Senior Finance Business Partner

Description:

The role of Senior Finance Business Partner is responsible for providing strategic and financial support and advice to the News Division.

Working closely with the Director of Finance, Director of News and Current Affairs and Director of Regional News, this role oversees financial planning and performance across both ITV’s Regional News output and National News output, delivered by ITN. It will require someone who understands the news and current affairs landscape inside out - who has a clear sense of the challenges and the opportunities faced by the industry over the next decade, and who adopts a strategic approach to drive ITV News and Current Affairs into the future.

This role will require a deep understanding of the operational and financial realities of running a dynamic news service, supporting to deliver cost effective output in the medium term, whilst working alongside the leadership team to optimise the future performance of the area in the longer term. This will involve working with the leadership team to continue driving digital transformation and automation into news operations, evolve the arrangement with ITN to drive value for money and supporting the development of commercial initiatives to support ITV’s broader ambitions.

Experience in managing remote teams, managing relationships with a broad range of stakeholders which are spread geographically and negotiating with suppliers/contractors to drive cost efficiency is also critical.

Key responsibilities

• Support the development and execution of the ITV News and Current Affairs’ strategy.
• Build a detailed understanding and working knowledge of ITV News’ finance process and operations, acting as a key partner to the Director of News on the performance and embedding as a key member of ITV News extended management team.
• Review, challenge and prioritise investment cases, ensuring benefits commitments are articulated and delivered.
• Provide strategic cost management of the function, understanding and influencing key cost drivers and delivering to budget.
• Develop function plans, budgets and forecasts, ensuring performance is reported in a timely and accurate manner.
• Oversee the arrangement with ITN for National News output from a finance perspective, ensuring value for money and appropriate challenge.
• Drive performance through high quality analysis and decision support, seeking new opportunities to unlock and deliver value.
• Be a key enabler for greater digital transformation, automation and streamlining of legacy processes across Finance.
• Working with the Director of News and Finance Director - M&E, support in the identification of new commercial opportunities to support the division’s audience and digital growth ambitions.
• Motivation and development of direct and indirect team members and implementing of clear succession plans.
• Maintain a safe financial control and operating environment for the area, ensuring compliance with Group policies.

Skills you’ll need (minimum criteria)

• Media industry experience, with production/News finance experience preferred.
• A broad finance background coupled with a strong commercial partnering mind set.
• Evidence of delivering outcome and leading / managing transformation and change in complex fast paced matrix environments.