Client Business Partner

An established and growing Oxford based professional services firm is seeking a Client Business Partner to support a portfolio of SME clients with financial insight and performance analysis. This role is centred on acting as a trusted finance partner to business owners, helping them interpret financial information, understand performance drivers, and make more informed commercial decisions. You will work across a varied client base, combining management reporting with insight led analysis and regular client engagement.

It is well suited to someone who enjoys a mix of relationship management, financial interpretation, and advisory work within a multi-client environment.

Job Title: Client Business Partner

Job Type: Perm

Location: Oxford

Salary: £45,000 - £50,000

Reference no: 16100

Client Business Partner Benefits

• Hybrid working following probation
• Flexible working hours within core times
• 25 days annual leave plus flexible holiday options
• Additional wellbeing day each year
• Health and wellbeing support package
• Employee discount and rewards platform
• Enhanced family friendly policies
• Life assurance cover
• Cycle to work scheme
• Regular team events and social activities
• Ongoing training and development support
• Clear progression opportunities within a growing team

Client Business Partner About The Role

As Client Business Partner, you will act as the key point of contact for a portfolio of clients, supporting both their financial reporting needs and their wider commercial understanding of business performance. You will work closely with business owners to interpret financial results, identify trends, and provide meaningful insight to support decision making.

Alongside client engagement, you will collaborate with internal delivery teams to ensure accurate and timely production of financial information, while also helping clients get maximum value from their accounting systems and data.

A key focus of the role is moving conversations beyond historical reporting, towards forward looking analysis, financial planning, and performance improvement. Key responsibilities:

• Acting as the main finance contact for a portfolio of SME clients
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with business owners and stakeholders
• Reviewing management accounts and providing clear performance insight
• Analysing financial data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities
• Supporting budgeting, forecasting, and cashflow planning activities
• Working with internal teams to ensure accurate and timely financial delivery
• Supporting improvements to client accounting systems and processes
• Assisting with onboarding and implementation of new client relationships
• Liaising with tax, payroll, and advisory teams to deliver joined up support
• Monitoring client deadlines, workflow, and service delivery standards
• Supporting the development of junior team members where required
• Identifying opportunities to improve client outcomes and service offering

The successful Client Business Partner will have:

• At least four to five years UK experience in practice outsourcing, business services, or a management accounting / finance business partnering role
• ACCA, ACA or CIMA qualified, part qualified, or qualified by experience candidates considered
• Strong experience working with clients or stakeholders across multiple businesses
• Good technical accounting knowledge with exposure to UK accounting standards
• Strong analytical ability with experience interpreting financial information into insight
• Confident communication skills with the ability to engage non finance stakeholders
• Experience using cloud accounting systems such as Xero, QuickBooks or Sage
• Strong Excel skills and ability to adapt quickly to new systems
• A proactive, commercially minded approach with strong attention to detail
• Experience in outsourcing, management accounts, or business partnering environments would be advantageous

Howett Thorpe are acting as a recruitment agency in relation to this role and comply with all relevant UK legislation and do not discriminate on any protected characteristics. Due to the high volume of applications we currently receive, we are unable to respond to all candidates. If you do not hear from a Consultant within 5 working days, please assume that you have not been successful.

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