Finance Business Partner

Legal & General looks after around 700,000 institutional customers who have their retirement benefits secured with us. Operating continuously in the UK market from our entrance in 1987, we are the UK’s longest-running insurer.

Our Institutional Retirement division provides pension risk transfer (PRT) solutions for UK and US defined benefit (DB) schemes, and reinsurance solutions from our global hub in Bermuda. We work with companies, DB pension schemes and their advisors to help them secure and protect scheme members’ retirement benefits.

Joining us means you’ll support customers’ financial security in retirement; help companies to settle their pension liabilities and focus on growing their businesses; and enable investment for the long term to back our pension promises.

We’re recruiting for a Finance Business Partner within our Institutional Retirement division.

As part of the Institutional Retirement expenses team, this role will play a key part in promoting a cost management ethos across the Institutional Retirement division, ensuring it is embedded in all decision making alongside other financial and strategic priorities. The role will help provide insight, analysis and challenge to the business to support decision making and enable them to manage costs in an effective and efficient way.

The individual will have the opportunity to rotate responsibility of delivering a robust budgeting and forecasting process across Institutional Retirement, covering both FTE and all other direct costs, as well as reviewing the allocable cost position for the division, and it’s reporting impacts. The role holder will also provide wider commercial finance support to enable delivery of business and strategic objectives.

What you'll be doing:

• Take overall responsibility for maintaining the division’s FTE / Payroll cost forecast on an ongoing (monthly) basis using Anaplan
• Work closely with HR to track ongoing recruitment, leavers and other people moves to ensure the forecast remains up to date
• Conduct a variance analysis compared to the budget or previous forecast to provide the team with a clear understanding of changes and their effects on meeting FTE and cost targets for both the current year and the long term. Make sure to report any arising issues to the senior manager promptly
• Produce analyses/trend reports and Management Information Packs for senior management meetings to aid decision-making and strategic planning in order to achieve business objectives. Produce regular MI, reports and comprehensive financial analysis for relevant business areas, evaluating key metrics supporting senior management, which will assist the business in achieving its performance targets
• Oversee the monthly production of unit cost reporting to LGR actuarial teams, being the final stage of review before production
• Take ownership of all quarterly unit cost deliverables, ensuring allocation updates are submitted on time and timely LGR allocable cost reporting is produced each quarter
• Work independently and take the initiative to develop relationships and work with managers and directors to help them understand financial perspectives. 
• Help to promote a culture shift in respect of attitudes to cost and cost management across the division. 

Who we're looking for:

• Advanced knowledge of Excel and a good working knowledge of other Microsoft Office products is essential 
• Knowledge of Anaplan highly desirable and Power BI would be advantageous. 
• Knowledge of the Financial Services industry and the performance metrics used within the industry would be an advantage, particularly in relation to Bulk Purchase Annuities
• An understanding of L&G Retirement’s key financial and operational metrics and of L&G’s approach to cost management, reporting, planning & forecasting would also be an advantage
• Prior experience of financial planning & forecasting, preferably with a particular focus on expenses & FTEs within the Life Insurance or a related industry. 
• Good interpersonal and influencing skills, ability to engage across various internal functions to develop, get buy-in and deliver outcomes across teams
• Experience of using logical argument and data to successfully challenge peers and Directors. Able to demonstrate success in challenging, supporting and influencing business decisions where appropriate to ensure financial targets are met
• Experience of presenting data in a meaningful and effective way – understanding the needs of the end users and tailoring the presentation to their requirements. Able to create and deliver clear and concise written or verbal reports

Whatever your role, we reward performance and behaviour with a package that looks after all the things that are important to you. Here are some of the benefits we offer: 

• The opportunity to participate in our annual, performance-related bonus plan and valuable share schemes  
• Generous pension contribution  
• Life assurance   
• Private medical insurance (permanent employees only) 
• At least 27 days holiday, plus public holidays, 28 days after 2 years’ service. There’s also the option to buy and sell holiday 
• Competitive family leave 
• Participate in our electric car scheme, which offers employees the option to hire a brand-new electric car through tax efficient salary sacrifice 
• There are the many discounts we offer – both for our own products and at a range of high street stores and online   
• In 2023, some of our workspaces were redesigned. Our offices are great spaces to connect and collaborate and have your wellbeing at the heart 

Legal & General is a leading financial services group and major global investor, named Britain’s Most Admired Company in 2023, for the second year running. Rated top in our sector and top for inspirational leadership, we have a strong heritage and an exciting future.

We aim to build a better society for the long term by investing our customers’ money in things that make life better for everyone.

If you join us, you’ll be part of a welcoming culture, with opportunities to collaborate with people of diverse backgrounds, views and experiences. Guided by leaders with integrity who care about your future and wellbeing. Empowered through initiatives which support people to develop their careers and excel.

We strive to be open, mindful and inclusive, so are always willing to discussing flexible working arrangements and reasonable accommodations for candidates with specific needs.

If you’re open to find out more, we'd love to hear from you.