Assistant Finance Business Partner - Accountant (part qualified)

Location: Edinburgh
Contract: 6 months
Inside IR35

£250 per day

Harvey Nash's public sector client is seeking an experienced Assistant Finance Business Partner to join a busy Business Partnering team within a wider finance function. The role provides financial insight and support across multiple projects, including reporting, forecasting, cost analysis, and ensuring compliance with financial processes and standards. You will work closely with project managers, attend project boards, and provide clear, evidence based financial advice.

This position offers a high degree of autonomy and a broad remit, covering budgeting, stakeholder engagement, project and product costing, financial accounting, and influencing key decision makers.

Key Responsibilities

General

• Prepare project budgets in collaboration with project managers.
• Complete month end processes and adjustments to ensure accurate financial positions.
• Assess and determine appropriate financial treatment of expenditure (capital vs. revenue).
• Produce monthly forecasted outturns and finance papers for governance meetings.
• Engage effectively with colleagues across the organisation and contribute to project boards.

Specific

• Manage month end closedown for assets and depreciation.
• Carry out capital reconciliations and maintain capital related workbooks.
• Maintain contractor and timesheet workbooks, including analysis for capitalisation.
• Attend regular meetings with project managers and IT teams to support financial oversight.
• Prepare Portfolio Oversight Board papers and project highlight reports.

Essential Criteria

• Excellent stakeholder communication skills, with the ability to influence, challenge constructively, and explain technical information to non-financial audiences.
• Ability to work under pressure, manage changing priorities, and meet tight deadlines.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to develop options and make evidence based recommendations for senior decision makers.
• Experience applying financial standards and processes to determine appropriate accounting treatment, supported by clear justification and evidence.

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