Finance Business Partner – UK Performance

Location: Any of our UK Merlin Sites (South Parks preferred)

Contract Type: 12 Month Fixed Term Contract

Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Hybrid working (3 days per week in the office, 2 days per week from home)

We are recruiting for a Finance Business Partner – UK Performance to join our awesome UK Finance Team. Love turning numbers into stories that drive real impact? This role puts you right at the heart of the business, where insight meets action!

The Finance Business Partner – UK Performance plays a key part in supporting business performance through insightful analysis and effective partnership with senior stakeholders, helping to optimise outcomes across the organisation for in attraction spend in commercial, hotels and functions. You will support the preparation of financial reports, budgets and forecasts, contributing to strategic decision‑making and identifying opportunities for continuous improvement.

Acting as a key conduit between central functions, attraction teams and the wider Finance team, the Financial Business Partner will balance day‑to‑day operational demands with longer‑term planning and innovation. This is a role that offers both breadth and influence, combining analytical rigour with strong stakeholder engagement.

It’s a fantastic opportunity for someone looking to step into a commercial business partnering role, gaining broad exposure across the organisation while making a tangible impact on business performance.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Financial Leadership

• Support the execution of a finance strategy that aligns with Merlin's wider goals by driving value, improving forecasting, and enabling better decision-making.
• Act as a strategic advisor to the leadership teams in the finance function providing insight on financial performance, business planning and operational development.

Global Finance Operations:

• Collaborate with global finance teams to ensure consistency in financial practises while adapting to local regulatory and cultural requirements.
• Address complex financial queries and concerns raised by senior business leaders and operations teams.

Analysis & Planning:

• Deliver budgeting, forecasting and variance analysis to support strategic plans.
• Deliver high quality financial analysis, including variance analysis, trend reporting and scenario modelling.

Business Partnering:

• Assist in providing financial advice and insights to non-finance teams to drive decision-making.
• Collaborate with senior management to provide financial guidance.

Process improvement & reporting:

• Identify opportunities for process improvement, automation and efficiency.
• Prepare insightful reports and presentations to communicate performance and key drivers
• Monitor and challenge business performance, ensuring financial and operations goals are aligned.

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent)
• Proven experience in financial planning, commercial analysis and business partnering within a complex organisation.
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills with the ability to engage stakeholders at all levels.
• Understanding of financial analysis, budgeting, and reporting processes.
• A proactive, commercially minded approach with a continuous improvement mindset and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and manage multiple priorities in a fast paced environment.
• Strong analytical and Excel modelling skills, with experience using systems like SAP, Oracle, or Hyperion desirable.

• 40% discount off LEGO® sets and products on the online LEGO Store!
• Merlin Magic Pass: 20 free tickets for you, your family and friends to enjoy all of our Merlin Attractions across the world!
• 25% discount in Merlin retail shops and restaurants (a brilliant extra treat when you’re using your Magic Pass to visit!)
• Staff discount codes for Merlin Annual Passes to gift to loved ones!
• Private pension scheme
• Life assurance scheme
• Employee assistance programme
• Access to Perks at Work which 30,000+ national & local employee discounts
• Ongoing training & development

About Merlin

A job with Merlin isn’t like a job anywhere else. With attractions around the world, from rollercoasters to wax figures, we don’t trade in suits, handshakes or briefcases. We trade in fun. In smiles, shrieks and spine-tingles. In Memories. In magic. But there are no tricks behind our magic. Instead, there are people like you. Passionate, dedicated people who are committed to making sure our worldwide attractions and guests’ experiences are the best they can be.

If you have any questions or if you require any reasonable adjustments, because of a disability or medical condition, please contact us by email at recruitment@merlinentertainments.biz and one of the team will get back to you as soon as possible.