Finance Business Partner

Finance Business Partner

To act as the main point of contact for Senior Management, Business Delivery, Sector Teams and Corporate Finance for all commercial and financial queries relating to designated portfolio(s). Lead a team to ensure that all finance-related activities within the portfolio(s) are delivered with strong emphasis on partnering.

Main accountabilities:

Strategymake a contribution beyond your direct remit; support the Matrix to work increasingly effectively; and lead to performance improvement in core business areas
Lead cross-functional/organisation wide working parties and initiatives in own area of expertise
Deliver the strategy and high level operational plans for Finance Delivery, ensuring all members of the team understand their responsibilities and how they can contribute in alignment with business planning and performance management timetables

Market building & brand positioning
Promote the work of E&S Finance Delivery throughout the organisation and support the implementation of good practice throughout the organisation.
Lead the development of training, consultancy and support to build capacity and confidence across the wider BC network in agreed areas

Relationship, stakeholder and key account management
Partner with key stakeholders, directors and managers to provide consistent, timely, accurate and relevant financial information and more importantly, interpretation and decision support resulting from trends identified in terms of the achievement of strategic business objectives.
Develop diverse professional networks which support E&S to understand best practice in Finance and develop new approaches and partnerships which increase the impact of the function
Develop relationships with the wider global network of individuals involved in Finance to share information and ensure E&S is aligned with organisational strategy and agendas, and its needs are represented and understood senior managers in the organisation.
Proactively share best practice and learning across the wider organisation
Represent the British Council externally and internally maintaining organisational reputation.

Professional expertise and development
To act as a "Business Partner" for assigned portfolio, supporting the portfolio in all matters of commercial and financial contract management delivery, ensuring that each element of the business unit delivers and exceeds its goals and targets.
To act as a conduit for central finance functions within the business unit, taking responsibility for all financial portfolio activity matters within the designated area of E&S
Lead the development of best practice across E&S working closely with all Directorates and Project Management.
Delivery all aspects of financial oversight & control of designated area of responsibility, producing monthly management accounts, commentaries and analysis for decision and action, Risk, FCCF, cash flow, and balance sheet review
Support the SBU in reporting Value for Money delivered on contracts both to demonstrate externally to clients (improving the British Council's reputation and positioning them better to win new business) but also for internal understanding and improvement.

Leadership & management
Lead, develop and evaluate the assigned portfolio team(s) ensuring they inform and support E&S's strategic objectives, demonstrate value for money and embed equal opportunities and diversity values and objectives
Define, secure and manage the resources required to deliver the Finance portfolio activity effectively across E&S, including people, infrastructure and systems
Negotiate, contract and manage services provided from outside E&S (internal/external) ensuring cost effective, high quality and timely delivery which is aligned to the British Council's commitment to equality and diversity
Ensure assigned portfolio team(s) proactively seek to understand the interdependencies and connections their work has with other functions and teams within P&P and the wider organisation
Deputise for Senior Finance Business Partner as required.
Lead the assigned portfolio team(s) with an emphasis on succession planning and talent identification and management for the benefit of the wider E&S business. Ensure career planning, development planning and continuous professional development are Embedded in the assigned portfolio team(s)
Drive continuous learning and improvement in all areas of Finance activity across E&S ensuring there are agreed performance indicators and a clear monitoring framework that demonstrates value added.
Ensure teams within your remit make an active contribution to appropriate best practice initiatives and activities

Risk Management and Compliance Monitoring
Develop and maintain guidance notes and liaise with Corporate policies team to ensure consistency
Supervise and quality-assure the drafting of key policy documents to ensure full compliance to the organisation's rules and regulations governing transactions
Ensure the consistency of financial and management information relating to internal, external and Client audits

Minimum/essential
Knowledge and experience of Excel at an Advanced level
Ability to communicate and influence senior finance and non-finance colleagues
Substantial Post Qualification Experience in both project and contract finance environments
Sound understanding of strategic/business/financial management planning principles and processes
Previous experience of operating in a Business Partnering role, with clearly defined critical success factors

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