Finance Business Partner - Cost Control

Job Title: Finance Business Partner Lead – Cost Control (Contract)

Location: Manchester (2 days onsite, 3 days remote)

Duration: 9-Month Contract

Rate: £470 per day via PAYE

Overview

We’re supporting our client a global leader in the life sciences industry to recruit a Finance Business Partner Lead on a 9-month contract. This role plays a key part in driving transparency, accountability, and insight across global cost structures.

Acting as a strategic advisor, you’ll partner with senior stakeholders to influence key financial decisions related to overheads, FTEs, and project expenditure, while leading planning cycles and reporting for key business units.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide finance business partnering support to global functions, advising on overheads, FTEs, capitalisation, and cost allocations.
• Lead budget and outlook planning cycles across cost centres.
• Present financial performance (actuals, forecasts, variances) to senior stakeholders and advise on risks and opportunities.
• Drive improvements in financial reporting, dashboards, and standardisation of processes.
• Monitor upcoming and ongoing global service projects to ensure cost accuracy and accountability.
• Analyse and validate financial data, ensuring compliance with internal policies and reporting standards.
• Support M&A or carve-out activities as required.
• Act as the go-to finance contact for ad hoc analysis and decision support across corporate functions.

Experience & Skills Required

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or similar.
• 5–10 years' experience in finance roles, with strong exposure to cost control, business partnering, and planning cycles.
• Proven track record of working with senior stakeholders in an international environment.
• Advanced Excel skills; experience with SAP and Power BI highly desirable.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills – able to translate financial data into meaningful business insight.
• Hands-on experience in M&A processes and carve-out projects is a bonus.