Overview
Project Finance Business Partner – Monument Place
About this role:-
The Project Finance Business Partner (FBP) plays a critical role in enabling the financial success, control, and delivery of GTR’s investment programmes. As a core member of the finance team, this role is responsible for supporting project business case development, multi-year budget planning, cost governance, and benefits realisation.
Wearing three distinct “hats”, the postholder is responsible for:
1. Ensuring financial compliance and governance across all project budgets and reporting cycles
2. Partnering with project managers and delivery leads to enable effective, value-for-money project execution
3. Acting as a collaborative and strategic business partner, supporting decision-making, insight generation, and GTR’s wider transformation agenda
Operating in a regulated and publicly accountable environment, the role ensures financial control while helping GTR to “spend wisely and work smarter,” by actively identifying efficiencies, supporting external reporting obligations, and championing a culture of cost consciousness and data-driven planning.
Duties to Include:-
Project Finance Planning & Delivery Support
• Partner with project managers, budget holders, and the Portfolio Office to develop robust budgets, forecasts, and business cases aligned to delivery milestones.
• Ensure financial plans are based on clear assumptions, realistic cost profiles, and benefit realisation phasing.
• Provide structured financial support across the full project lifecycle, from concept to post-implementation review.
Financial Control, Compliance & Governance
• Maintain oversight of project spend against approved budgets, ensuring accuracy, accountability, and visibility for stakeholders.
• Lead on accruals management, cost allocation, and financial coding for funded and non-funded activity.
• Support audit and external evidence requirements (e.g., DfT PBF submissions), ensuring compliance with public finance standards.
• Drive challenge and rigour to improve cost efficiency, tracking savings and risks.
Insight & Performance Analysis
• Deliver clear, insight-led financial reporting to Exec and senior leaders, highlighting risks, issues, and opportunities.
• Track actuals vs forecast at milestones and assess financial impact of delays or scope changes.
• Define and measure project KPIs and outcomes to support ongoing performance monitoring.
Integrated Business Partnering
• Act as a trusted partner across Finance, Engineering, IT, Procurement, and Operations to optimise project delivery and value.
• Contribute credible multi-year plans and forecasts into long-range planning and annual budget processes.
• Facilitate workshops and financial reviews to build literacy and strengthen delivery capability across non-finance teams.
Skills, knowledge & experience:-
• ACCA / CIMA / ACA qualified (or equivalent international accounting qualification)
• Experience in a Finance Business Partnering or Project Finance role within a large, complex organisation
• Demonstrable experience supporting financial planning and delivery in capital or transformation projects
• Proven experience in budgeting, forecasting, and business case development
• Experience working in regulated, infrastructure, or public service environments (e.g. rail, utilities, transport) is desirable
