Finance Business Partner

This recruitment campaign is being managed by OCS Group UK on behalf of Sussex Estates and Facilities LLP (SEF) - which is a partnership formed between OCS and the University of Sussex. SEF is the direct employer for this role and is responsible for delivering facilities management services across the University of Sussex estate.

OCS is proud to partner with the University of Sussex in this long-term collaboration. With a workforce of over 50,000 colleagues and a turnover exceeding £2 billion, OCS is a market leader in delivering innovative and award-winning services across facilities management, including hard services, cleaning, security, and catering. These strengths underpin our commitment to excellence in the SEF partnership.

Our shared mission is to enhance the University campus by ensuring it operates smoothly and efficiently, aligning with the University's values and commitment to sustainability. Together, we are dedicated to making the campus a better place for students, staff, and the broader community. The partnership is built on the core values of Trust, Respect, Unity, and Empowerment, guiding how we work and deliver services.

Please note: The employing organisation for this role will be Sussex Estates and Facilities LLP.

Days of Working: Monday to Friday

As a Finance Business Partner, you will play a pivotal role in driving financial performance and strategic decision-making across a high-value contract. This position offers full end-to-end ownership of financial operations, from cost control and forecasting to profitability analysis and stakeholder engagement. You'll work closely with operational leaders to ensure financial integrity, deliver actionable insights, and support the continuous improvement of business outcomes. It's a dynamic opportunity for a commercially minded finance professional to make a tangible impact in a fast-paced, results-driven environment.

As part of your role, your key responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Act as a trusted advisor to the Contract Director, taking full financial ownership of the contract and supporting strategic decision-making through insightful financial guidance.
• Lead the preparation of rolling forecasts and annual budgets, ensuring alignment with business goals and presenting financial plans to senior management.
• Produce monthly management accounts, conduct profitability and KPI analysis, and deliver clear, actionable insights to improve contract performance.
• Collaborate with operational teams to ensure accurate billing, payroll, and working capital management, while supporting offshore functions and driving process improvements.
• Oversee large cost control projects, ensure accurate accounting of income and debt, and maintain financial integrity across all contract-related activities.

The ideal candidate should meet the following criteria:

• Must have Right to Work in the UK.
• Qualified/Part Qualified ACCA, ACA, CIMA, CIPFA qualified, ideally with some commercial experience.
• Advanced Excel skills.
• Influential and motivational leadership capability.
• Experience of working in a fast-paced environment and ability to prioritise a changing workload and use initiative.
• Good communication skills with the ability to present complex financial information to non-financial individuals.
• High level of integrity with a commitment to embedding a strong governance culture.
• A hardworking individual with lots of energy, who can deliver high quality work to tight reporting deadlines and demonstrate desire to progress within the company.
• Able to produce concise and informative reporting under tight deadlines.