Finance Business Partner x2

Act as the primary finance contact for an assigned portfolio of business units (c. 2530 Budget Holders), building strong relationships and providing finance support, constructive challenge and clear recommendations. Work to the Finance Business Partner Framework to provide timely financial insight, analysis and commentary, including supporting the monthly Finance Report and explaining variances with Budget Holders and the Assistant Director of Finance. Coach and upskill non-finance colleagues, including delivering regular workshops on budgeting/forecasting, and maintain ongoing communications (e.g., Oracle posts/emails) to improve financial understanding and transparency. Manage financial planning cycles for all projects in the portfolio, including annual budget setting (including recharges), quarterly forecasting to tight deadlines, and in-year monitoring against budget/forecast to embed value-for-money. Deliver key month-end activities, including posting journals (accruals/deferrals and recharges) to ensure accurate period recognition and building or updating reports. Own pay forecasting and establishment controls, including maintaining the establishment tracker, approving employee/vacancy change forms, checking payroll journals, and completing ad hoc pay modelling. Support contract and grant income management by working with Contracts & Procurement and Budget Holders to set up contracts/projects, maintain billing schedules, ensure timely invoicing, validate pricing templates (overheads/surplus), and monitor restricted funds and funder requirements. Administer and continuously improve management reporting systems and documentation (IRIS Analytics report library and users/training; liaison with IRIS support/consultant), while maintaining finance procedures, responding to queries, managing Finance SharePoint filing, and keeping CPD up to date.