Senior Finance Business Partner

Job details

Job type

Full-time

Full job description

Roles & Responsibilities:

Note: This role is an 6 month contract with the potential of extension

Join Our Team as a Senior Finance Business Partner!

Are you ready to revolutionize finance and drive impactful business decisions? Look no further! We’re seeking a dynamic Senior Finance Business Partner to lead the charge in our fast-paced environment.

What You’ll Bring:

• A “can do” attitude that fuels your passion for creating tailored finance solutions.
• The ability to transition from being a passive attendee to a proactive leader, assembling the right expertise for strategic decision-making.
• A commitment to refining your partnering, stewardship, and leadership skills, ensuring maximum impact and engagement.
• A keen eye for external market trends, customers, and competitors, providing valuable insights to drive growth.
• Exceptional relationship-building skills, coupled with the confidence to present comprehensive business solutions and bring numbers to life.
• Dedication to embodying the Merlin Values and serving as a role model within the organization.

Key Responsibilities:

• Take charge of providing a comprehensive approach to finance business partnering for various functional stakeholders, ensuring thorough P&L support. This involves considering crucial factors such as pricing, yield, margins, operating costs, and profitability.

• Concentrate efforts on delivering overall financial insights into business drivers to achieve and advance the site’s strategic objectives and annual budget.

• Assume overall responsibility for the financial support of attractions by spearheading financial planning, annual budgeting, and forecasting processes within the Attraction/Brand/Region, aiming to establish realistic and attainable targets.

• Assist Attraction General Managers in crafting detailed labor budgeting and forecasting strategies to support cost control efforts and gain a complete understanding of the ramifications of labor recruitment and pay levers.

• Offer financial oversight and guidance on CAPEX projects to Attraction teams, ensuring alignment with overarching financial objectives.

• Collaborate with Finance Business Partners to devise tactical delivery plans supporting the overarching financial objectives of the business area(s).

• Apply sound business acumen to assess new ideas from both operational and financial perspectives, articulating impacts with clear and actionable recommendations.

• Assist the Finance Director by generating complex/bespoke analyses requiring astute business acumen and comprehension of business trends.

• Uphold audit and financial legislative standards, utilizing Finance Business Partners to instill good practice and ensure robust compliance with accounting standards.

• Take ownership of budget authority and service, as well as leadership of cash office specialists, including performance management, engagement, and learning development in accordance with Merlin’s HR Processes and individual needs. (LLPs & RTPs only).

• Partner with the Finance Hub to guarantee finance processes reflect accurate and timely financial reporting, as defined by Process Taxonomies.

• Prepare month-end commentary, offering insights and recommendations for remedial actions.

• Review and approve balance sheet account reconciliations prepared by the Finance Hub, including deferred revenue and fixed assets.

• Collaborate with business stakeholders to negotiate, deliver, and drive sound financial vendor and customer terms by fostering appropriate external relationships for Merlin.

• Aid Attractions in ensuring compliance with State and City license authorities.

• Investigate and question reported trends in KPIs with stakeholder groups, implementing mid to short-term plans to maximize performance.

• Challenge unusual P&L movements, forecasts, and fluctuations to ensure forecast and actual financial performance remain robust.

• Perform financial analysis of key business drivers using a standard suite of reporting tools via the Finance Hub and data from other internal and external sources.

• Assist business operations in managing Financial Governance, Risks, and Controls as outlined by Group Policies and financial reporting standards.

• Act as the finance leader, fostering partnerships and building strong networks across the area of responsibility.

Key Competencies:

Driving Partnerships:

• Establishes oneself as a credible subject matter expert in the financial aspects of the business.
• Sought after for guidance on complex or sensitive issues, providing insight and recommendations beyond finance-specific matters.
• Builds strong networks and relationships across the area of responsibility.
• Designs and executes sensitivities and stress tests for financial initiatives.

Analysis and Decision Making:

• Makes clear, meaningful recommendations for improving business performance based on analysis outcomes.
• Quickly assimilates information and makes sound decisions despite uncertainty.
• Builds credibility to enhance stakeholder confidence in decision-making.
• Balances company objectives with associated risks when making decisions.

Questioning and Challenging:

• Builds business cases and reports to support or challenge strategy, managing financial planning dynamically in line with evolving business requirements.
• Challenges reported KPI trends and implements plans to maximize performance.
• Designs and executes sensitivity and stress tests for financial initiatives.

Communicating Effectively:

• Demonstrates awareness and understanding of wider business drivers and challenges when presenting financial information.
• Interprets regulations and articulates technical details clearly and effectively.

Catalyst for Change:

• Recognizes the need for change and develops clear plans and objectives for delivering change benefits.
• Translates external best practices and evaluates new business propositions operationally and financially in line with group guidelines.
• Coaches functional area stakeholders to drive performance.
• Knowledgeable about all finance levers and their impact on business performance, using technical and professional skills to coach others in effective decision-making.

These competencies form the foundation for driving success, fostering innovation, and achieving excellence in the dynamic realm of finance within our organization.

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

• Business Area performance against plan, budget, forecast, and guest experience;
• Team Engagement.

Qualifications & Experience:

Experience & Qualifications:

• Strong Qualified Accountant:

  • UK: ACA, ACCA, CIMA or US: CPA, MBA qualification.

• 5+ Years of Experience within a Commercial Finance Role:

  • Demonstrated expertise in commercial finance, with at least five years of relevant experience.

• Experience in Running and Performing Budgeting or Forecasting Processes:

  • Proven track record of effectively managing and executing budgeting or forecasting processes.

• Providing Financial Support Driving Commercial Decisions:

  • Experience in providing financial support that directly influences and drives commercial decisions within an organization.

• Experience in a Consumer-Facing Organization with a Continuous Improvement Agenda:

  • Background in a consumer-facing organization with a focus on continuous improvement initiatives.

• Excellent Analytical Ability with Attention to Detail:

  • Strong analytical skills with meticulous attention to detail, capable of interpreting complex financial data accurately.

• Strong Communication Skills:

  • Exceptional communication skills, capable of effectively presenting plans and insights to support business decisions, catering to both finance and non-finance stakeholders.

• Contribution to Operational Excellence:

  • Demonstrated ability to collaborate within a team environment, contributing to the delivery of operational excellence across the organization.

• Knowledge of PowerBI or Visualization Tools:

  • Proficiency in utilizing tools such as PowerBI or other visualization tools to provide actionable insights and enhance decision-making processes.

Driving Partnerships: Proficient

Analysis & Decision Making: Proficient

Questioning & Challenging: Proficient

Communicating Effectively: Proficient

Catalyst for Change: Proficient

These qualifications and experiences are essential for success in the role, ensuring the ability to provide strategic financial guidance, drive commercial initiatives, and contribute to the overall operational excellence of our organization.

Benefits:

Your Adventure Awaits!

At Merlin Entertainments North America, we believe in not just rewarding your work but enhancing your journey with an exhilarating array of benefits that go beyond the ordinary. Get ready for a ride of a lifetime as we unveil the extraordinary perks waiting for you!

Your Benefits Odyssey Begins Here:

Competitive Salary:

• Brace yourself for a salary that not only recognizes your talents but propels you to new heights.

️ Generous PTO:

• Time off is your passport to recharge. Enjoy a generous PTO policy to explore, relax, and rejuvenate.

• ️ Affordable Health Plans:

• Dive into the comfort of affordable medical, vision, and dental plans that prioritize your well-being.

️ Secure Your Future:

• Safeguard your legacy with company-paid life insurance – because we care about your peace of mind.

401(k) Matching Plan:

• Your financial goals are important. Benefit from our 401(k) matching plan to help you build a secure future.

Continued Growth:

• Joining Merlin isn’t just a job; it’s a thrilling expedition. Expect continuous growth in an exciting, global organization that values your journey.

Pay Range: From USD $110,000.00/Yr.