financial Controller/Senior Finance Business Partner, to deliver professional finance and accounting advice. You will be engaging with the Infrastructure Delivery Maintenance team to drive efficiencies and budget management, based out of Manchester Square One but travel to Stockport will be required as well.
If your strengths are in stakeholder management and you want to make a difference and be part of a team that is going through change as part of the new business operating model, then this might be the role for you.
As part of a phased transition, you will also be responsible for the budget management of telecoms maintenance which support the region and plant capex.
About the role (External)
Every day will be different, but you can expect to be involved in the following activities:
1. Lead and provide financial advice and guidance to senior budget holders in understanding the impact of the period results and forecasts against budges so they can understand their business better.
2. Be the expert in the function on accounting practices and advise on financial results and forecasts for budget holders, including preparing period accruals, transfers and adjustments to validate accounts are reflective, relevant.
3. Manage corporate governance throughout the cost centres they manage, conducting deep dives and reviewing compliance with financial regulations to protect the business from legal or negative consequences.
4. Deliver expert and accurate business review information and reporting, and highlight any significant issues with financial and other business results to enable informed decision making by the business area.
5. Engage and influence senior members of the team to help them understand their financial position and use professional expertise to guide in initiatives to improve business performance
6. Build bottom up, detailed plans to manage and develop the production of business plans and budgets to enable good corporate governance and value add analysis for senior leaders
7. Identify and proactively manage commercial risks, including the financial suitability of new customers or suppliers reducing the potential risk impact on the business area and influencing decision makers.
8. Manage the performance of central accounting functions to deliver for the cost centre area to enable an efficiently and effective accounting service.
9. Collate, investigate and make recommendation for investment appraisals and business case analysis to aid business decisions.
10. Model and analyse cost base and identify and drive opportunities and efficiencies to achieve area targets.
In order to be successful in this role, we would like you to have/to be:
• Demonstrate strong understanding of business needs and relevant application of accounting standards
• Membership (Or working towards a membership) of a relevant accounting body (CIMA/ACCA)
• Expert knowledge and experience of creating and maintaining accounts and annual budget
• Significant experience within relevant finance disciplines
• Strong excel skills and use of data manipulation
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to interpret technical accounting regulations into everyday language
• Demonstrable effective influencing skills at a senior level
• Significant understanding of financial control and risk
• Excellent technical finance and accounting knowledge
We would also like but it isn't crucial to have/to be:
• Understanding of project management principles and experience of managing complex projects
• Membership of a relevant accounting body
• Extensive experience of Oracle based systems
• Degree or equivalent qualification in finance and accounting or business management or experience]]>