Finance Business Partner at HITACHI EUROPE LTD.

Company Overview

Hitachi drives Social Innovation Business, creating a sustainable society through the use of data and technology. We solve customers’ and society’s challenges with Lumada solutions leveraging IT, OT (Operational Technology) and products. Hitachi operates under the business structure of “Digital Systems & Services” – supporting our customers’ digital transformation; “Green Energy & Mobility” – contributing to a decarbonized society through energy and railway systems, and “Connective Industries” – connecting products through digital technology to provide solutions in various industries. Driven by Digital, Green, and Innovation, we aim for growth through co-creation with our customers. The company’s consolidated revenues for fiscal year 2022 (ended March 31, 2023) totaled 10,881.1 billion yen, with 696 consolidated subsidiaries and approximately 320,000 employees worldwide. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company’s website at https://www.hitachi.com.

HEU is also responsible for managing a Shared Services Group that provides the Company’s business units with a range of innovative and effective common services that deliver value, create ‘lean’ processes and support growth and development – including HR, IT, Legal, Finance & Accounting, Corporate Communications & Sustainability, and Business Development.

What you’ll be doing

This role will be responsible for providing financial information, tools, analysis, and insight to the Hitachi Europe management teams, helping to make more informed decisions and driving business strategy. The role provides ‘real time’ support and analysis and requires the incumbent to become a trusted adviser who can add value that will assist in decision making. This role reports to the Head of FP&A.

Operating as part of the Financial Planning & Analysis department, the Business Partner will be responsible for supporting some of the business units. They will produce and analyse financial outputs (e.g., reports and accounts), incorporating a deep understanding of business drivers to support the management team to achieve and exceed overall business objectives.

The incumbent will provide financial modelling, understanding and support for all business activities, working closely with senior stakeholders to provide commercial and financial support.

The incumbent will provide financial modelling, understanding and support for all business activities, working closely with senior stakeholders to provide commercial and financial support. They will have the support and direct line management of one assistant finance business partner.

Engage with stakeholders in business units, operating companies, and Hitachi corporate, to ensure the business partnering service meets customer and corporate requirements

Build a deep and trusted relationships with senior business stakeholders.

Drive all budget (short and mid-term) and forecast processes ensuring information is produced, consolidated, analysed, and distributed such that line management is fully briefed and informed on present and forecast cost and budget performance including operating profit and working capital

Support in the compilation and analysis of bids aimed at winning new contracts and business where appropriate.

Ensure reconciliation of monthly sales and orders, analysis of margins by product groups, customers and shipments including specific balance sheet items so the accounting and financial position in the accounts are reflected accurately

Ensure a full understanding and analysis of monthly expenses

When required, deliver accurate and timely elements of management reporting which are critical to supporting business decision-making

Support the team in the Japan head office in understand variances to plan and business direction.

Work closely with senior stakeholders in business units to identify opportunities for increasing support delivered by the Business Partner team and ensure these are delivered effectively.

Provide Ad-Hoc support to business units to help them overcome short- and medium-term hurdles that may be facing them from internal and external sources.

Support the introduction and roll out of the new S4 Hana and SAP Analytics cloud tools.

What you bring to the team

We’re looking for a team player, who is motivated by delivering great work and the Hitachi vision.

The ideal candidate will possess the following skills and background:

Ideally ACA / ACCA / CIMA (or equivalent) qualified accountant, or part qualified

Strong interpersonal and communication skills

Ability to develop and sustain strong working relationships with the business and across the Finance function

Ability to influence decision-making among senior stakeholders, providing appropriate challenge

Should be able to work as part of wider team whilst being a self-starter to work on individual projects.

Experience of operating in a matrix structure

Experience working with international teams preferred

Ability to work and effectively communicate with senior-level business partners

Excellent business judgment, analytical, and decision-making skills

Strong demonstrated use of Excel, Word, and PowerPoint

Benefits Package

Company Funded Benefits

Along with a market competitive salary and discretionary bonus scheme, employees have the option to work flexibly in line with our hybrid working model and we would be happy to discuss this with you during the hiring process.

Generous holiday entitlement – with the option to buy up to an additional 5 days per year

A Holiday Banking scheme allowing you to bank untaken holiday to use another year

Group Personal Pension

Private Medical Insurance with self-funded option to cover family members

Employee Assistance Programme available to all employees

Personal Accident Insurance

Study support

Voluntary Benefits (funded by employee) including;

Cycle To Work scheme

Gym Membership

Dental Insurance with option to include dependent children

Health screening

Dining card

Our Values

We are proud to say we are an equal opportunity employer and welcome all applicants for employment without attention to any factor that doesn’t impact your ability to do the job, including race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status. We are proud of Japanese heritage, with our values expressed through the Hitachi Spirit:

Wa – Harmony, Trust, Respect

Makoto – Sincerity, Fairness, Honesty, Integrity

Kaitakusha-Seishin – Pioneering Spirit, Challenge

If, like us, you’re motivated by delivering first class services, thrive in a fast paced and supportive environment and want to help Hitachi to drive social innovation, we’d love to hear from you.