Job Description
What will you be doing?
We are seeking a talented individual to join our Finance team in London as Finance Business Partner. To serve as the strategic link between Finance and the business, providing commercial insight, robust analysis, and high-impact financial leadership. The role requires proactive ownership of the financial relationship with the business, ensuring Finance is embedded into key decision-making processes and forward-looking performance management.
The Finance Business Partner will deliver high-quality financial planning and analysis (FP&A), continuously improve internal reporting, and play a leadership role in enhancing team capability. This includes driving improvements in variance analysis, forecasting, cash flow understanding, and business engagement, while maintaining strong alignment with statutory reporting and external performance expectations.
The role includes line management of one non-qualified direct report, with responsibility for coaching, development and workflow planning.
As Finance Business Partner, your responsibilities will include among others
* Act as the primary financial contact for the front office business, actively engaging with stakeholders and embedding Finance into the decision-making process.
* Lead the preparation and review of monthly internal reporting, including the flash report, CFO pack, and supporting analytics for business line performance.
* Deliver detailed and executive-level commentary of financial results, clearly articulating P&L drivers, risks and opportunities in a concise and business-friendly format.
* Own the annual budget and monthly reforecasting processes for the business, including timetabling, consolidation, scenario analysis and presentation of outputs to senior stakeholders.
* Collaborate with the financial accounting team to strengthen the link between internal MI and statutory financials, improving accuracy across P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow.
* Take responsibility for cash flow analysis and forecasting, ensuring clarity on movements and alignment with banking covenants and business objectives.
* Be responsible for IFRS15 revenue recognition across the business lines, including the identification, review and documentation (Board paper) of significant and complex client arrangements, and assisting with financial statement reviews as required.
* Drive improvements in internal reporting, reviewing and enhancing existing processes and controls to improve accuracy, transparency, and consistency.
* Provide senior-level technical and commercial support to the management accounting and financial accounting teams, contributing to the development of team capabilities and cross-functional working.
* Champion the use of TM1 as the central planning and MI tool, minimising the use of spreadsheets and increasing analytical value.
* Line manage one non-qualified direct report, taking responsibility for training, task delegation, performance oversight and supporting their professional development.
* Support the coaching of junior team members and peers, contributing to a high-performing and collaborative finance function.
* Partner with HR to support bonus scheme analysis and headcount reporting using NetSuite HR modules.
* Support the audit process and coordinate with the financial accounting team to provide accurate analysis on revenue, cost trends, WIP, provisions and other audit queries.
* Act as the primary financial contact for the front office business, actively engaging with stakeholders and embedding Finance into the decision-making process.
* Participation in due diligence on acquisition targets including assessing performance measures.
Qualifications
To be successful in this role, you should
* Strong communication and influencing skills; confident in engaging with senior stakeholders and business leaders.
* Experience in a finance business partnering role with a track record of improving performance insight and driving commercial outcomes.
* Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret trends, analyse variances, and present data clearly and accurately.
* High attention to detail, with a focus on improving first-time accuracy of financial outputs and narrative.
* Good understanding of IFRS15 revenue recognition and its practical application in a services-based environment.
* Proven experience leading budgeting and forecasting processes and producing Board-ready MI.
* Desirable: experience with IBM Planning Analytics (TM1), Oracle NetSuite, and Power BI or other reporting/analytics tools.
* Ability to coach and develop junior staff, especially non-qualified team members.
* Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).
Additional Information
As a colleague here at S&W you will have access to benefits that include
* Competitive salary
* Private medical insurance
* Life assurance
* Pension contribution
* Hybrid working model (role dependent)
* Generous holiday package
* Option to purchase additional holiday
* Shared parental leave
* Fully funded training towards professional qualifications
* Cycle to work scheme
* Season ticket loan
* Eye care support
We are proud to value the differences that a diverse workforce brings, representative of society and our clients. At S&W we have a wide range of highly active employee resource groups and we’re delivering multiple diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives across the organisation. It is our commitment to provide a workplace where all colleagues, regardless of identity, background, or circumstance, feel respected as individuals and feel that they can achieve their full potential and work in a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment.
We are happy to make any reasonable adjustments to accommodate for your needs throughout the application process. Please let your Recruiter know.