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Business partnering

Practical advice for those considering business partnering or looking to improve their approach.
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Latest on business partnering

Read our latest features and articles on business partnering.
How accountants can develop influencing skills
  • Article
  • 03 Apr 2025
Influencing should not aim to be an occasional task, but an everyday occurrence that seeks to build trust in a finance professional’s abilities and advice.
Finance business partnering: five skills you need
  • Article
  • 27 Feb 2025
Learn from two ICAEW experts how to master the skill of finance business partnering, which is rooted in relationships, influence, strategic thinking and commercial acumen.
How successful finance business partners work at local authorities
  • Article
  • 21 Nov 2024
Finance business partners play a vital bridging role between the finance team and the wider organisation.
Why you need great influencing skills
  • Article
  • 30 Apr 2024
Accountants with the ability to influence others will be seen as trusted business partners and strategic aides – and may end up working on high-level tasks that don’t involve numbers.
Finance business partnering: in government
  • Article
  • 09 Sep 2021
The UK Government’s concept of the ‘finance business partner’ is best explained by someone who does the job. We find out what this concept means in practice.
Exclusive Why HR and finance need to join forces
  • Article
  • 11 Aug 2021
Remote compliance is a conundrum, and alliance will solve it
Pandemic forces Rolls Royce business partner to change gear
  • Article
  • 13 May 2021
ICAEW Insights speaks to Rolls Royce finance business partner George Acquah to discover some of the lessons he’s learned during the pandemic.
Exclusive Can FD’s be truly commercial?
  • Article
  • 14 Sep 2020
Or is it just a case of saying ‘yes’ to the CEO? Find out
Read more

Business partnering courses

Our business partnering, personal impact and business ethics training courses cover topics including communication, commercial skills, strategic management skills and influence.
See our latest business partnering courses
ICAEW's business partnering courses will give you a practical understanding of the skills required to be a great business partner and how to apply them in the workplace.
A-Z of CPD courses by topic
As a global leader of the finance profession, ICAEW offers a comprehensive range of training and learning options for every stage of professional development, designed for finance teams and finance leaders.

Reports and case studies

Finance Business Partnering - Skills and Capability Model
  • Article
  • 2014
  • PDF (1,088kb)
This case study examines the introduction of a finance business partnering skills and capabilities model at Electrocomponents plc.
Finance business partnering guide
  • Thought leadership report
  • 2014
Practical advice for those considering business partnering initiatives and those looking to improve their approach.

eBooks

The ICAEW Library & Information Service provides full text access to a selection of key business and reference eBooks from leading publishers. eBooks are available to logged-in ICAEW members, ACA students and other entitled users. If you are unable to access an eBook, please see our Help and support advice or contact library@icaew.com.

Exclusive Being the business partner
  • eBook chapter
  • 2017
  • Sally Percy
  • Reach the Top in Finance
A chapter on business partnering for finance professionals who want to progress in senior roles. Topics include: building relationships with other departments; working with the CEO; working with entrepreneurs; working with private equity firms; working with clients; working in the not-for-profit sector; presenting to the board; relationships with investors; relationships with the auditor, banks and credit rating agencies; media relations and managing cost-saving programmes.
Terms of use

You are permitted to access, download, copy, or print out content from eBooks for your own research or study only, subject to the terms of use set by our suppliers and any restrictions imposed by individual publishers. Please see individual supplier pages for full terms of use.

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Webinars

External resources

Could you succeed as a finance business partner?
  • 2016
  • Robert Half
A Robert Half article looking at different definitions of what being a finance business partner entails, and the value the relationship can provide within an organisation.
Key competencies for finance business partnering
  • 2020
  • Financial Management
Article providing advice for aspiring finance business partners, covering key competencies and skills to learn. Raju Venkataraman, former CFO and Head of Strategy and Business Development for Disney in Southeast Asia, shares his experience of finance business partnering with sales.
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