Network Rail
Senior Finance Business Partner
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Who We Are
About Network Rail...
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. Click here to learn more.
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. You can visit Evenbreaks Career Hive for advice on accessibility support.
If you're ready to make a real difference, we'd love to hear from you!
Some Of Our Great Benefits
- We offer generous maternity, paternity, and adoption leave to support our employees during significant life moments
- Flexible/hybrid working arrangements considered
- Generous annual leave up to 28 days plus statutory days (role dependant), with the option to buy/sell days
- Discounts at selected stations with your Network Rail pass
- Defined benefit pension scheme
- 75% off leisure train tickets for you and your dependents (subject to T&Cs)
- Interest-free travel loan for train and car park season tickets
- Volunteer leave to make a positive impact
Plus more....
About The Role
Vacancy Details
Duration: Permanent
Location: The Quadrant, Milton Keynes
Band & Salary: Band 3C, £55,596 - £65,966
About The Role.
A Senior Finance Business Partner at Network Rail plays a critical role in driving financial performance and strategic decision-making across infrastructure and operational functions.
We have a fantastic opportunity to support facilitation of the identification, reporting and analysis of the efficiencies Route Services enables for the rest of Network Rail - making a real difference to how we run the railway.
Applicants should be aware that while the role sits in Route Services, the activity is line managed day to day by the Technical Authority Business Analysis and Efficiency team who support enabled efficiency activity for all national functions.
The team is based in Q:MK and successful applicants will need to be able to travel to Milton Keynes for 60% of their working hours in line with the hybrid working policy.
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About The Team.
The Technical Authority Business Analysis and Efficiency team covers all of Network Rail's central functions so you'll get a view of what's happening across the business with the opportunity to build new skills, shape thinking, and bring your own insight.
The Route Services Enabled Efficiency SFBP reports into the Head of Financial Control & Analysis (HoFCA) for business analysis and efficiency on a day to day basis.
What does the average day look like?
No Two Days Are The Same, But a Typical Day Might Include The Activities Below (not All On The Same Day!)
- A working session with colleagues from Route Services' functions or regions, digging into efficiency ideas across opex and capex - asking the right questions, challenging assumptions and shaping ideas into something deliverable and commercially robust.
- Reviewing the latest efficiency submissions, validating calculations, sense-checking baselines and making sure the numbers stack up. You spot areas that are off track, where there's a gap between what's in the pipeline and what's committed and where the quality of the information isn't where we want it to be. You decide the best way to drive improvements; a quick call, a follow-up message or a formal meeting. You use different approaches depending on what's needed and who's involved.
- Pulling together clear, insightful reporting - turning complex cost and operational data into something that tells a compelling story. You might be creating dashboards, trackers or board-level packs that help senior leaders quickly understand performance, risks and where action is needed ready for your HoFCA to review.
- Taking time to step back and look at the bigger picture, analysing emerging risks, spotting delivery gaps or opportunities, and shaping narrative on how Route Services is performing against its efficiency commitments. While reflecting, you spot an opportunity to improve how we work and develop a plan to streamline our processes. You discuss it with the team and come up with a plan to make the change.
- A quick call with a programme lead or regional finance colleague to talk through an idea they're developing - helping them think it through, connecting them to others across the business and making sure good ideas don't get stuck.
- Reaching out to a senior leader or frontline team to understand where efficiencies can be delivered in practice. Your knowledge and willingness to help builds a relationship that means you're a trusted partner, not just a reviewer.
- Leading a workshop or discussion to develop the next wave of efficiency opportunities - explaining the framework and approach, sharing best practice and creating the space for teams to contribute ideas.
- Keeping in touch with colleagues across Finance and other parts of the business - sharing insights, aligning approaches and making sure you're plugged into what's coming next.
- Developing and refining the frameworks that underpin efficiency across Route Services - updating guidance, improving how we measure and report value for money, and making it easier for teams to do the right thing.
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Your Experience And Skills
Meet the essential criteria/ Apply today to join our team!
Essential
- Membership (or working towards membership) of a relevant accounting body (CIMA/ACCA/ICAEW) or equivalent experience
- Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills 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
Desirable
- Full membership of relevant post graduate professional body (CIMA/ACCA/ICAEW)
- Experience of Oracle based systems
- Substantial experience within multiple finance disciplines
- Knowledge and technical expertise of Government accounting and relevant financial governance
- Understanding of project management principles and experience of managing complex projects to successful conclusion.
Additional Information...
Contact: mark.powell4@networkrail.co.uk If you require any reasonable adjustments.
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