At Places for People, we hire People, not numbers! So, if you like the sound of one of our jobs, please apply - you could be just who we're looking for! Of course, experience and track record are important, but we're more interested in hiring someone that embodies our People Promises. That's someone that does the right thing, is enthusiastic and motivated to grow, believes in Community spirit, is respectful and enjoys their work. As the UK's leading Social Enterprise we're dedicated to creating inclusive and thriving Communities for both our Customers and Employees.
So, what are you waiting for? Join a community that cares about you!
What is the role?
We're looking for a Senior Finance Business Partner to join our Group Finance team, supporting the Affordable Housing business within Places for People. This is a strategic leadership role where you'll guide financial decision‑making, strengthen financial governance, and help ensure the long‑term sustainability of our regulated housing providers.
A key part of this role is supporting our Customer Hub, so you'll bring experience working with or providing financial insight to a contact centre or similar high‑volume customer‑focused environment. Your expertise will help shape performance, resourcing, and service delivery across a fast‑paced operational area. This is a hybrid role from our Preston office, to be considered for this role you will need to be within a commutable distance of our Preston office.
Essential Criteria
* Experience within a similar role within a large scale environment ideally within a contact centre or similar high volume customer focused environment.
* Strong capability in data analysis, forecasting, budgeting and variance analysis to support informed decision‑making.
* Previous management experience leading and developing assistant accountant teams through direct and matrix management.
* Hold a recognised accountancy qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent)
* As this is a hybrid role you will need to be within a commutable distance of Preston.
More about you
You'll play a key role in the business leadership team, shaping financial strategy and supporting organisational growth while leading the development of financial policies and procedures aligned to business plans. You'll provide high‑quality financial advice on both strategic and operational matters and support the Customer Hub with insight, performance analysis and scenario modelling to drive efficiency. You'll oversee financial management across allocated companies, ensuring robust long‑term planning and the timely production of management accounts, budgets, cashflows, forecasts and statutory reporting. You'll monitor financial performance, take action to keep objectives on track, lead audit preparation, and build strong relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders including regulators, auditors, pension providers and government representatives.
You'll be a confident and influential finance professional with experience supporting operational teams in a complex organisation, able to communicate financial information clearly to non‑finance colleagues and challenge and advise at a senior level. You'll bring experience working with or supporting a contact centre or similar customer‑focused environment, strong analytical skills across budgeting, forecasting and variance analysis, and proven leadership of finance teams. You'll also have excellent strategic thinking and prioritisation skills, hold a recognised accountancy qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent), and be able to meet the requirement for a Basic DBS check.
The benefits
We are a large diverse and ambitious business, which will give you all the challenge you could wish for.
We know that there's always more we can do to make you smile, that's why we offer a comprehensive benefits package with each role, yours will include:
Competitive salary, with a salary review yearly
Pension with matched contributions up to 7%
Excellent holiday package – up to 35 days annual leave with the option to buy or sell leave
Cashback plan for healthcare costs – up to £500 saving per year
A bonus scheme for all colleagues at 2%
Training and development
Extra perks including huge discounts and offers from shops, cinemas and much more
What's next?
If you meet the criteria and are ready to make the next step in your career then click apply. You will be redirected to our careers site where you can discover more about the role, read a full job description and apply directly to us.
As part of our commitment to diversity and inclusion, we offer a guaranteed interview to candidates who are disabled, neurodiverse, or have served in the Armed Forces, provided they meet the essential criteria for the role. If you would like to be considered under this scheme, please indicate this in your application. We are dedicated to creating a supportive and accessible recruitment process for all.
We are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support your application or interview experience, please let us know. We're happy to work with you to ensure you have the opportunity to perform at your best.
If you are a Places for People customer and you're looking for support with your application, please contact our skills and employment team on skillsemployment@placesforpeople.co.uk.
If you are a recruitment agency please note we operate a PSL and do not take cold calls
Safeguarding
At Places for People, safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. We are committed to creating safe communities for our customers and colleagues by protecting children, young people, and adults at risk from harm, abuse, and neglect.
We follow robust safeguarding policies and procedures, ensuring all employees, volunteers, and contractors uphold the highest standards of safeguarding and accountability. Our recruitment process includes pre-employment checks, including Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks where applicable, to promote a safe and secure working environment.
By joining Places for People, you are expected to contribute to our safeguarding culture, following our policies and reporting concerns to protect those in our communities