Finance Business Partner

About Balio

Balio is a permanent-capital software group that owns and manages a collection of B2B SaaS companies operating in the US, UK, and UAE. The Group Finance team maintains a consolidated financial record in USD for all portfolio companies, with monthly closures. Operational teams and General Managers run each company, while day-to-day bookkeeping is handled by a specialized offshore accounting team. This setup allows the Finance Business Partner to concentrate on strategic planning, analysis, and technical accounting in a dynamic, acquisitive setting.

Role Purpose

The Finance Business Partner acts as the dedicated finance liaison for a group of portfolio companies, supporting operational leadership by managing forecasts, budgets, financial planning and analysis (FP&A), and ensuring accuracy and timeliness of financial data. While the offshore accountants manage transactional accounting, this role transforms bookkeeping into insights and decision-ready reports, resolves complex accounting issues, and ensures an efficient finance cycle.

Core Responsibilities

• Collaborate closely with operational teams and General Managers to translate financial data into actionable business insights and provide constructive challenge.
• Take ownership of budgeting and rolling forecasts, updating and enforcing adherence to financial plans across assigned entities.
• Develop and maintain FP&A dashboards and management reports, offering real-time visibility of performance to operators and leadership.
• Oversee month-end closing, ensuring accuracy and punctuality by supervising the offshore accounting team rather than performing bookkeeping tasks personally.
• Resolve technical accounting issues such as IFRS compliance, revenue recognition, and other judgment-based areas within portfolio entities.
• Manage accounts receivable and payable processes to maintain clean working capital and promptly highlight potential concerns.
• Monitor and predict cash flow trends for portfolio companies, contributing inputs to the overall group cash position.
• Drive efficiency and control improvements within finance processes, ensuring robust internal controls and continual process enhancement.

Success Indicators (First 6 Months)

• Each assigned company closes its books accurately and on time, with seamless coordination of the offshore accounting team.
• Budgets and forecasts remain current and trusted, actively guiding business decisions.
• FP&A dashboards provide leadership with immediate insights into portfolio performance; technical accounting issues are managed effectively at the source.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Professional accounting certification such as ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CPA, or equivalent is mandatory.
• A minimum of 6 years of relevant finance or accounting experience.
• Strong expertise in IFRS standards.
• Experience implementing ERP systems or other financial tools.
• Proficiency in forecasting, budgeting, FP&A, and creation of management reporting dashboards.
• Demonstrated ability to apply technical accounting judgment and manage close processes, AR/AP, and cash flow.
• Self-motivated and efficient in a fast-moving, lean, acquisitive environment, with capability to lead offshore teams and collaborate with non-finance stakeholders.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with UK tax regulations.
• Background in SaaS or technology sector finance, including knowledge of SaaS metrics like ARR, NDR/GDR, and MRR.
• Familiarity with QuickBooks and Xero accounting software is advantageous.
• Exposure to group consolidation accounting, multi-entity, and multi-currency finance management.
• Experience integrating newly acquired businesses within a corporate group structure.
• Work history in private equity, holding companies, or portfolio management environments.
• Experience with UAE/DIFC or international group financial environments.

Team and Work Environment

This role belongs to a compact team of portfolio-focused finance business partners reporting to the Financial Controller, supported by an offshore accounting team responsible for transactional bookkeeping. It demands high ownership, analytical capabilities, and a collaborative mindset. Ideal candidates seek to influence business decisions through financial leadership rather than bookkeeping.

Additional Information

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