Head of Finance Business Partnering
Who we are:
Alten, an engineering and technology consultancy, provides support for its clients in the fields of innovation, R&D and IT systems in over 30 countries. Made up of over 40,000 engineers, Alten provides engineering support in Automotive, Aerospace, Ground Transportation, Defence, Energy, IT, Life Science & Financial Services.
Role Summary
Alten Ltd is in search of a Head of Finance Business Partnering to join our Finance team in London. This is a senior leadership role with responsibility for managing a team of four Finance Business Partners, driving the quality and consistency of business partnering across the ALTEN UK group. You will own the P&L from turnover to contribution margin, lead the business partnering function, and act as a trusted strategic partner to senior leadership - supporting decision making, challenging assumptions, and recommending improvements. This is a high-impact opportunity to shape the finance partnering agenda at a company with strong core values of Excellence, Accountability, Integrity, and Service.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the Finance Business Partnering department to influence commercial strategy, improve profitability and support sustainable growth across ALTEN UK.
- Monthly P&L ownership from turnover to contribution for the ALTEN UK group of companies.
- Lead team of four Finance Business Partners, including objective setting, performance management, and career development.
- Work in progress (WIP) risk management and strategic reviews.
- Preparation of annual budget and quarterly forecasts in collaboration with FP&A.
- Provide financial insight, challenge assumptions, and influence business performance.
- Translate financial data into clear, actionable insights for non-financial stakeholders.
- Identify and implement process improvements and efficiencies.
- Ownership of key performance indicators.
- Ensure strong financial governance, risk management, and control.
- Provide audit support and other ad hoc duties.
Qualifications & Experience
- Qualified Accountant (ACA, ACCA, or CIMA).
- 8+ years of experience in finance business partnering, including demonstrated people management experience, with tangible examples of adding value to the organisation.
- Excellent financial modelling and analytical skills with the ability to present complex matters simply.
- Strong business acumen and stakeholder management skills with the confidence to challenge assumptions and provide alternative solutions.
- Experience with SAP, Salesforce, Power BI and AI tools are desirable.
- Experience within Management Consultancy is desirable.
Key Competencies
- A continuous Improvement mindset is essential.
- A positive and proactive attitude who approaches challenge as an opportunity.
- Executive-level communication and presentation skills. This person must always have the audience in mind, focusing on accuracy, presentation, and simplicity.
- Excellent attention to detail with a big-picture mindset.
- Strategic thinking and problem solving with the ability to manage ambiguity, lead in complexity and prioritize effectively.
What we offer:
- Company benefits including Private Medical Healthcare, Life Insurance and Travel Insurance.
- Pension scheme with company contributions up to 5-6%;
- Cycle & Tech Scheme
- Employee assistance programme
- Social – Breakfast Tuesdays, Thirsty Thursdays and Pizza on the last Thursday of each month.
Any doubts?
Studies have shown that some groups of people are less likely to apply to a role unless they meet 100% of the job requirements. Whoever you are, if you like one of our jobs, we encourage you to apply as you might just be the candidate we are looking for. As an equal-opportunity employer, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected attribute. Our commitment is to provide equal opportunities, an inclusive work environment, and fairness for everyone.
We are proud to support the Armed Forces Covenant & actively encourage applications from members of the Armed Forces community, including veterans, reservists, service leavers, and military spouses/partners. We recognise the value of military skills and experience and are committed to ensuring that no applicant is unfairly disadvantaged during our recruitment and selection processes
