About us:We are on a mission to be the partner of choice for developing people and their communities. Reed in Partnership is a public service provider specialising in skills training for the long-term unemployed, increasing employment opportunities by working with employers, providing youth services and helping people live healthier lives.The role:A primary purpose of the Finance Business Partner Lead role is to lead and support a team of Operations Finance Business Partners in acting as the Finance representative supporting the Programme Director and Senior Operations team for the Programmes being partnered. Leading in driving consistency, high standards and quality performance reviews with operational leads, utilising the suite of financial and KPI reports available. Discussing areas or suggestions for improvementsThe Finance Business Partner Lead role is responsible for the leadership, management, and development of a team of Operations Finance Business Partners & Financial Planning Analyst to ensure that all staff perform to their full potential and that the team supports the ongoing operation of the business.Facilitating focused Finance support, involving the preparation of detailed financial and performance models, regular information sharing and guidance in relation to financial performance and maximising revenue & profit generation in line with Contract plans and targets.Candidates should possess a strong work ethic and an agile mind-set. Candidates should also enjoy working in a fast-paced environment and a continuous improvement culture.The Finance Business Partner Lead role will contribute to the provision and continuous improvement of accurate, timely and well-presented financial management information to the Board of Directors and Operations Management.The Finance Business Partner Lead will work to ensure that the team of Operations Finance Business Partners & Financial Planning Analyst are focussed on driving Operational focus to identified areas for performance improvements or sharing of high-performance best practice.Key accountabilities:Business Partnering & Reporting Oversight and leading the team of Operations Finance Business Partners who provide an analytical service to enable operational management to fully understand the financial implication of their actions. Including use of detailed financial models to support operational front-line recruitment planning and maximising revenue generation. Ensuring continuous improvement initiatives are analysed, supported, and moved forward in line with a high-performance strategy• Supporting the team in using, monitoring & querying the financial performance of the business contracts, focusing on driving performance• Enhancing the financial performance information available to Operations, using technology & tools available such as PowerBI and Workday Adaptive Planning• Ensuring the Operations Business Partners are obtaining information required to inform a rolling forecast financial model updating in a timely manner• Oversight of building and developing Excel activity models to support key contracts including summary reporting.• Oversight of maintaining rolling annual and longer-term Financial Models within planning tool - Workday Adaptive planning• Ensuring high standards of reports & models & that information is user friendly with key information for decisions easily accessible.• Develop approach to sharing Financial Performance to the wider Commercial team and wider Finance function• Help drive financial focus and improved operational efficiency.• Creation of financial and performance reporting tools for new contract implementation, along with embedding the use of these into Operational activities.• Manage the team to provide timely financial or forecasting information required externally by our customers• Regular communication supporting operational leads plan for resourcing requirement using commercial model workings Contract Variations Support Operations & Contract Management Team in existing business contract variation finance requirements and analysisSkills & experience• Lead in the preparation of customer or provider profiles & analysis of commercial decisions required for contract variations• Responding promptly to such requests and planning the activity required around business as usual Forecasts and Budgeting Ensure routine refreshes and maintenance of models for monthly, periodic, and long-range forecasting as well as the annual budgeting and strategic review process.• Lead in the preparation of monthly, periodic, long-range forecasts and annual budgets using models capable of consolidating up to 200 cost centres. Within our planning tool - Workday Adaptive planning• Ensure business partner activity performed by the team is forward looking, utilising forecasts, and supporting the sharing of financial future performance.• Drive regular communication with operational leads to understand their forecasting predictions and support in driving improved operational performance.• Support the Management Accounts team in understanding forecasts and performance drivers.• Communicate cost information requirements that support forecasting to the Management Accounts & work with the Management Accounts team in continuous improvement in this area• Lead & support in the development of the Financial Planning Analyst Other Duties• Responding to ad-hoc commercial analysis required by our customers and other stakeholders.• To support the Head of Financial Planning & Analysis, Commercial Finance Leads, Commercial Business Partners & wider Finance function in continually embracing emerging technology to enhance the operation of the department To ensure that the ethos of continuous improvement exists within the Commercial Finance function by reviewing the quality and relevance of the output of the department and reviewing procedures routinely, working with management to implement to the most efficient and effective methods for the businessSkills & experi