Garage Finance Business Partner
Want to drive financial performance where it matters most? National Express is on the hunt for a Garage Finance Business Partner who loves getting out of the spreadsheets and into the heart of our operations. You will be the commercial expert for our West Midlands bus garages, providing the clear reporting, analysis, and insight needed to both support and challenge the business.
This is your chance to move beyond standard month-end processing and truly shape local business decisions. If you are looking for a role that connects finance directly with day to day operations, this is it.
Location: Based at National Express House, with regular travel required to spend time at our various garages across the West Midlands.
What you’ll do
- Partner with local management to help garage teams hit their commercial and financial objectives.
- Lead monthly performance reviews, clearly explaining monthly results, budget/forecast variances, and the key actions required to stay on track.
- Own the month-end narrative, producing garage P&Ls, variance analysis, route performance reports, and essential balance sheet adjustments (accruals/prepayments).
- Shape future planning by assisting with detailed modelling and analysis for annual budgets, quarterly forecasts, and rolling projections.
- Evaluate real-world changes, assessing the financial impact of route alterations, service revisions, and commercial pricing for new tendered services.
- Drive profitability, proactively identifying, analysing, and recommending new initiatives for cost savings, operational efficiencies, and revenue generation.
What you’ll bring
- Professional Credentials: You are a fully Qualified Accountant (ACA, ACCA CIMA, or equivalent) with strong academics to degree level.
- The "Translator" Skillset: Excellent interpersonal skills with the unique ability to make complex financial information clear and actionable for non-financial garage managers.
- Technical Excellence: Advanced Excel skills coupled with a sharp eye for detailed financial modelling and bridging key movements.
- An Innovative Mindset: A proactive, adaptable approach with a passion for streamlining tools, refining processes, and diving into ad-hoc projects.
- Team Energy: Enthusiasm for working collaboratively in a busy operational finance environment.
- Safety Awareness: A proactive commitment to embedding safety-first principles across your workplace and operations.
What you get for bringing the energy
- We don’t just want great people, we look after them too. When you join National Express, you get perks that actually make a difference:
- Free bus and coach travel across the National Express Bus and Coach network for you.
- Complimentary travel for a nominated person (or bus travel for your partner).
- Life assurance and a solid company pension scheme.
- Access to our Employee Assistance Programme.
- A private online GP service for quick, stress-free health support.
We’re building an inclusive workplace that reflects the communities we serve, and we actively welcome applications from everyone. If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process, just let us know.
A quick heads-up: if we get a high number of applications, we may close the advert early.
Things to Note...
At National Express, we are really proud of our health and safety record and as a result, we operate a Drugs and Alcohol Policy which is applicable to all employees.
As part of your initial assessment, we will complete Drug and Alcohol testing and you may be subject to random tests during your employment.