Finance Business Partner- Car Parks & Ancillary Income Lead

• Department: Finance
• Permanent/ Full time
• Location: based on site at Manchester Airport
• Competitive salary plus 11% pension contribution
• We are proud to be a diverse employer, and we welcome candidates from all backgrounds
• This role offers the opportunity to work for the largest Airport Group in the country, on unique projects, transforming the future of our airports

About us:

At MAG we provide the airport facilities and travel services that people need to connect with the world. As the largest UK owned airport operator, we serve over 60 million passengers a year from Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands Airports. With over 270 destinations across the globe, our businesses not only bring people together but also support the prosperity of the regions in which we operate.

The safety of our customers is at the heart of everything we do, and every colleague has a unique opportunity to contribute as we help families, businesses and cargo connect around the world.

We are ambitious for our airports, investing in the infrastructure our airports need to grow beyond pre-pandemic levels over the coming years. We are always on the lookout for new ways we can add value for customers as they travel, as well as seeking opportunities to work smarter and collaborate more. 

Our people feel proud of the work they do to make our airports successful and the growth they bring to the surrounding communities and regions.

Join MAG and make the journey.

The Role:

The role holder will provide finance business partner support to a number of senior stakeholders across commercial, building key relationships with their teams whilst providing decision making support through first class financial information reporting, analysis and commercial recommendations whilst maintaining a strong system of financial controls.

Working within the MAN finance team reporting to the Head of Finance, the role holder’s primary interface will be with the Finance team (Airport and Group) and Airport’s Commercial team, up to and including the MAN Commercial Director, alongside the CAVU finance and commercial teams, delivering objective advice and challenge alongside financial analysis to support and influence decision making and positively impact the future of the business with a focus on driving incremental EBITDA, supporting business case development and longer term investment decisions associated with MAN-TP.

The role holder will build relationships with the operational and commercial teams, supporting ongoing stakeholder contract renegotiations and business case development through information reporting, analysis and commercial insight with the aim to preserve long-term value, and helping to maintain a strong system of financial controls and governance.

The role holder will promote the company values and leadership behaviours and encourage development of a high-performance financial and commercial culture within the MAN finance teams and across the organisation.

Business Partnering

• Support the development and delivery of the MAN Car Parks and Other income strategy, in line with company vision and mission, values and key policies and broader implications associated with MAN-TP.
• Work proactively with key business partners and stakeholders to develop successful partnering relationships, providing forward looking insight and challenge, adding demonstrable value through delivering business and commercial insights - acting as a catalyst for the business’ change.
• Provide strong financial review together with effective support for business development initiatives and supporting business cases (e.g. new income streams / deals), ensuring they provide clear evaluations and are financially robust to achieve MAN financial targets.
• Proactively investigate performance and trends to assist in providing “early warnings” to the business and senior management.
• Provide stakeholders with accurate, timely, robust and informative management information; providing insight and objective challenge to improve business performance against key KPIs and ensure we maximise revenue / EBITDA eg through development of car park P&Ls to support decision making.
• Assist stakeholders with understanding the financial implications of all business decisions through the production of ad hoc analysis, modelling and ongoing tracking of business performance.
• Understanding and challenging current business practice, identifying and implementing initiatives to improve process and deliver business growth objectives.
• Take responsibility for the quality and timeliness of financial reporting; proactively engaging with group finance and working collaboratively with members of the Finance Business Partner community across MAG to share experiences and best practices.
• Support long term investment decisions and business case development, particularly around car park investment case for MAN-TP, to ensure we maximise revenue / EBITDA, supported by scenario analysis / impact assessments.
• Support the business in assuming greater degrees of financial accountability via coaching and collaborative working to improve financial confidence and competence across commercial management.

Business Planning / Reforecasts

• Working with senior stakeholders across both the MAN commercial and CAVU teams to develop annual business plans, including appropriate performance targets and metrics, leading the processes from a financial perspective from creation and challenge to presentation to finance / commercial stakeholders,
• Lead the delivery of business plan outcomes for Car Parks and Other income ensuring successful implementation of business plan that adheres to the Group and Board requirements but also provides Commercial with a realistic and attainable target.
• Ownership of the reforecast process for Car Parks and other income, ensuring forecasts are meaningful, identifying risk and opportunities around future performance, and looks at ways to mitigate risks and exploit opportunities, delivering in line with MAN / Group deadlines.
• Lead the improvement of rolling business planning processes in relation to Car Parks and Other income & broader commercial and the wider team.
• Support the MAN HOF FD in pulling together a consolidated P&L position of MAN to understand overall position of the airport

Finance Control and Advisory

• Lead the review of financial performance information and plans for Car Parks and Other income - including the annual budget and the division’s monthly management accounts & forecasting, to ensure they are robust and accurately reflect key business issues.
• Develop an effective relationship with key staff in the Finance Share Service Centre, ensuring robust, accurate month-end reporting.
• Responsible for the accuracy and sign-off of all contracts from an accounting and income recognition perspective, including contractual billing, true-up calculations and end of contract finalisation, supporting the commercial team and AR/ billing teams in Group Finance.
• Ensure effective commercial contract management and governance is in operation addressing, risk, financial performance and post investment reviews.
• Ensure good local cost control and cost management behaviour in the business. Promote good financial disciplines, and risk management processes.
• Ensure full compliance with MAG management and statutory reporting requirements and deadlines, and MAG accounting policies.

Leadership / Behaviours

• Act as a positive representative for Finance with business stakeholders.
• Take responsibility for a process and culture of continuous improvement, with focus on automating and standardising reporting outputs, and ongoing development of modelling and analytical capability.
• Facilitate collaboration between team members through sharing information, collaborating on decision making, and taking mutual responsibility for the work of the team.
• Work collaboratively and cross-functionally with members of the MAN Finance team and broader MAG Finance Business Partner community, promoting and sharing business partnering ideas, learnings, experiences and best practice (internal and external).
• Take a proactive approach in supporting staff development, performance and career progression.
• Be a key member of the MAN finance team, being flexible to support on ad-hoc projects where applicable to ensure maximum value to MAN/MAG.

What will make you successful in this role:

• Qualified Accountant; at least 5 years PQE
• Experience of working in a Commercial role / sector, supporting contract negotiation and financial/business case analysis
• Proven ability to work as a finance business partner in a matrix management structure across multiple business lines and streams
• Strong business development and commercial expertise
• Role model for leadership behaviours and MAG values
• Proven track record in analytical skills, attention to detail and commercial awareness and acumen
• Considerable experience in reporting, financial analysis, management accounting and system dashboard skills
• Demonstrable interpersonal and communication skills and a passion for building successful relationships with the business environment
• Strong IT system orientation including, Excel, Word, PowerPoint skills and experience of financial modelling. Knowledge of SAP will be beneficial.
• Ability to perform under pressure and adjust plans to meet changing needs and requirements
• Proven ability to multi-task, prioritising own workload for best effect and return
• Strong ability to interact with senior stakeholders and directors & maintain credibility with potential commercial partners

What benefits can we offer:

What can we offer in return? Great benefits as you would expect from a business the size of MAG – in the shape of a competitive salary, bonus scheme and benefits package including 11% company contribution pension, car allowance, private medical scheme, free parking & subsidised public transport, 25 days holidays plus bank holidays and a huge range of company discounts.

Equal Opportunities & Reasonable Adjustments:

At MAG we believe in the importance of diversity & inclusion for all. We are committed to creating a workforce that is reflective of our society. As such welcome applications from candidates from all diverse backgrounds.

MAG is a Disability confident employer and therefore are committed to creating an environment where candidates and employees can perform at their optimum. Please let us know if we can provide you with any reasonable adjustments to aid your application or interview process.

You can contact the team by emailing HR.Recruitment@MAGAirports.com