Finance Business Partner

What is the role?

Howden is seeking an experienced Finance Business Partner to join the our FP&A team. This role involves supporting our departments, as well as contributing to the development of FP&A initiatives, including financial modelling, upgrading reporting, and providing insights to enable decision-making capability.

Our FP&A team works closely with departments to analyse financial performance and inform decision-making through reporting, analysis, and planning. These insights are integral to the Group's deliverables for senior executives, the Board, and investors, focusing on Key Financial Performance Indicators (KPIs).

Success in this role requires a strong grasp of business drivers, collaboration with departments, ability to bridge the gap between finance and the business, and a commitment to delivering highquality outcomes and driving continuous improvement.

Please note that this is a full-time, permanent role based in our Central London office. Following a hybrid work pattern, you are expected to be onsite 2-3 days per week on average

What will you be doing?

You will leverage strong financial business partnering and analysis skills to partner with senior stakeholders, enabling insightful decision-making across HGS which will include:

• Supporting assigned department to understand their cost base and support decision-making through insights.
• Delivering month-end, quarter-end, forecasting and budgeting requirements as needed.
• Maintaining and updating accurate financials to reflect true business performance.
• Experience of cost allocation methodologies and maintaining relevant models.
• Assisting with FP&A initiatives, including driver-based analysis and headcount tracking.
• Developing an in-depth understanding of the drivers of the business and their impact on KPIs.
• Collaborating closely with Group FP&A to support discussions on business performance and required actions.
• Working with your Senior Finance Business Partner and colleagues in the wider HGS team to ensure Group deliverables effectively reflect the key messages for your assigned departments(s).
• Contributing financial expertise as part of the FP&A team to support decision-making and planning.
• Identifying and addressing financial systems, processes, and reporting needs within the business.
• Providing high-level reports and delivering presentations to Management Committees or similar groups, interpreting findings and performing detailed analysis when necessary.
• Investigating complex problems and major business changes to assess risks and ensure successful project delivery.
• Promoting a culture of individual accountability through a performance management approach that aligns personal goals with functional and business objectives.
• Embracing a change-driven mindset to foster a continuous improvement culture and actively contributing to the change agenda.
• Handling ad hoc project work as directed by the Financial Controller and Finance Director.

What are we looking for?

• A finance professional with 5+ years as a qualified accountant, either in professional services or corporate, experienced in business partnering and commentary preparation, financial modelling alongside a broader FP&A role, including reporting, forecasting, budgeting, and other similar related responsibilities.
• Self-starter who is comfortable working autonomously and as part of a team, with the ability to identify and lead on new initiatives when necessary.
• Knowledge of insurance market processes and their relevance to the Finance Business Partner role is desirable.
• Experience partnering with IT or technology functions, with an understanding of how tech teams operate and how to support them from a finance perspective would be advantageous.
• Previous experience with OneStream and Unit 4 or a similar financial recording system is also advantageous.