Senior Expense Management Business Partner

Working hours: This role is available on a part-time, job-share or full-time basis

Location: We’re flexible! You can be based in our Swindon or London office.

Closing date for applications: 7th September 2025

The opportunity: 

Are you ready for a new challenge? We’re looking for a Senior Expense Management Business Partner to join our UK PPM team. In this pivotal role, you’ll work closely with the Head of Expenses and collaborate across the UK business to help deliver our strategy and achieve our expense targets.

You’ll take the lead in partnering with fast-moving business functions—bringing pace, energy, and a talent for building strong relationships. Your ability to engage, influence, and manage multiple priorities will be key as you support leaders to make informed decisions that drive our business forward.

Your role will be to turn numbers into meaningful insights, empowering your stakeholders and helping shape smarter, more effective business outcomes. You’ll directly lead a team of three, and inspire a wider team of nine, fostering an environment where everyone can grow and succeed together.

If you thrive in a dynamic environment, have a sharp eye for detail, and are passionate about making a real impact, this is the perfect opportunity for you. Your expertise and confidence in stakeholder management will help us drive growth, improve profitability, and deliver outstanding service for our customers—all while supporting our cost management and wider strategic goals.

Many of our employees work flexibly in a variety of different ways, including part-time, flexible hours, job share, an element of working from home or compressed hours. This is because we want the best people for our roles, and we recognise that sometimes those people aren’t available full-time. Please talk to us at interview about the flexibility you may need.

What will you be doing? 

• Report directly to the Head of Expenses as a key member of the Expenses Management team, providing expert financial advice and quality insight into business performance to support decision making and financial strategy.
• Drive proactive expense partnering by working closely with various departments to understand their needs and guide them on best practices, supporting delivery of financial targets.
• Lead the delivery, preparation, and presentation of regular financial reports to senior management, including CFO and business unit executives, highlighting key findings, recommendations, and responding to ad hoc analysis requests.
• Lead, coach, and motivate a high-performing team of expense management business partners, developing their ability to deliver insightful analysis and supporting the creation of the Expenses financial plan and reporting requirements.
• Conduct detailed analysis of expense reports and financial statements to identify trends, variances, and opportunities, embedding a cost-conscious culture and actively managing spend.
• Oversee the preparation of annual budgets and forecasts, ensuring expenses are accurately projected and managed in line with budget, company policies, and external regulations.
• Collaborate with functions to agree cost allocation drivers for each cost centre, including allocations to channel/product, admin, acquisition, claims handling, and fixed/variable expenses.
• Track portfolio costs and benefits, preparing analysis for the local Change Board, and provide early warnings if projects are not delivering as expected to enable timely corrective action.

What are we looking for?

Leadership & Stakeholder Management

• Extensive experience in building, managing, and influencing relationships with varied stakeholders at a senior level.
• Proven ability to act as a conduit between finance and business units, translating complex financial matters into meaningful insight.
• Accomplished at delivering independently and through coordination of others, leveraging excellent collaboration and stakeholder management skills.
• Skilled in leading teams, driving continuous improvement, and developing people to adapt to future trends.
• Thought leader who can support and drive business strategy.

Analytical & Commercial Skills

• Solution-focused, flexible thinker with strong commercial awareness and business acumen.
• Curious and creative, able to deliver complex financial analysis and act as a subject matter expert to identify progress, opportunities, and challenges.

Qualifications & Technical Expertise

• Fully qualified accountant or possess extensive relevant experience.
• Experience with IT expenditure, project management (Capex/Revex), and business cases is advantageous.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, especially Excel and PowerPoint.
• Experience with data analysis tools such as Power BI or Power Query, or a willingness to develop these skills.
• Experience with SAP and IBM Planning Analytics is desirable but not essential.

What will you get in return? 

Everyone’s different. That’s why at Zurich, we offer a wide range of employee benefits so our people can choose what fits them and their life. Our benefits provide real flexibility so our people can make considered choices and tailor their benefits throughout the year. Our benefits include 12% defined non-contributory pension scheme, annual company bonus, private medical insurance and the option to buy up to an additional 20 days or sell some of your holiday. 

Follow the link for more information about our benefits - Employee benefits | Working at Zurich Insurance UK 

As an inclusive employer we want to ensure that all candidates feel comfortable and are able to perform at their best during the interview. You’ll have the opportunity to let us know of any reasonable adjustment or practical support needed when you apply.

Who we are:

At Zurich we aspire to be one of the most responsible and impactful businesses in the world and the best global insurer. Together we’re creating a brighter future for our customers, our people and our planet.

With over 55,000 employees in more than 170 countries, you’ll feel the support of being part of a strong and stable company who are a long-standing player in the insurance industry.

We’ve made a promise to each other and every employee; to focus on sustainable impact, to care about each other’s wellbeing, to use our diverse expertise to be curious and optimistic and to develop the skills needed for our future.

If you're interested in working in a dynamic and challenging environment for a company that recognises and rewards your creativity, initiatives and contributions - then Zurich could be just the place for you. Be part of something great.

Our Culture:

At Zurich, our sense of community is strong and we’re particularly passionate about diversity and inclusion, which we’ve won numerous awards for. We want our people to bring the whole of themselves to work and ensure everybody is made to feel welcome, regardless of their background, beliefs or culture. We want our employees to reflect the diversity of our customers, and so are committed to treating all of our applicants fairly and with respect, irrespective of their actual or assumed background, disability or any other protected characteristic.

We’ve an environment that places a real importance on our people’s wellbeing from a physical, mental, social and financial perspective. We work with our wellbeing partners and industry experts to provide the best advice and access to a wealth of lifestyle support. We’re also committed to continuous improvement and we offer access to a comprehensive range of training and development opportunities.

We’re passionate about supporting employees to help others by getting involved in volunteering, charitable and community activity. Our charitable arm, Zurich Community Trust, is one of the longest-established corporate trusts in the UK. In that time, we’ve awarded grants and volunteered time to deserving causes in the UK valued at over £90 million.

So make a difference. Be challenged. Be inspired. Be supported, Love what you do. Work for us. #LI-Hybrid