Finance Business Partner

About the Role

As a Finance Business Partner you will provide assurance and challenge, driving cost‑control, overseeing month‑end and year‑end financial close, managing cash‑flow forecasts, supporting business planning and budgeting, and promoting Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in all activities. • Provide governance guidance and act as the CFO’s representative at monthly review meetings. • Review and endorse change and investment papers, challenging risks, opportunities and associated costs. • Represent finance on investment change panels and assure senior management of appropriate expenditure and contract payments. • Advise on IFRS accounting treatments and supply justification to NAO auditors as needed. • Oversee month‑end close, prepare accounts for year‑end audit and produce monthly contract spend analytics. • Deliver budget variance commentary and review Programme Board Packs for accuracy. • Analyse emerging forecasts, monitor Spending Review funding and propose remedial actions. • Collaborate with supply‑chain finance leads to improve Actual Cost of Work Performed and cash‑flow data. • Develop and challenge cash‑flow forecasts for DfT and supply‑chain submissions. • Support business planning and forecasting processes, ensuring reliability of cost‑management data. • Assist budget management through disaggregation, delegation support and system/reporting changes. • Provide workforce cost forecasts and challenge budget holders to optimise resources. • Promote and embed Equality, Diversity and Inclusion across all finance activities. • Communicate complex financial information clearly to non‑financial stakeholders and secure compliance with public‑money rules. • Engage and build consensus with internal and external stakeholders up to Executive level. • Influence key decisions through effective stakeholder management and persuasive communication. • Critically review forecasts for affordability, value for money, timing and programme impact. • Utilise ERP systems, data‑analytics tools and complex Excel models to support decision‑making. • Maintain robust financial controls within a large‑scale infrastructure project. • Contributed to the development of annual business plans and budget‑setting processes for major projects. • Part of a finance support team delivering business‑partner services to programme teams and directorates.

Key Responsibilities

• ▸month-end
• ▸cash forecast
• ▸budget variance
• ▸erp analytics
• ▸financial controls
• ▸stakeholder management

What You Bring

Applicants must already have the right to work in the UK, as HS2 cannot sponsor visas, and will be subject to standard pre‑employment checks including nationality, references, DBS, financial and education verification. • Qualified accountant with experience in complex, government‑funded environments. • Knowledge of government accounting requirements (DEL/AME funding) and off‑system analysis techniques. • Experience delivering output‑focused, activity‑based budgets and forecasts within funding caps.

Requirements

• ▸qualified accountant
• ▸government accounting
• ▸del/ame
• ▸off-system analysis
• ▸activity budgeting
• ▸uk eligibility

Benefits

The role offers a base salary ranging from £54,878 to £64,562 per annum, dependent on skills and experience, plus a fully pensionable flexible benefits fund of 20% on top of the base salary and a suite of competitive benefits available on the company website. HS2 Ltd is committed to fostering an inclusive environment where staff can thrive, offering flexible working, adjustments, vibrant staff networks and personal and professional development opportunities, while also upholding the values of Safety, Leadership, Integrity and Respect.

Work Environment

Hybrid