C2/SEO Project Finance Business Partner

The Finance, Commercial, Sustainability and Property Directorate manage, oversee and analyse the Agencys financial and commercial activity. By reporting on our current position, forecasting our future budgets and working closely with internal and external stakeholders, we play an active part in understanding the agencys performance and in shaping its current and future financial position.The role is within the Project & National Interest Case FBP Team which works within the Finance, Commercial, Sustainability and Property Directorate, and is strategically placed at the heart of the organisation to provide project finance advice to key stakeholders and Senior Leaders across a varied project portfolio.What do Project FBPs do:The team supports the organisation in the delivery of change projects (with the NIC Accountant separately helping to administer National Interest Cases) by providing expert financial guidance and reporting. We help the business achieve this by offering robust challenge, realistic financial forecasting and support with HM Government finance processes. We also provide input to business cases and deliver specific accounting advice to shape commercial decisions.What we can offer people in the role:Qualifications and TrainingSupport to complete your professional accountancy qualification if applicable (note: you must be qualified or within 12 months of qualifying to apply for this role)Support to complete the CIPFA Diploma in Finance Business PartneringOpportunity to complete other related training, such as CIPFA Better Business Cases trainingTeamworkTeam members are encouraged to support each other and work together, for example knowledge-sharing or simply giving time to one another to help overcome challengesAutonomyAll of our team members are encouraged to identify issues and develop solutions as part of wider stakeholder groups. Over the past year a range of initiatives have been undertaken on the team: a complete overhaul of the project forecast books, the introduction of a team SharePoint site, standardised reports harnessing PowerBI, amongst othersWorking with othersThese roles offer a great opportunity to directly work with people outside of Finance, Project FBPs: Act as the Business Expert, utilising their comprehensive knowledge of key business drivers and the wider political environment to continually add valueHave an Influential Voice, utilising strong emotional intelligence to influence at the highest level, bring constructive challenge and enhance the quality of decision-makingAre the businesses Financial Advisors, providing the options for the business to develop by combining their technical knowledge, strategic insight, commercial acumen and an understanding of business risk and opportunityResponsibilitiesThe successful candidate can expect to be involved in a range of the following:Finance Business Partnering:Be the single point of Finance contact for your stakeholders, fostering excellent working relationshipsHosting or attending meetings, e.g. monthly forecast review meetings, presenting key finance information at project boardsField and reply to finance queries from stakeholders, focussing on delivery outcomes whilst remaining impartial and providing appropriate challengeBeing a key stakeholder on strategy formation, working collaboratively with stakeholders and Finance colleaguesTechnical and Accounting:Ensure accounts are reflective of the accruals conceptProvide auditable and transparent records relating to accounting transactionsMonitor and address potential issues of novel and contentious spendProvide advice around accounting and VAT treatment of transactions, ensuring financial transactions are appropriately recordedBusiness Case Development:Provide financial input into business case development, working collaboratively with stakeholders to obtain information, challenging assumptions when necessaryAssessing financial impacts across multiple years, e.g. capitalisation and IFRS16 lease accountingAssisting with obtaining necessary internal and external approvals of business casesBudgets, Forecasts and Spending Reviews:Work closely with stakeholders to support them with developing robust financial forecasts, utilising available tools, e.g. resource trackerUnderstand potential under and over spends and areas of financial risk early, reporting and monitoring appropriatelyProvide monthly consolidated returns to stakeholders such as the Management Accounts and Financial Accounts teamProvide annual budget and spending review returns to the Financial Planning Team, matching these to internal forecasts and applying narrative to supportLine Management:This role may require the line management of a Cost Centre Manager (CCM), undertaking quarterly performance reviews and developing capabilityOversight of CCMs Cost Centre and Ledger Management duties relating to transactions and journal processingOversight and support the CCMs cross-team taskProvide CCM direction on non-standard reporting requirements, ensuring delivery to stakeholders in a suitable method and reviewable time-framePlease note that as this is a Finance role month-end is a critical time, therefore leave for the 1st and 2nd working day of each month can only be approved by exception