Senior Finance Business Partner

At Places for People, we hire People, not numbers! So, if you like the sound of one of our jobs, please apply - you could be just who we're looking for! Of course, experience and track record are important, but we're more interested in hiring someone that embodies our People Promises. That's someone that does the right thing, is enthusiastic and motivated to grow, believes in Community spirit, is respectful and enjoys their work. As the UK's leading Social Enterprise we're dedicated to creating inclusive and thriving Communities for both our Customers and Employees.

So, what are you waiting for? Join a community that cares about you!

What is the role?

We're looking for a Senior Finance Business Partner to join our Group Finance team, supporting the Affordable Housing business within Places for People. This is a strategic leadership role where you'll guide financial decision‑making, strengthen financial governance, and help ensure the long‑term sustainability of our regulated housing providers.

A key part of this role is supporting our Customer Hub, so you'll bring experience working with or providing financial insight to a contact centre or similar high‑volume customer‑focused environment. Your expertise will help shape performance, resourcing, and service delivery across a fast‑paced operational area. This is a hybrid role from our Preston office, to be considered for this role you will need to be within a commutable distance of our Preston office.

Essential Criteria

• Experience within a similar role within a large scale environment ideally within a contact centre or similar high volume customer focused environment.
• Strong capability in data analysis, forecasting, budgeting and variance analysis to support informed decision‑making.
• Previous management experience leading and developing assistant accountant teams through direct and matrix management.
• Hold a recognised accountancy qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent)
• As this is a hybrid role you will need to be within a commutable distance of Preston.

More about you

You'll play a key role in the business leadership team, shaping financial strategy and supporting organisational growth while leading the development of financial policies and procedures aligned to business plans. You'll provide high‑quality financial advice on both strategic and operational matters and support the Customer Hub with insight, performance analysis and scenario modelling to drive efficiency. You'll oversee financial management across allocated companies, ensuring robust long‑term planning and the timely production of management accounts, budgets, cashflows, forecasts and statutory reporting. You'll monitor financial performance, take action to keep objectives on track, lead audit preparation, and build strong relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders including regulators, auditors, pension providers and government representatives.

You'll be a confident and influential finance professional with experience supporting operational teams in a complex organisation, able to communicate financial information clearly to non‑finance colleagues and challenge and advise at a senior level. You'll bring experience working with or supporting a contact centre or similar customer‑focused environment, strong analytical skills across budgeting, forecasting and variance analysis, and proven leadership of finance teams. You'll also have excellent strategic thinking and prioritisation skills, hold a recognised accountancy qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent), and be able to meet the requirement for a Basic DBS check.

The benefits

We are a large diverse and ambitious business, which will give you all the challenge you could wish for.

We know that there's always more we can do to make you smile, that's why we offer a comprehensive benefits package with each role, yours will include:

• Competitive salary, with a salary review yearly

• Pension with matched contributions up to 7%

• Excellent holiday package – up to 35 days annual leave with the option to buy or sell leave

• Cashback plan for healthcare costs – up to £500 saving per year

• A bonus scheme for all colleagues at 2%

• Training and development

• Extra perks including huge discounts and offers from shops, cinemas and much more