Senior Finance Business Partner

Location: Derby
Salary: £50,000 – £55,000
Full-time | Permanent | Hybrid

About the Role

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced finance professional to join a growing education organisation as a Senior Finance Business Partner.

Reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer, you will lead a team of Finance Business Partners and play a key strategic role in supporting senior leaders to make informed financial decisions. You will provide high-quality financial insight, oversee consolidated financial planning and reporting, and help drive long-term financial sustainability across a portfolio of schools.

This is an excellent opportunity for a commercially minded finance leader who enjoys partnering with stakeholders, influencing strategic decisions and leading continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

As Senior Finance Business Partner, you will:

• Lead financial planning, budgeting, forecasting and reporting across multiple schools.
• Produce insightful management information, variance analysis and performance reporting.
• Develop financial and operational KPIs that support strategic decision-making.
• Provide financial analysis and recommendations to executive leadership and governing bodies.
• Partner with school leaders to ensure financial resources are aligned with organisational priorities.
• Support financial recovery planning, risk management and long-term sustainability.
• Lead procurement and cost-efficiency initiatives, ensuring value for money and compliance.
• Line manage, coach and develop a team of Finance Business Partners.
• Build strong relationships with senior stakeholders across the organisation.
• Translate complex financial information into clear, practical recommendations.

About You

We're looking for an experienced finance professional who can combine technical expertise with excellent business partnering skills.

You'll ideally have:

Essential

• Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA) or significant equivalent experience.
• Extensive post-qualification experience in a senior finance role.
• Strong financial planning, budgeting and forecasting experience.
• Experience producing high-quality management information and financial analysis.
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and communicate financial information clearly.
• Experience leading, mentoring and developing finance teams.
• Strong analytical skills with advanced Excel and financial systems knowledge.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.

Desirable

• Experience within the education, public sector or not-for-profit environment.
• Knowledge of education funding and financial regulations.
• Experience leading organisational change and financial transformation initiatives.

What You'll Bring

You'll be:

• A strategic thinker with strong commercial awareness.
• An excellent communicator who can build credibility with senior leaders.
• A collaborative leader who develops high-performing teams.
• Highly organised with strong attention to detail.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with multiple priorities.
• Passionate about delivering value through effective financial management.