Head of Finance Business Partnering

We are Ofwat, the Water Services Regulation Authority, a non-ministerial government department responsible for regulating the water sector in England and Wales.

We have an opportunity for a Head of Finance Business Partnering to join our Finance Team within Corporate Enablers Directorate.

The water sector is entering a new chapter. The government has set out a bold new direction, bringing together expertise from across the sector to deliver better outcomes for customers and the environment. We are collaborating with fellow regulators to respond to recommendations in The Independent Water Commission Report, the Welsh Governments response to the Green Paper, Shaping the Future of Water Governance in Wales, and the Governments White Paper, A new vision for water.

Ofwat is working with the government and other regulators to help create a new body for England, bringing together our strengths with those of the Drinking Water Inspectorate, the Environment Agency and Natural England. We are also continuing to work with the Welsh Government to support decisions on the future arrangements for Wales.

While these changes take shape, our mission remains the same: to hold water companies to account, drive performance, and ensure the sector delivers real value for customers, communities, and the environment. If youre passionate about making a difference, this is a unique moment to join us and help shape the future of water, and together we can continue to make a positive impact.

You can find out more about why you should join Ofwat, our strategy, values and our framework for success in the attached Information for Candidates Pack.

This is an exciting time to join Ofwat - At a critical point for the water sector and with a significant Ofwat growth expected over the next few years. You will be responsible for managing a team of five finance business partners to ensure effective financial management of the budget including planning, forecasting, reporting, and financial analysis.

You will provide leadership, influence, vision, financial challenge, direction, support, and advice, adding value through insightful analysis whilst acting as critical advisor on key financial decisions. You will be CCAB qualified or at final level of your qualification with extensive experience, gained within a Government and/or Public Sector.

Key deliverables:

In this role you will be expected to:

• Lead and manage the Finance Business Partnering team including prioritisation and planning of workload; 121 meetings; monitoring progress against objectives.
• Develop and optimise the production of financial analysis and management information for budget holders, ensuring accuracy and clarity.
• Lead the approach to budget setting and forecasting, including working with senior budget holders, and maintaining forecasting methodology.
• Support the organisation through periods of significant change, providing financial insight, challenge and guidance to enable informed decision-making.
• Lead the period-end close process, ensuring timely completion, accuracy and compliance with financial controls.
• Oversee and quality assure budgeting and forecasting models and establishment budgetary controls.
• Prepare ad-hoc analysis to support strategic planning and organisational decision making.
• Lead a team of 4 Finance Business Partners including leading team meetings and promoting effective collaboration.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Own current approval processes, driving system improvements and enhancing the user experience.
• Manage procurement contracts including Oracle finance, travel and room bookings.
• Proactively identify, assess and manage financial and operational risks, ensuring appropriate controls and mitigation plans are in place.
• Uphold Ofwat's SAILOR values - Support; Ambition; Integrity; Learning; Ownership; Respect.

To be successful in this role you will need the below essential attributes, experience, skills and knowledge:

Experience, skills and knowledge

1. Lead Criterion 1: Experience of building and leading a Finance Business Partnering team.
2. Lead Criterion 2: Experience of supporting an organisation through a period of significant change e.g. a merger/close of an organisation.
3. Excellent stakeholder management, with experience of building strong relationships and working collaboratively to achieve and deliver against shared objectives.
4. Experience of providing leadership, guidance and support to colleagues and partners to enable effective decision making.
5. Confident communicator with the ability to communicate financial insights to non-financial audiences.
6. Ability to manage competing priorities and resources in context, considering a range of approaches and during potential periods of ambiguity.
7. Experience in process improvement and efficiency.

Attributes

8. You are a champion of change

9. You build trust

10. You deliver outcomes

Attributes as per Ofwat's Framework for Success for the relevant salary grade. You can read more about Attributes here.