Finance Business Partner

The British Academy

About the Organisation

British Academy is the UK’s national body for the humanities and social sciences, established by Royal Charter in 1902. We mobilise these disciplines to understand the world and shape a brighter future. Today’s complex challenges can only be resolved by deepening our insight into people, culture, and societies. With a Fellowship of around 1,700 leading national and international academics, the Academy invests in researchers and projects across the UK and overseas; engages the public with fresh thinking and debates; and brings together scholars, government, business, and civil society to influence policy. The Academy currently has five directorates: Communications & Marketing; Development; Policy; Research; and Resources, plus a small Governance & Fellowship Team.

About the role

The Finance Business Partner role works closely with other members of the Finance team and, in particular, business partners with colleagues from Venue Sales and Development. The Finance Team is friendly, part of the Academy’s Resources Directorate comprising Finance, HR, IT and Facilities along with Clio. We take great pride in supporting our colleagues in the Academy, providing an accurate and prompt service to all customers in the department. This is a key opportunity to establish relationships and make an early positive impact.

A core duty of the role is to take the lead in financial management and reporting for both Clio and the Development team. This will include:

• Providing financial analysis and advice and working with colleagues from each team to monitor performance, return on investment, and achieve key financial targets,
• Supporting milestone tasks such as budgeting, forecasting, and financial statements.
• Understanding day-to-day operational transactions to cover periods of absence of other colleagues, including the import of sales data to the finance system and ownership of the debtor ledger.

Responsibilities

Partnering with the Academy’s trading subsidiary Clio Enterprises Ltd "Clio":

• Assist in the preparation of monthly management accounts, including identification and processing of accruals and prepayments.
• Provide in-depth financial analysis and report upon KPIs and performance.
• Explore the reporting capabilities of the recently introduced venue management system to be used by Clio management to monitor and analyse financial performance.
• Support the production of ongoing financial forecasts in conjunction with Clio management, identifying projected variances, modelling scenarios, and analysing their potential impact.
• Perform the reconciliation of deferred income, liaising with Clio staff, taking appropriate, timely actions to identify and resolve any discrepancies arising.
• Maintain and reconcile the intercompany position between Clio and the Academy, scheduling payments to settle balances.
• Assist with the preparation of Clio’s statutory accounts and liaise with external auditors.
• Establish a knowledge and understanding of key Clio processes, such as the import of sales invoices from the venue management system and the sales ledger control account, ensuring appropriateness of coding, accuracy, and completeness of information.

Partnering with the Development Team:

• Lead on the development of financial reporting for the team:
  • Code income to the finance system and reconcile to the CRM
  • Track pledged income and income received
  • Liaise with the Development Operations Manager to establish robust reporting of Returns on Investment.
• Assist in the provision of financial information for funders, reconciling expenditure incurred to the finance system and preparing funding claims.
• Maintain a database of grant and contract documentation, reconciling income to the finance system.

Working with the Finance team and other financial duties:

• Ensure staff compliance with financial policies and procedures.
• Support the development and implementation of best financial practices, ensuring key processes are documented and control weaknesses identified and rectified.
• Support the general maintenance and upkeep of the finance system and connected management information reports.
• Ensure budget holders within Clio and the Development team have an awareness and understanding of financial performance and procedures, providing training where required.
• Assist the Financial Accountant in the provision of training to new staff in the use of the finance system, specifically preparation of purchase orders and completion of credit card returns.
• Respond to general day-to-day financial queries received by the Finance team from both internal and external sources.
• Support the preparation of the Academy’s annual year-end accounts and audit process as required, providing audit evidence and resolving queries.

Internal:

• Budget holders within Clio and the Development team, members of the Finance team, wider Academy and Clio staff

External:

• Customers, suppliers, funders, auditors and professional advisers

Skills, Competencies, Experience & Attributes

Knowledge & Skills:

• Demonstrates and develops appropriate knowledge and skills
• Demonstrates credible finance experience
• Is receptive to new ideas and change, adapting own ways of working as appropriate
• Makes suggestions for improving finance processes and procedures
• Is aware of own strengths and weaknesses, and prepared to own mistakes and learn from them
• Seeks and uses opportunities to learn and develop, and is quick in picking up new tasks
• Shares knowledge and skills with others
• Proficient in the use of Excel

Proactivity & Planning:

• Manages time and resources effectively to achieve own and organisational objectives
• Prioritises tasks to meet deadlines
• Displays resilience in coping with workload
• Keeps relevant colleagues informed and seeks input where necessary
• Evaluates and manages risks effectively
• Assumes ownership of duties and responsibilities, delegating effectively where appropriate
• Monitors progress effectively and adapts plans where possible

Problem Solving & Decision Making:

• Ensures good decisions are made through a rational and methodical approach
• Approaches tasks with a positive attitude and is not afraid to ask for help when needed.
• Identifies problems early on and focuses on solutions
• Anticipates conflict and thinks ahead to resolve them quickly
• Takes a flexible approach to their work, happy to take on different responsibilities in the interests of the Academy
• Strong problem-solving skills including a flexible and pragmatic approach
• Is receptive to new ideas and change, adapting own ways of working as appropriate
• Sets the right balance between referring decisions to the appropriate level and taking things forward without referral

Working Relationships:

• Is proactive in developing and maintaining effective working relationships with others internally and externally
• Demonstrates a positive attitude towards helping others by providing appropriate support, using initiative and not waiting to be asked
• Adopts a communication style appropriate to the situation and the audience, understanding that communication is two-way
• Is sensitive to different working styles and views, adapting where appropriate
• Is willing and able to compromise and negotiate, including to resolve possible conflicts
• Handles difficult situations with sensitivity and respect
• Communicates effectively with staff across departments
• Promotes a positive impression of the Academy both internally and externally

Required Qualifications

• Prior experience of finance business partnering required
• AAT or equivalent desirable

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive benefits package 
• 34 days’ annual leave plus Bank Holidays, a subsidised canteen, and an excellent occupational pension.

Working locations

• Hybrid model, working in the London office and remotely

How to apply

• To apply, and to see the full job description and our workplace values, please apply to the Applied recruitment platform.
• We have a two-step approach to hiring, beginning with submitting an application through the Applied platform. This will be followed by a panel interview and may involve a task component.
• Please note that we use AI screening software to identify responses that have been copied from AI sources and are not your own work.
• The deadline for applications is 12:00 noon on 21st August 2026; however, we may close this role sooner if we receive a high volume of applications. In these circumstances, we will give those who have shown interest 24 hours' notice of the change of deadline.

Interviews

• Interviews for this role are currently scheduled for w/c 7th September 2026, but this may be subject to change.

Policies

Our senior management team has worked with staff to foster a culture of collaboration, respect, and empathy, in which all contributions are recognised as we work towards our common goals. Our people strategy and working practices focus on building strengths and sharing insights, with learning & development, wellbeing, and equality, diversity & inclusion at the centre of how we operate as an organisation. Investing in our staff and encouraging a healthy work/life balance is central to our success, as we move forward and continue to grow. Academy, including our Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Statement.

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