What a Finance Business Partner typically owns
- Partnering operational and commercial leaders
- Driver-based forecasting and scenario work
- Pricing, margin and investment cases
- Challenging performance and owning actions
Typical profile
Qualified, commercially confident, strong communicator.
Every shortlisted Finance Business Partner is assessed against the Gravitate Baseline, with the role's technical must-haves agreed in the brief.
Salary guide 2026/27
Qualified hires, permanent base salary excluding bonus and benefits, South West excluding Bristol. Compiled October 2026. How we built these bands.
Get a salary benchmark and a hiring plan.
30 minutes, no obligation. Silver Search has no upfront fee.
Eliot: Finance Business Partner and Finance Analyst campaigns were part of the newly qualified desk I led before setting up in Exeter.
Book a callGetting a Finance Business Partner hire right
Evidence of influence
Ask about a decision they changed: what the numbers showed, who disagreed, and what happened next. Listen for whether they can name the outcome, not just the analysis.
Commercial judgement
Use a short pricing, margin or investment case from your own business. Look for the questions they ask before they answer.
Example assessment
Role-play an operations manager pushing back on a forecast. It tests confidence, listening and whether they hold a position when the evidence supports it.
Got a finance role to fill?
A 30-minute call: the role, a salary benchmark, a realistic timeline and which search option fits.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to hire a Finance Business Partner in the South West?
We run a structured two-stage interview process that targets shortlist to offer within two weeks. Sourcing and screening happen before the shortlist, and the timeline relies on prompt interview slots and decisions on your side. The start date then depends on the candidate's notice period, so allow for that in your plan.
What salary should I offer a Finance Business Partner in Devon or the South West?
Our Gravitate South West salary guide 2026/27 puts a qualified Finance Business Partner at £50k–£68k base in an SME and £55k–£78k in a larger or group business, excluding bonus and benefits. Sector, scope and qualification move it within that range, so we benchmark every role on the first call.
How much does it cost to recruit a Finance Business Partner?
Fees are agreed per role and depend on whether you choose Platinum, Gold or Silver Search. Silver Search has no upfront fee. Book a call and we'll share our terms.
Which areas do you cover?
Exeter, Devon, Cornwall, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and Bath. We don't actively cover Bristol.