Job Description

SalaryLocation

London/Bradford

The Vacancy

Trusted finance business partner for the Operations Function, commercially and customer focussed, adding value by providing best in class Cost Management support to the Executive of Operations and their SLT.

Responsibilities:

Work closely with, and influence, senior management teams to help drive business performance - helping to ensure high quality financial decisions are made by these teams and drive effective cost management decisioning with a focus on long term profitability and protecting financial health of the franchise. Provide forward looking insight and challenge, adding demonstrable value through delivering business and commercial insights - acting as a catalyst for business change. Effectively share external industry perspectives and good practice to help deliver measurable improvements in the approach to effective cost management, business decisions and value for money returns. Provide objective financial advice and opinions that positively impact the future choices of the business taking into account TCF, Consumer Duty and other regulatory considerations alongside business strategy. Identify and drive financial efficiency - ensuring that the business allocates resources, including capital, effectively, with rigorous pressure on costs and a commitment to a value-for-money approach. Work effectively with FP&A and Shared services to share knowledge and understanding across Finance as appropriate. Role model leadership behaviours for the Finance Business Partners. Manage delivery of strategic objectives ensuring these are aligned with budget by partnering with and influencing the Operations Function. Optimise business growth and profitability through commercial analysis covering all relevant aspects of the P&L and balance sheet with particular focus on optimising costs/spend to derive the greatest efficiencies and/or RoI. Challenge investment proposals by working with SLT and change team to ensure that suitable returns hurdles are set and achieved and decisions reflect business priorities. Supporting new business initiatives by providing appropriate steer and support with the preparation of business cases. Ad hoc analysis as and when required including external benchmarking and identification of cost saving opportunities. Finance support for management of contracts and other key supplier considerations. Oversight of balance sheet implications of cost management actions, partnering with Financial Control to ensure that appropriate accounting policies are applied. Highlighting the capital implications of cost management actions, ensuring that these are understood by the teams and aligned with the objectives of VBG. Key role in developing the cost annual budget, reforecasts and monthly performance insights and outlooks working with the relevant business owners. Ensuring accuracy of cost booking for the Operations function and for inputting into policy and process change bank wide to improve such booking. Support FP&A with cost inputs for running sensitivity analysis and stress test scenarios. Liaising with Financial Control to ensure compliance with the appropriate accounting policies. Maintain awareness of accounting practices, particularly new products and new regulations. Understanding of regulatory requirements of the business.

Experience required:

Significant experience as a management accountant, business partner or a similar role. Experience of Finance Business Partnering at a senior level. Experience working within the personal financial services and/or banking industry. Proficient in Microsoft Office products including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Excel at Macro level desirable. Degree (ideally in mathematics, accounting etc). CIMA/ACCA/ACA qualified. Must be self-motivated with the ability to use their initiative and develop quickly in a dynamic environment. Comfortable with ambiguity. Candidate must be highly numerate with strong analytical and reporting skills. Advanced written and communication skills to support report writing and presentations of complex subject matter to senior stakeholders Excellent attention to detail with a methodical approach to work. Ability to apply intellectual rigour to problem solving. Ability to win the trust of and influence senior management. Flexible and logical approach to work. Must be able to multi task and change direction and priorities quickly. Ability to coach and develop team member(s) whether direct or otherwise. Ability to form influential working relationships at all levels within the organisation. Desire and ability to develop. To have a can-do attitude.

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