Group Functions Senior Finance Business Partner

Helping over ten million people around the world manage their savings, retirement plans and life insurance requires a lot of people behind-the-scenes.  It’s up to us in L&G Group functions – which includes our tech and digital teams, Group Finance, HR, Risk and Corporate Comms to provide the essential support services that all areas of the business need, here in the UK and overseas. Simply put, we enable everyone at Legal & General to do what they do best. That means we’re helping to improve our customers’ lives, and contributing to the success of the business every day.

Your role at a glance

The Finance Business Partner plays a key role in all aspects of financial management for their functions.  This includes forecasting and planning and month end activities. A key objective for the role is to support the senior business partner in maximising the cost efficiency for their function, through commercial opportunities, strategic initiatives, robust cost management, and helping to drive a ‘cost and value’ culture. As a key member of the Strategic Cost Team, the role will also be responsible for process improvement and for helping set the priorities for the analysts along with providing support, development and leadership.

What you’ll be doing

• You will work closely with the SMEs and internal and external stakeholders to develop a deep understanding of the functional costs, activities and drivers.  Use this depth of insight to support and challenge decision making within the functions and to provide divisions with the consumption and cost information required for the allocations process.
• You will work with the functions to identify and actively manage risks and opportunities and escalate where required. Develop solutions for mitigating risks and delivering on opportunities. Ensure these are tracked and monitored to avoid the risk of surprises that impact the financial statements. Variances to Plan and Forecast should be flagged to allow corrective actions to be identified and delivered.
• You will collaborate with functional leads to understand all commercial and financial aspects of the cost base. Work across a wide range of stakeholders across the functions, such as subject matter experts (SMEs) to bring the required insights for accurately reporting on the Group Head Office cost to senior stakeholders such as the Director of Group Finance.
• You will support Procurement on 3rd party negotiations. Provide assistance through financial modelling, challenge proposals to ensure cost are optimised in relation to the services provided, advise on the accounting treatment, and track the benefits delivery.
• You will bring a continuous improvement and curiosity mindset.  Identify weaknesses and areas for process improvement across the current process and work with, and at times lead the analysts to implement continuous improvements and efficiencies.
• You will lead the key financial processes on behalf of the functions, such as month end forecasting and planning. Ensure financials are accurate and clearly understood. Provide insight and analysis for a range of forums and audiences, to explain the impact on direct costs and allocations to Divisions in order to support decision making.
• You will meet the relevant Consumer Duty requirements associated with the role.

What we are looking for

• Accountancy qualifications (preferable) unless have relevant experience.
• Highly numerate with strong analytical skills
• Ability to identify financial risks and issues and implement process improvements.
• Experience working in complex organisations.
• Experience of budgeting, planning and cost allocations.
• Strong financial modelling skills
• Ability to step back from detail to bring a more strategic perspective.
• Strong influencing skills, ability to build relationships, and an adaptable style to support and challenge. This will often require 'subject matter expertise' status across multiple business units.
• High degree of personal initiative and curiosity, and ability to work well as part of a team.
• Ability to adapt rapidly to meet changing priorities/deadlines.
• Ability to present and communicate finances in a meaningful and insightful manner, using data visualisation techniques when useful.
• Be able to lead, motivate and develop junior members of staff.

When you commit to Legal & General, we’ll commit to you too. That means we’ll recognise and reward your hard work, your performance and your contribution.

If you join us, you’ll get access to some great benefits, including private medical insurance, 27 days holiday (excluding bank holidays), a generous pension scheme, life assurance, and Income Protection. You can participate in our electric car scheme, which offers employees the option to hire a brand new electric car through tax efficient salary sacrifice. We’re also proud to offer competitive family leave. 

You’ll have the opportunity to participate in our annual, performance-related bonus plan and valuable share schemes. And then there are the many discounts we offer that you can take advantage of – both for our own products and at a range of high street stores and online offerings. 

Legal & General is a leading financial services organisation, 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’re one of the world's largest asset managers, homebuilders, pension providers and insurers. Connecting to form a unique business model which drives value for our customers and society. And enabling our people to create impact through work that is meaningful and valued.  

If you join us, you’ll be part of a welcoming, inclusive 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. It doesn’t matter if you don’t meet every single criterion in this advert. Instead, think about what you excel at and what else you can bring in terms of strengths, potential and connection to our purpose. 

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