Finance Business Partner
- Recruiter
- Citibase plc
- Location
- Birmingham, West Midlands
- Salary
- Up to £40,000 DOE
- Posted
- 14 May 2019
- Closes
- 11 Jun 2019
- Job Title
- Finance Business Partner
- Category
- Property / Housing
- Contract Type
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full Time
Finance Business Partner
Birmingham
Upto £40,000 DOE
Who are we?
Citibase operates a rapidly expanding and diverse nationwide network of business centres offering flexible workspaces to entrepreneurs and businesses. We give our Customers the flexibility, independence, ‘Freedom at Work’, and support to create, grow and enjoy running their businesses in our centres.
We’ve been going from strength to strength for 25 years to cement our position as ‘The Property Manager for the New Economy’. We’re currently experiencing a sensational period of growth as the flexible officing revolution continues to disrupt the traditional office market. Our unique Client management model connects building owners (Clients) with occupiers (Customers) to generate cash from underutilised office space in all types of buildings from Aberdeen to Brighton. Citibase is creating a positive alternative in the business centre market.
What are our values?
Our people come from all sorts of backgrounds, however we all share the same values and characteristics. We're positive, team players, good organisers and great at communicating. After all, we are the living, breathing and smiling proof that 'Freedom' at Work' is not just for our Clients and Customers – it's for the people who work hard to make it all happen.
What will you do as our Finance Business Partner?
In a small and fast paced team, you will report to the Commercial Financial Controller and work closely with the Finance Manager, and Transactional Accountants.
As a Finance Business Partner, you will be accountable for analysing management accounts packs and reports for your allocated centres creating a real and active partnership with both the Field and Management teams.
Your role is to provide 'real time' support and analysis, to be a trusted advisor and to add value that will assist in decision making.
How will you deliver this?
Critical to your success, you will have a mix of analytical, commercial and communication skills which are at the heart of you being a successful Finance Business Partner. You will be an effective communicator with your messaging, have a good understanding of your audience and deliver information in a clear and user-friendly manner. This is a high-profile role which requires you to take full ownership of the numbers, including the accuracy, and reliability of work produced which will be paramount to this role.
This role will be responsible for all the financial reporting related to the allocated centers/region including profit and loss, balance Sheet, cashflow, free cash statements, monthly/quarterly returns and year end and partner audit, You will also be responsible for producing any other reporting requirements requested by internal and external stakeholders. You will be the first point of finance contact for client services and commercial teams for the allocated centers/region.
Key responsibilities of the Finance Business Partner:
- Proactively building positive relationships with key stakeholders to ensure effective business partnering
- Working closely with the transactional accountant team ensuring month end processes are delivered to deadlines and reports are available for key stakeholders within the agreed timetables.
- Working closely with the wider finance team to ensure robust accounting processes are achieved and accounts delivered on a 'right first time' basis
- Owning the P&L, balance sheet, cash flow/turnover rent statement and VAT reporting and any other monthly/quarterly reporting requested by the client for the allocated centres/region
- Being accountable for the balance sheet for your allocated centres, ensuring all accounts are reconciled, understood and managed in line with accounting policies
- Working closely with the wider finance team to ensure robust accounting processes are achieved and accounts delivered on a 'right first time' basis
- Ensuring monthly/quarterly profit returns are prepared and sent to clients and payments are made as requested
- Reviewing and compiling commentaries on monthly management accounts packs for key stakeholders highlighting key variances to the budget/forecast/prior month with justifications
- Driving cost reduction initiatives by benchmarking cost internally & externally, to drive revenue maximisation initiatives
- Providing accurate forecasting in line with business goals, highlighting gaps in the plan and working with key stakeholders to implement corrective action
- Conducting regular accounts reviews with the transactional accounts team including receivables/accounts payable/treasury/rates management.
- Acting as the interface or ‘translator’ between finance and commercial/client services team
- Preparing annual budgets by working closely with key stake holders
- Challenging assumptions and processes to show continuous improvement by introducing new initiatives across the finance department
- Being accountable for analysis and providing commentary during year end and partner audits
- Keeping up to date with industry trends
- Approving purchase orders and invoices in a timely manner
- Any other ad hoc tasks as required
Knowledge/Experience of the Finance Business Partner
- ACA, ACMA, ACCA qualified or equivalent (Desirable)
- Excellent communicator and can influence effectively to both Finance and Non-Finance stakeholders
- Strong technical accounting skills
- Ability to identify anomalies in data and interpret implications for both finance and non-finance stakeholders
- Proven track record as a Finance Business Partner, ideally gained within an SME environment
- Experience of balance sheet control and reconciliation
- Highly organised, multi-tasking skills, and ability to operate within service level agreements
- Advanced Excel skills
- An enthusiastic and proactive self-starter with a “can-do attitude”, who will recognise opportunities and provide solutions
- Be confident to challenge the status quo