•  Exploring what it means to take a business partnering approach
  
•  Implications for roles and activities
  
•  Review of journey so far
  
•  Key competencies for finance business partners mapped with the company’s leadership competencies
  
•  Communication skills – delivering complex financial information clearly and simply to non financial senior teams
  

The three-day event was well received and the feedback excellent.



Clarifying the Vision for Finance and Defining Roles and Responsibilities for a Local Authority Finance Leadership Team
We were asked by the Executive Director of Resources at a London Local Authority to work with the senior Finance team:
The assignment included:

•  Individually interviewing each member of the team to gain their views on the future of Finance, key issues and their role
  
  
•  Reviewing job descriptions and creating new responsibility summaries
  
•  A facilitated day to build the vision for Finance, explore working protocols, overlaps and opportunities with the various senior roles, as well as engagement and development of the Finance Community
  
•  A write up of the key outcomes and decisions for implementation
  

At the end of the assignment, the Director and her team felt they had clarity on a number of key issues. They valued the facilitation and support in moving things forward and had a blueprint for success.



Creating a Development Programme for the Finance Business Partnering Teams at a Large Public Sector Organisation
develop uk worked with the Heads of Finance for a large public sector organisation on their ‘next steps’ development for the Finance Business Partners. The role had been established for eighteen months and now they wanted to review progress and take the team to the next level.
The assignment included:

•  Stakeholder feedback interviews of seven key business customers
  
  
•  Master Class on Finance Business Partnering and Relationship Management for 42 Finance Business Partners
  
•  Self-assessment of training and development needs through questionnaires and competency review
  
•  Practical exercises and role plays to develop relationship management skills and techniques
  

The Master Class was well received with very positive feedback and enthusiasm for futher support and development events. The next step is to create a programme of targeted development for Finance and to build the corporate business partner community with joint development programmes across the organisation.



Supporting the Finance Conference for a Top 10 UK Retailer
develop uk were asked to support the Management Conference for the Finance Team of a top 10 UK retailer. The aim of the Conference was to engage the management team in the vision for Finance under the theme ‘Rising to the Challenge’ and for the Finance community to become more ‘challenging’ in its style and approach with the Business.
The assignment included:

•  Working with the Finance Director to clarify and communicate the vision
  
  
•  Advising on appropriate sessions and formats to engage the enthuse the Finance team
  
•  Designing and facilitating sessions including the use of ‘forum theatre’ with actors to work on how Finance Managers can effectively and appropriately challenge the business
  
•  Running role plays and practical exercises to develop individual approaches, build confidence and develop the ability to challenge effectively

The feedback from the conference was excellent.



Providing Briefing and Preparation Sessions Prior to a Restructure and Selection Process for Finance Business Partnering at a Regional Police Force
This regional Police Force was about to embark on a restructure of Finance, introducing new roles of the Finance Business Partner, Specialist Support Teams and Shared Services. As develop uk had already supported the HR team through a similar transition we were asked to work with the Finance team.
The assignment included:

•  An awareness session for Finance Managers on the approach and the role of the Finance Business Partner. This was to enable them to understand the role in detail and make personal decisions on whether they wanted to apply for one of the Finance BP roles in the new structure
  
  
•  We brought in the Deputy Finance Director from a Central Government Department to act as an ‘Expert Witness’ for the Finance Managers. He shared his experiences, their journey and gave practical examples of what the Finance Business Partner role means in reality
  
•  Selection preparation for internal candidates for Finance Business Partner roles – exploring key competencies, drawing out their experiences and knowledge, strategic understanding and relationship management.
  
•  Practise role plays with feedback
  

The response from the participants was excellent. Whilst initially apprehensive about the changes and the implication of the new roles it gave them the confidence to go into the selection process well briefed and prepared.