Network Rail
Senior Finance Business Partner [Capex]
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Who We Are
Join Network Rail! Where People and Connections Matter
At Network Rail, we're dedicated to keeping passengers and freight moving safely and efficiently across the country. When you join us, you're not just part of a team—you're part of something that matters to millions. We believe that our people are at the heart of what we do, and every role plays a vital part in building a better, more connected railway.
We're committed to creating a diverse, inclusive workplace that reflects the communities we serve. To discover more about our ED&I commitments click here. We value flexibility and understand the importance of a healthy work-life balance. As a Disability Confident Leader, we'll do everything we can to accommodate any needs throughout the recruitment process.
Safe behaviour is a requirement of working for Network Rail. Applicants should be able to demonstrate their awareness of our safety vision.
About The Role
We have several exciting opportunities to work in the wider Eastern Region and Capital Programmes Finance team. Our team sits at the core of decision making, financial planning, investment assurance and strategic business support across Network Rail's largest region with an annual spend of almost £2bn.
These are roles with an opportunity to make a visible impact with senior leaders and broaden your experience shaping future plans, governing major programmes or delivering innovative analysis.
Opportunities
- Opportunity 1 and 2 are permanent vacancies and Opportunity 3 is a 12 month secondment/ fixed term contract with the potential to go permanent.
Opportunity 1: Capital Programmes Reporting Lead (London, Derby or York)
Lead the production of financial and performance reporting across the Capital Programmes directorate, ensuring senior leaders have clear, insightful and timely information to support decision making. You'll manage a small team, driving high quality reporting, continuous improvement and consistency across a diverse investment portfolio. The role also provides critical governance and assurance, challenging accounting treatments and holding finance leaders to account for the application of sound financial controls, policies and practices.
Opportunity 2: NPR and Capital Director Support (London, Derby or York)
This role will be the primary business partner for our Northern Powerhouse Rail Programme, a proposed multi-billion pound major rail programme designed to transform connectivity and boost the economic potential in the North of England, supporting, positively challenging and influencing the senior leadership team on project and OPEX finances to drive accurate reporting and efficiency delivery. In addition there will be opportunities to support the wider regional team and Eastern Routes Capital Programmes Director with value-add analysis and continuous improvement activities as required.
Opportunity 3: Capital Programmes Enhancements South Lead (Stratford or Derby)
In this role you will become an integral member of the South and Minor Enhancements project team within Capital Programmes Eastern. Working with senior stakeholders across the portfolio to positively challenge and influence business activities, budgets and financial forecasts to support efficient delivery of large-scale, high-profile capital investment projects, maintaining robust financial control, assurance and governance.
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Key Accountabilities
- Consolidate, critically review and provide technical advice and guidance on periodic financial results and forecasts to identify and monitor risks, opportunities and efficiencies to minimise the financial and legal impact on the business area.
- Provide robust professional recommendations and financial guidance on accounting guidelines and standards to enable the business to be financially and legally compliant.
- Provide technical and professional oversight of the periodic accounts, relevant analysis and preparation of business plans and budgets to enable the business to make effective decisions.
- Develop, understand and influence the cost and income drivers relevant to the business area to deliver the yearly business plan and manage to the overall settlement by effective decision making.
- Influence, coach and challenge senior budget holders in understanding the impact of their period results and forecasts against budgets in order to manage their business more effectively and manage within budgeting limits.
- Proactively challenge budget holders plans and budget submissions to understand the overall plan, providing advice and new initiatives to save costs and be more efficient as an organisation.
- Drive, adapt and deliver key performance indicators (KPI's) and deliverables for the function, highlighting any significant issues and trends with financial and other business results to aid decision makers to make efficiencies.
- Lead in budget holder key meetings on financial performance to provide professional financial advice and guidance to drive business decisions, minimise risk and deliver good corporate governance.
- Develop, drive and implement investment decisions and new business activities, working collaboratively with senior leaders to explore new opportunities and drive business performance.
Essential Criteria
- Membership (or working towards membership) of a relevant accounting body (CIMA/ACCA/ICAEW) or equivalent experience
- Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills at all levels. This should include Customers; 3rd party representatives, other business & functional leaders and key support personnel.
- Successful relevant experience working in a complex financial environment including demonstrable experience in managing business risks, professional financial control and forward planning.
- Demonstrable record of budget management, governance and ability to understand and interpret commercial and financial landscapes (budgets, forecasts, actual status).
- Significant experience in managing ambiguity in a financial environment with strong evaluation and decision-making skills.
- Excellent technical Financial and Accounting knowledge and application of that knowledge in a complex and commercial environment.
- Educated to degree level in a relevant discipline, for example accounting and finance, business management or equivalent demonstrable experience in finance
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Please note: Applicants must provide proof of essential qualifications and/or competencies where required, or demonstrate active progress toward obtaining them, or evidence their applicable experience as a condition of employment.
External How To Apply
Network Rail welcomes applications regardless of age, disability, marital status (including civil partnerships), pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, transgender status, sex (or gender), employment status, trade union affiliation, or other irrelevant factor.
We are a Disability Confident Leader employer! We will interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria.
We are here to support you through every step of the recruitment process and to enable you to perform to the best of your ability. If you require any adjustments or modifications please contact Mark Holt (Resourcing Business Partner) at mark.holt@networkrail.co.uk. You can also visit Evenbreak's Career Hive for advice on accessibility support if you're unsure of the options available.
We positively embrace flexible working, recognising that employees may wish to balance work with their family and home life.
Network Rail is required to comply with UK Government standards when carrying out pre-employment checks for all new starters; this includes a basic criminal record check. In addition to the basic criminal record check, in accordance with the UK Government we are also required to verify your identity, right to work in the UK and previous three years employment history.
All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks. Click here for more information. Please ensure you have the appropriate Right to Work status when applying for this role.
Salary
£55,596 to £67,813 per annum (plus an Inner London allowance of £3,270 per annum for London based roles).
Some of our roles require face to face Drugs & Alcohol testing. Further details will be shared with you as part of your formal offer.
Closing date
11th August 2026. Late applications will not be accepted. We retain the right to close the advert before the listed closing date based on application volumes.
What's In It For You
Here are a few of the benefits we offer
- 28-day annual leave with the option to buy and sell days
- Choice of pension schemes
- 75% discount of leisure travel for you and your family
- Private Healthcare
- 5 days paid volunteer or carers leave
- Up to 75% subsidised Rail and Underground travel
- Gym Pass - access to gyms across UK
- My Benefits platform - giving national and local retail discount
Our aim is to ensure your candidate experience is as positive as possible. If you require reasonable adjustments at any point, simply let us know and we'll do our best to assist you.
Some of our roles require face to face Drugs & Alcohol testing. We will share further details with you as part of your formal offer.
All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks. Click here for more information.
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills
Location