Finance Business Partner

Are you a commercially minded finance professional who loves translating numbers into strategic decisions Do you enjoy coaching non-finance teams influencing pricing and forecasts and using data (including AI tools) to improve profitability across multiple service lines Join Ipsos Commercial Finance team and make a tangible impact.

About the role

Join a Commercial Finance team providing dedicated financial support to 18 service lines across the UK. As the primary Finance Business Partner for your service lines youll translate financial performance into clear operational insight that helps non-finance leaders make better decisions on pricing scoping resource allocation and investment prioritisation. Youll review proposals and bids to surface financial risk and opportunity provide proactive month-end commentary run what-if scenarios and recommend process improvements to tighten project financial controls and forecasting accuracy.

This role combines hands-on modelling and analysis with stakeholder coaching and client-facing planning meetings. Youll partner closely with Service Line leaders and the Service Line Finance Director on business cases annual planning and ad-hoc analysis. Expect a varied high-impact role where your commercial insight supported by Excel BI tools and AI-enabled workflows will directly influence profitability and the way projects are run.

About you

• Commercially minded with a track record of translating finance into operational decisions.
• Strong communicator who can explain financial concepts clearly to nonfinance colleagues and influence stakeholders.
• Excellent Excel modeller (pivot tables lookups scenario/sensitivity analysis) with a clear file-structuring habit.
• Proficient in using and adopting AI tools to automate tasks accelerate analysis and generate actionable insights.
• Comfortable working in a fast-moving environment prioritising multiple deadlines and delivering accurate monthend commentary.
• Curious collaborative and service-oriented with a desire to coach others and drive continuous improvement.

Essential skills

• Strong Excel modelling and analysis skills (pivot tables lookups scenario/sensitivity modelling).
• Commercial acumen: ability to assess pricing cost structures margins and profit levers.
• Clear verbal and written communication for nonfinance audiences; strong stakeholder management.
• Organisational ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver accurate timely financial reporting.
• Attention to detail and accuracy in financial analysis and commentary.
• Demonstrable proficiency in adopting AI tools to improve daytoday tasks and analysis.

Desirable skills

• Part qualified or qualified with CIMA/ACCA (or equivalent); newly qualified is acceptable.
• Experience with budgeting forecasting variance analysis and monthend processes.
• Familiarity with project accounting systems and ERPs.
• Experience with BI tools (Power BI Tableau or similar) for dashboarding and visual insight.
• Prior experience in market research public affairs consulting or agency environments.
• Experience delivering training or workshops to nonfinance colleagues.
• Creative thinking resilience and a commercially minded approach that balances shortterm delivery with longterm value.

Benefits:

We offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support you as an individual. Our standard benefits include 25 days annual leave pension contribution income protection and life addition there are a range health & wellbeing financial benefits and professional development opportunities.

We have a hybrid approach to work and ask people to be in the office or with clients for 3 days per appreciate you may have commitments outside of work and will consider flexible working applications - please highlight what you are looking for when you make your application.

We are committed to equality treating people fairly promoting a positive and inclusive working environment and ensuring we have diversity of people and views. We recognise that this is important for our business success - a more diverse workforce will enable us to better reflect and understand the world we research and ultimately deliver better research and insight to our clients. We are proud to be a member of the Disability Confident scheme certified as a Level 2 Disability Confident Employer. We provide an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. Your application will be reviewed by someone from our Talent Team who will be in touch either way to let you know the outcome.

Ready to have an impact Apply now!