Finance Business Partner

Finance

Reports to: Deputy chief financial officer

Direct reports: 2

Date created: March 2022

Jisc Guiding principles

We believe in ‘Technology for Good’ and improving lives through learning and research. To achieve we are all
guiding by 6 principles which underpin how we approach our roles and each other. We use these Guiding
principles everyday and are used to recruit, develop and recognise everyone in Jisc.

Be original Think social enterprise Make an impact

Always inclusive Never stand still Get it done

The team
In finance we enable Jisc to achieve its strategic objectives by providing prudent and effective financial compliance,
management and advice. We are responsible for maintaining Jisc’s solvency and liquidity. This includes all finance
and tax matters, reporting, control, budgeting and forecasting at a group, directorate and service levels. We also
manage all procurements across Jisc and assist and support the work of colleagues across Jisc.

The role
The Finance Business Partner (‘FBP’) ensures that financial reports for internal and external users accurately reflect
the financial position of the company. The FBP provides financial and strategic support to specific operational
directorates within Jisc. You will build partnerships and maintain strong relationships with senior managers in the
business and their teams. You will drive financial management and insight, including identifying possible areas for
focus and improvement and develop cost mitigation, income generation or risk management strategies.

This FBP role supports the managing director for higher education and research. This FBP role is a key partner in
ensuring the significant high value and volume financial transactions related to this area of the business are timely,
accurate and accounted for correctly.

Financial planning, budgeting and forecasting

➢ Review of month end journals including accruals and prepayments;

➢ Producing monthly management reporting for your directorate/s with insightful commentary and variance analysis
of the results, aiming to list strategy with execution. Identifying risks and opportunities and advising accordingly;
➢ To lead the annual budgeting and twice annual forecasting exercises for your business area, challenging business
assumptions as appropriate;
➢ Expanding knowledge and awareness of key projects to enable effective high-level review of in forecasts and
budgets;
➢ To develop a more responsive budgeting process which is aligned to strategic plans and delivers improved bottom
line performance;
➢ Supporting the finance leadership team with extraction and presentation of data for ad-hoc analysis and reporting;
➢ Supporting the business assuming greater degrees of financial accountability;
➢ Be pro-actively involved in the finance transformation programme including reporting development, with the aim
of driving continuous improvement across the Group;

Financial advice and control

➢ Working collaboratively with the wider finance business partner team to promote and share business partnering
ideas, learnings, experiences and best practice;
➢ Providing advice and support to other areas of the wider finance function and work with them to ensure our
reporting is aligned and streamlined and adds value in decision making;
➢ Provide financial input into strategic, tactical and operational business cases to aid decision making processes in
the business and plans within the directorates;
➢ Together with the budget holders, ensure compliance with Jisc’s scheme of delegation;
➢ Ensure that risk management, internal control and governance procedures are followed and act as the first line of
defence for financial management;
➢ Work collaboratively to improve financial capability and understanding across the organisation;

Other

➢ Working with the finance transformation programme to improve reporting functionality. Testing to ensure they
are robust and accurately pick up all data;
➢ Support the deputy cfo and group financial controller in ensuring that risk management, internal control and
governance procedures are followed and act as the first line of defence for financial management;
➢ Proactively reviewing processes to identify weaknesses as well as driving and adopting changes that improve
processes, control and management information;
➢ Promote a culture of continuous improvement and process ownership;
➢ For direct reports, manage performance and development, complete annual and mid-year reviews and set
appropriate objectives;
➢ For direct reports, responsible for regularly training staff on financial controls within their area of responsibility.

The person
Need to have Nice to have
Improvement orientated, willing and able to drive change across
reporting lines.

Behaviours Able to work in a fast paced and

commercial environment.

A self-starter capable of managing internal and external deadlines.

Able to explain financial reports to non-finance specialists;

Ability to liaise effectively across all levels of the organisation
Skills including directors of the organisation;
Excellent Excel skills;
Excellent communication skills.

Experience preparing forecast and budget information; Experience in not for

Experience profit sector
Experience in month-end management accounts including accruals
& prepayments, variance analysis and commentary preparation.

Fully qualified accountant with post qualification experience

Qualifications
(ICAEW, ACCA, CIMA, ICAS, ICAI)

The organisation
We’re constantly changing and evolving at Jisc, so this job description just gives a flavour of what the role involves.
It will change as our operations develop. Getting face to face is something we value and find time for when we can,
so you may need to travel on occasion. Our main offices are in Bristol, Harwell, London and Manchester.