Reporting directly to the Financial Controller, the Senior Finance Business Partner will play a key role in the finance leadership team, which also includes one other Senior Finance Business Partner. You will work collaboratively with finance and non-financial colleagues to partner leaders and their teams across the business. You will support managers across all services at key meetings and assist with the development of commercial acumen across the organisation. This position will also provide insightful financial analysis which will include the production and monitoring of financial appraisals to aid decision making.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities:

Supporting the Financial Controller, you will provide clear leadership across the finance function and play an active role in the finance leadership team. You will be accountable for the delivery of proactive business partnering across Scottish Autism.

You will be expected to lead on financial and resource issues, influence decision making and improve the understanding of business performance. The successful job holder will also assist in the development of strategy, deliver analysis and insight on commercial opportunities as well as produce option appraisals and financial scenarios to aid business decisions.

• Preparing, consolidating and presenting forecasts, budgets and longer-term financial plans, working together with departments.
• Working with budget holders and their teams to understand the assigned department's activities and drivers of income and cost
• Contributing to strategic direction through providing insights from your financial and commercial work with managers across the business
• Leading the annual budget setting process, translating business intelligence and needs into robust annual budgets
• Support the production of monthly management accounts working alongside the Financial Controller
• Lead on the set up and ongoing monitoring of all the charities restricted funds. Be the conduit between departments their external stakeholders and the finance team
• Interpreting business reporting needs and developing reports, data analysis and operational KPIs
• Providing insight from the business to ensure that core finance policies, processes and outputs are understood and complied with, and responsive to the needs of the business
• Developing and maintaining costing and other financial models
• Acting as deputy to the Financial Controller where required

Knowledge and Experience

• Fully qualified Accountant ICAS/ ACCA/ CIMA or equivalent (candidates qualified by experience may be considered)
• Experience in producing financial and option appraisals
• Experience developed in a similar or equivalent role
• Proven financial and commercial acumen and leadership
• Experience of systems optimisation and process improvement
• Experience of practical application of accounting regulations
• Proficient in the use of specialist financial systems and Microsoft applications, in particular Excel
• Experience of managing and developing a team of specialist staff
• Demonstrable negotiation and conflict resolution skills
• Experience of working in the not-for-profit sector and/or for a service provider

Skills and Attributes

• Strong leadership and management skills, with the proven ability to demonstrate continual improvement
• Collaborative approach to working
• Customer focused, with a passion for understanding customers’ needs
• A change maker, always looking for ways to improve processes
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build credibility across all levels of the organisation and positively influence outcomes
• Excellent communicator with the ability to distil complex technical information into clear simple messages
• Strong commercial finance background
• Proven ability to prioritise work and operate to tight deadlines
• Highly motivated and adaptable
• High level analytical skills

Our client is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status or pregnancy and maternity.