Finance Business Partner - Corporate Finance

We are recruiting for the role of Finance Business Partner within our Corporate Finance team. This is an important and exciting role which provides you with an opportunity to work with Exec board members and other senior people within the business. You will be responsible for managing and controlling budgets of over £100m, identifying and delivering process improvements/value-add analysis and seeking ways to optimise partnering with our cost centre owners.  This role is ideal for a self-starter who enjoys interacting with multiple teams across the business (financial and non-financial partners) and thrives in a high-profile, fast paced environment.  The role reports to the Senior Finance Manager within the Internal Reporting team. 

The Corporate and Strategic Finance team partners with the CEO, CFO, COO and CXO, and their respective teams. The team consists of high-performing finance professionals who, in addition to providing technical expertise and setting policy in the fields of Tax, Treasury and External reporting, support and drive the business in Property, Procurement, Operational Excellence and strategic projects, whilst business partnering the Corporate Functions. The overall team is further responsible for setting the Group planning agenda and strategic plan and driving the results to balance the needs of the business and the shareholder.

Join us at Greene King the country's leading pub company and brewer, where our mission is to pour happiness into lives and become the pride of great British hospitality. We have something special, deeply rooted in our 220-year brewing and pub history, creating the business we are proudly known for today. Still today our 39,000 strong team are the guardians of what’s wholly British, the pub experience.  

We’re all about rewarding our team’s hard work, that’s why…

You’ll receive a competitive salary, pension contribution as well as:

• 33 days Annual Leave – With the opportunity to buy an additional 5 days! 
• Life Assurance 
• Discounted Dental and Health Insurance  
• Discount of 33% for you and 15% for your loved ones on all of our brands – so you enjoy your favourite food and drink at a discount. 
• Free employee assistance program – Mental Health, well-being, Financial, and Legal support because you matter!  
• Discount of 50% for you and 25% for your loved ones at our Greene King Inns and hotels – so, you can enjoy a weekend away without breaking the bank 
• Refer a friend – Who do you know who could be interested in a new role? When they are placed, you could receive up to £1,500 for referring them! 
• Wage Stream – Access your wage before payday for when life happens.  
• Retail discounts – Receive up to 30% off at Superdrug, exclusive discounts with three mobile along with many more… 
• The chance to further your career across our well-known brands – As one of the industry's top apprenticeship providers, we can provide training and development at each level of your career.   

Your role as Finance Business Partner 

• Lead the annual budget, re-forecasts and strategic plan submissions for the corporate business unit covering multiple functions (HR, IT, Property, Finance, Legal, Risk etc).
• Review the accuracy of periodic management accounts, working with finance centre of excellence (FCOE) to ensure accruals and prepayments are complete.
• Work with FCOE to create and send a periodic CFO pack with results and commentary on variances.
• Take ownership for reporting on people costs including periodic reconciliation and preparation of journal adjustments, review of people changes with HRBPs, headcount reporting etc.
• Finance leader for IT capex for the group, understanding whether costs are Opex or Capex in line with SaaS reporting requirements, identifying best practice for splitting costs against projects and reviewing/reporting costs against budget, review of WIP etc.
• Work closely with cost centre holders to review variances to budget/forecast, understand and control costs, and set future budgets.
• Lead reviews of financial performance with Exec members.
• Continually drive process, system, reporting and accounting improvement across the functions.
• Deputise for the Senior Finance Manager as required.
• Provide adhoc financial advice and support on other projects that may arise.

What you’ll bring… 

• Business partnering experience gained in a large organisation.  Confidence in liaising with stakeholders across the business including non-financial stakeholders.  
• Strong communication skills, both written and in person. Ability to deliver key financial and commercial messages successfully.  Keeps line manager updated and informed.
• Attention to detail, ensuring that outputs are of high quality. Manages both P&L and Balance sheet effectively.
• The ability to assimilate, understand and provide insight on key financial information.  
• Strong excel skills, experience with Cognos beneficial.
• Ability to work well under pressure and consistently deliver on commitments, despite challenging timescales and competing priorities. 
• Strong desire to want to improve processes, reports, ways of working.  Energy and enthusiasm to identify improvements and action positive changes.

Qualified Accountant ACA/CA/ACCA/CIMA (or equivalent) preferred but we would also consider part-qualified and ‘qualified by experience’.