Finance Business Partner

**FINANCE BUSINESS PARTNER - CAPITAL PROJECTS**
**Location: Poole / Basingstoke**

We’re a place that makes magic. Magic that gives millions of people fun, thrills and memorable experiences. We’re the thinkers, dreamers, doers and achievers whose job it is to create and deliver world-class new attractions, hotels and major investment projects, as well as manage the extensive real estate assets of one of the most exciting companies in the world.

We are a diverse team of highly engaged and trusted business partners, who add value to the delivery of Merlin Magic Making (MMM) projects through both robust cost and risk management, and bringing innovative solutions to maximise value for money for Merlin and our guests. The result is a successful delivery of major capital projects to our internal clients across US, Europe and UK.

We are currently recruiting for a Finance Business Partner - Capital Projects to join our MMM Developments Finance team. This role is a permanent opportunity ideally based at our Poole HQ or Basingstoke hub.

**The Role**

Reporting into the Head of Finance, you will be the Finance Business Partner to Global Project Delivery team; delivering robust budgets, track and report spend/contingency movements as well as manage risks and opportunities. Primary responsibilities include:

- Supporting Project Delivery in optimising project costs both during the planning and costing phase and during build, ensuring cost assumptions and the costing and tendering process is adequately challenged.
- Design and delivery of financial and non-financial analysis and insight to support with key budget, timetable and scope decisions.
- Ensure compliance with MMM and Group policy, process and controls. Own the financial due diligence on suppliers.
- Coordinate input from broader project stakeholder group on assumptions that impact project capital costs.
- Supporting the Project Director and Managers in optimising project costs both during the planning and costing phase and during build, ensuring cost assumptions and the costing and tendering process is adequately challenged.
- Ensure a comprehensive and timely project close and handover to our internal clients.

**About you.**
- Part or fully qualified accountant (ACCA/ACA/CIMA).
- Excellent communicator with proven experience in influencing and challenging senior stakeholders to achieve successful collaborative outcomes.
- Demonstrable skills of managing multiple workstreams, fantastic prioritisation enabling tight deadlines to be met in a fast-paced high growth environment.
- An innovative quick thinker with strong analytical skills. Able to see the big picture but equally to be thorough and give sufficient attention to detail.
- Ideally someone who is a natural catalyst for change and continuous improvement.
- Advanced Excel skills and aptitude for learning systems quickly.
- Constructions or projects experience an advantage.
- Open to occasional domestic or international travel to attractions.

**The Perks**

We’re growing fast and alongside a fun and friendly environment, we offer a fabulous package and amazing prospects - ideal if you’re already fantastic and can quickly become even better (our magic can help here). Benefits include Pension, Life Assurance, discretionary company bonus, 25 days’ holiday and, of course, a Merlin Magic Pass which gives you and your friends and family free admission to all of our attractions worldwide, as well as 25% discount in our retail shops and restaurants and 40% discount on LEGO.

**Everyone Matters at Merlin.**
At Merlin we welcome the world to our magical attractions and resorts every day and we want to reflect that same multicultural mix inside our business too. We strive to create an inclusive and diverse workplace where people can be themselves, have the same opportunities and thrive together. Because at Merlin, everyone matters

Together, we work to create a workplace where everyone feels valued, no matter their age, race, gender, disability or sexual orientation. Although we understand that we'll always be learning and growing, we aim to be the most inclusive and flexible employer in our industry.

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