About Us
High Speed 2 (HS2 Ltd) will be the UK’s new high speed rail network. As well as improving capacity, the scheme will shorten journey times between major population centres, boost the economy and create thousands of jobs. HS2 Ltd aims to be a leader in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) practice by creating a safe and inclusive working environment and living our values of Safety, Respect, Integrity and Leadership. We are positive and inclusive about adjustments, flexible working, staff networks, and personal and professional development opportunities. HS2 Ltd is a safety-critical organisation with requirements to follow our Safe at Heart programme and safe working procedures.
As HS2 Ltd do not hold a sponsorship license from the Home Office, we are not able to provide sponsorship to any applicant. Applicants must already have the Right to Work in the UK at the time of application and our process includes Right to Work validation prior to interview. Some time-bound visas cannot be accepted. Offers are subject to pre-employment checks including nationality/immigration status, employment references, DBS, financial and education checks. Applications after the closing date will not be considered.
Job title
Senior Finance Business Partner
Role purpose
You will drive accountability and focus on cost control across the directorates you support. Provide oversight, control and direction to your team (if applicable) and ensure appropriate Finance support to promote effective decision making and performance management of direct and indirect costs.
Salary and benefits
Base salary: £61,622 – £77,028 per annum, depending on skills and experience. In addition, a flexible benefits fund of 20% (paid on top of base salary and fully pensionable) and other competitive benefits are available. Details are listed in the Benefits section on our website.
Responsibilities
* Support bidding for the Directorate into the Government-wide Spending Review with the Directorate senior executives and in liaison with the central HS2 finance team and the parent Department.
* Embed and drive a cost-control and productivity-focused culture across the Directorate, aligning with the HS2 Business Case, Framework Agreement and Development Agreement.
* Support business performance management, enabling senior executives to manage budgets within HM Treasury guidance and GovS 006.
* Manage stakeholder relationships with competing priorities.
* Identify and deliver tactical performance interventions (including productivity initiatives) across directorates.
* Interpret and present insights from central finance reports to enable effective communication with senior leaders across HS2 and the parent Department.
* Oversee month-end close, accounts preparation, monthly analytics, variance analysis and reporting packs.
* Support annual business planning, budgeting, and quarterly re-forecasts with senior executives and the central finance team.
* Review funding requests for value for money, affordability and compliance with Managing Public Money guidelines.
* Manage cash flow submissions for the business area to support funding requirements and forex hedging activities.
* Identify and implement process improvements to support project delivery.
* Promote consistent reporting methodologies and financial processes in coordination with Finance, Commercial and Programme Control teams.
* Provide effective business partner support, reviewing forecasts and variances with recommendations for corrective actions.
* Develop and grow an empowered finance team with increasing knowledge and capability.
* Support the function in other duties as necessary and share best practice with the wider team.
* Actively promote and embed Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in all work and comply with organizational EDI policies.
Skills
* Communication: ability to interpret and communicate complex financial issues to non-financial colleagues and secure compliance with Managing Public Money.
* Stakeholder management: engage and build consensus with internal and external stakeholders up to Executive level.
* Influencing: ability to influence key decisions.
* Forecast review: critically review and challenge forecasts for affordability, value for money, timing and programme impact.
* ERP and data analytics: use ERP systems, data analytics software and complex Excel models.
* Financial controls: ensure effective controls within a major project.
* Team management: manage teams and resolve issues to deadlines.
Knowledge
* Qualified Accountant with experience in a complex environment.
* Knowledge of Government accounting requirements (DEL/AME funding) and compliance within delegated authority.
* Knowledge of accounting systems and off-system analyses and records.
* Commercial awareness.
Experience
* Experience in a matrix environment, including infrastructure projects.
* Experience driving output-focused budgets and forecasts.
* Experience supporting annual business planning and budgeting within Spending Review funding caps.
* Experience collaborating with planning, procurement, contract management and HR teams.
* Experience managing teams and meeting deadlines.
* Qualified Accountant with experience in complex environments, potentially including infrastructure projects.
* Experience managing a team of finance business partners or project accountants providing finance business partnering to programs with budgets under £1bn per annum or supporting HS2 executive decision making.
Other information
The post-holder is expected to behave in line with the HS2 values of Safety, Leadership, Integrity and Respect. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion should be actively promoted and embedded in all work. HS2 Ltd is a safety-critical organisation; employees must follow health and safety practices.
Application notes: Any offers are subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks. The recruitment process may anonymise CV details to reduce bias. Attach an updated Word CV highlighting evidence related to the criteria in the job advert. Watch a video on how we remove bias in recruitment. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
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