Finance Business Partner

Company:  COLAS RAIL FREIGHT
Location:  Rugby
Country:  United Kingdom
Type of Contract:  Permanent
Publication Date:  11 Jul 2025

Purpose of the Role

 

An excellent opportunity for a newly qualified commercial focused accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA) looking to step into a Finance Business Partner role within a growing, forward-thinking organisation. This role will give you exposure to senior stakeholders, budgeting, forecasting, and performance analysis while supporting key business decisions.

 

Person Specification

Essential:

 

  • Newly qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA) or finalist with strong management accounts experience.
  • Excellent Excel skills; experience with financial modelling or Power BI advantageous.
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
  • Confident communicator who can explain financial information to non-finance stakeholders.
  • Commercially curious with a proactive approach to identifying risks and opportunities.
  • Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities.

 

Desirable:

  • Experience in management accounting, FP&A, or cost analysis within industry.
  • Exposure to budgeting, forecasting, or business case preparation.
  • Previous involvement in process improvement or system implementation projects.

Key Responsibilities

 

Business Partnering & Stakeholder Engagement

  • Develop strong working relationships with operational managers, budget holders, and commercial teams.
  • Attend operational meetings to understand drivers of financial performance.
  • Present financial results, forecasts, and variance analysis in a clear, engaging manner.
  • Challenge and influence decision-making with data-backed insight.

 

Financial Planning & Analysis

  • Support the delivery of accurate monthly management accounts with meaningful variance commentary.
  • Assist in the preparation of annual budgets and quarterly reforecasts.
  • Track key financial and operational KPIs, highlighting trends, risks, and opportunities.
  • Work with operational teams to develop initiatives to improve profitability and cost control.

 

Reporting & Modelling

  • Prepare and enhance financial models for scenario planning, business cases, and investment appraisals.
  • Support the development of dashboards and Power BI reporting (training provided if required).
  • Analyse customer, product, or project profitability to support commercial decisions.
  • Continuous Improvement
  • Identify opportunities to improve reporting and analysis processes.
  • Contribute to the implementation of financial controls within the operational teams.
  • Support finance transformation projects as the business evolves.

What we Offer

 

•    Competitive Salary 
•    26 days Annual Leave 
•    Industry leading Life Assurance 
•    Healthcare Cash Plan 
•    Wellbeing Employee Assistant Programme 
•    Pension Scheme 
•    Eye Care Vouchers 
•    Long Service Award 
•    Season Ticket Loan