Finance Business Partner

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Finance Business Partner based in Boston or Washington, DC, United States.

The Finance Business Partner will serve as a strategic financial advisor to the Academic/GFN segment and the Sales and Marketing teams. In this role, you will take ownership of financial performance, providing accurate reporting, insightful analysis, and reliable forecasts to support business growth. Working closely with senior executives and commercial leaders, you will translate complex financial data into actionable recommendations and help drive informed decision-making. You will oversee budgeting, revenue and Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) validation, financial planning, and performance monitoring. The position combines strong financial expertise with commercial understanding and proactive business partnering. You will also identify opportunities to improve financial processes, strengthen controls, and increase operational efficiency. This is an opportunity to contribute to a collaborative, technology-driven environment supporting innovation and progress across the global research ecosystem.

Accountabilities

• Month-End Reporting and Financial Analysis: Review monthly financial accounts in detail, identify material adjustments, investigate variances, and explain performance drivers. Prepare clear monthly financial reports with relevant business context, highlight areas requiring attention, and review results with business leaders to ensure accountability for agreed actions.

• Revenue and ARR Management: Monitor monthly revenue performance and ensure reported figures accurately reflect actual sales activity. Validate ARR through close collaboration with commercial teams, identify performance risks such as delayed renewals, and track the status and lifecycle of non-recurring revenue.

• Budgeting and Financial Forecasting: Lead revenue, cost, and headcount planning for assigned business areas, ensuring budgets and forecasts meet established guidelines and deadlines. Challenge underlying assumptions around hiring plans, cost growth, and resource allocation to develop reliable financial projections.

• Performance Monitoring: Provide monthly landing-position forecasts and early warnings to help business leaders identify risks and take corrective action. Ensure segment allocations are accurate, transparent, and supported by clear explanations of any changes.

• Strategic Decision Support: Deliver financial analysis, flexible modeling, and actionable recommendations to support key business decisions. Advise on pricing strategies, new product business cases, restructuring initiatives, emerging trends, accounting treatments, and other commercial or operational priorities.

• Stakeholder Collaboration: Act as the primary finance partner for the Academic/GFN segment and Sales and Marketing functions. Work closely with senior stakeholders, including executive and commercial leadership, to challenge assumptions, communicate financial insights, and support well-informed decisions.

• Financial Process Improvement: Evaluate existing financial processes and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, reporting quality, and operational effectiveness. Promote best practices across the wider finance team and take ownership of issues through to resolution.

• Systems, Controls, and Automation: Identify opportunities to improve financial controls and automate processes through better use of existing systems and technology.

Requirements:

• Demonstrated experience in finance business partnering across both cost and revenue functions.

• Proven ability to manage budgeting and forecasting processes for specific business areas, delivering accurate results within established timelines.

• Strong understanding of Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR), commercial sales processes, and revenue recognition principles.

• Excellent financial modeling and analytical skills, with the ability to interpret detailed financial information and translate it into clear business recommendations.

• Ability to work effectively with imperfect or incomplete data while developing robust financial conclusions.

• Experience reviewing financial performance, identifying variances, and communicating business implications to senior stakeholders.

• Strong commercial mindset and the ability to challenge assumptions, influence decisions, and build credibility with executive-level stakeholders.

• Excellent communication and presentation skills, including the ability to explain complex financial information using charts, tables, and other reporting tools.

• Highly proactive, inquisitive, and collaborative approach, with strong initiative and a clear sense of ownership.

• Professional finance qualification such as CIMA, ACCA, ACA, or CPA, or at least five years of relevant professional experience.

Nice-to-Have:

• Previous experience working within a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) business.

• Familiarity with NetSuite and Anaplan financial planning and management systems.

• Experience supporting sales, marketing, or subscription-based business models.

Benefits:

• Remote Work: Fully remote working arrangement.

• Full-Time Employment: Permanent full-time opportunity within a technology-driven organization.

• Strategic Exposure: Direct collaboration with senior executives and commercial leadership.

• Professional Development: Opportunity to strengthen financial, commercial, and strategic business partnering expertise.

• Collaborative Environment: Work alongside diverse, international teams that value openness, inclusion, and shared success.

• Meaningful Impact: Contribute to an organization focused on making research more open, efficient, and accessible worldwide.

• Inclusive Workplace: Equal opportunity environment that values diverse perspectives, experiences, and ideas.