Lead Finance Business Partner

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South West Water keeps the South West flowing with safe, reliable drinking water and wastewater services across some of the UK's most stunning landscapes.

We're proud to be part of Pennon Group, a leader in the UK water sector, working towards a greener future. Our goals? As well as lowering our carbon footprint, we're working with partners to plant 300,000 trees, restore peatlands and supporting farmers and landowners to improve water quality and wildlife.

Whether you're starting out or seeking a new challenge, our scale and ambition create opportunities for you to shape your own career.

Ready to make a splash? Join our team today.

We're looking for a Lead Finance Business Partner to join our Finance team providing dedicated support to our Wastewater Directorate. This is a high-impact role, working closely with senior operational leaders to help deliver performance, manage costs, and ensure delivery against business plans and budgets across wastewater services.

As a trusted finance partner, you'll provide clear insight, robust challenge and forward-looking analysis to support both strategic and operational decision-making within the Wastewater Directorate. You'll play a key role in helping non-finance stakeholders understand financial performance and translate insight into action.

This is a full-time, permanent opportunity offering a competitive salary of £60,000-£70,000, with real scope to influence decision-making within the Wastewater Directorate. You'll work on complex, meaningful challenges that support essential services and long-term investment, while having the autonomy to shape how finance adds value across the directorate.

As Lead Finance Business Partner you will:

• Deliver accurate, timely and insightful management information for Wastewater leadership teams

• Support the preparation of wastewater budgets, forecasts and financial targets

• Produce clear monthly financial commentary for senior management and Executive leadership

• Provide ad-hoc financial analysis to support wastewater-related projects, investment decisions and improvement initiatives

• Translate complex financial data into clear, relevant insights for operational and non-finance stakeholders

• Act as a key finance advisor to help manage costs and drive improved financial and operational performance across wastewater services

• Ensure financial processes and controls are executed accurately and in line with company policies

• Work closely with the Financial Control team to support audit requirements and maintain high-quality accounting records

Essential:

• Qualified or part-qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent)

• Experience in a finance business partnering or commercial finance role

• Strong analytical and financial modelling skills

• Proven ability to influence and build trusted relationships with senior stakeholders

• Confident communicator who can explain finance clearly to non-finance audiences

Desirable:

• Experience supporting operational, infrastructure or utilities-based functions (wastewater, water, engineering or asset-heavy environments advantageous)

• Advanced Excel skills and experience with business reporting tools

• Flexible and adaptable, with the ability to manage month-end pressures and occasional site or operational engagement

We know that the support and commitment of our staff is key to our success so you will receive the opportunity for ongoing development and training for a long-term career with us.

In return, we offer an excellent range of benefits including:

• Generous holiday allowance plus bank holidays

• A discretionary Bonus

• Competitive Contributory Pension

• Share-save Scheme

• Various health benefits

• Wellbeing support programmes

• A range of Group Discounts

• Cycle to Work Scheme

• Financial support services

• And plenty more!

Closing Date: 6th May 2026

We may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

Please note that the successful candidate will be subject to a mandatory DBS check as part of the onboarding process.

Be yourself, we like it that way. Together, we will build a culture of belonging, where inclusion is instinctive. Diversity is our strength and a reflection of our communities. We care, we value everyone, we celebrate uniqueness.

Our core values, which are essential to our success, are:

Be Rock Solid - Build trust and be trusted. Be the one we all look to and can depend on.

Be You - We want you to bring your best everyday. Be yourself and make your mark in your individual way.

Be the Future - Embrace change. Drive Progress. Own the challenge.