Commercial Finance Manager (Horizon Water Infrastructure)

Description

This individual will take the lead in managing the finance aspects of the business, partnering closely with operational and commercial teams, and will as the deputy for the Finance Director. As part of this they will lead on providing financial support to drive the development of future business opportunities, both with existing clients, and the wider regulated water sector. In addition, they will be responsible for day-to-day finance partnering, leading on performance insight, analysis, and strategic planning and budgeting/forecasting. The ideal candidate will be analytically strong, commercially astute, and adept at balancing strategic thinking with hands-on financial management.

• Track commercial risks and opportunities.
• Draft the relevant sections of approval papers and engage with Exec Board and shareholders as required.
• Drive regular insight through financial/commercial analysis, identify route causes, and recommending corrective actions.
• Work with legal and commercial teams to ensure viability.
• Build and maintain rolling cash flow forecasts for the business and interface with Group Treasury teams as required.
• Identify key commercial risks and design and recommend mitigations.
• Lead monthly financial performance reviews. Prepare high-quality reports, board packs, and insight summaries highlighting trends, risks, and strategic considerations.
• Provide commercial and financial support to project managers, operational leaders, and senior stakeholders.
• Make margin/return improvement recommendations, and support with implementation and benefit tracking.
• Act as finance lead for key bids/tenders, including pricing, modelling, and support in negotiations with potential clients and supply chain.
• Lead on investment appraisal, conducting returns analysis (sensitivity and scenario analysis) and challenging assumptions.
• Lead on financial aspects of impact assessments, including re-pricing and options appraisal, supporting negotiations and governance/approval.
• Work with commercial and operational teams to track and manage key risks and opportunities.
• Lead the business planning, budgeting and forecasting process for the business, liaising with Group Finance as required.

Requirements

This will be the first, fully financed, activity of this type in the water sector, but is expected to become a common industry model. To support the management of this contract and HWIs future growth, we are looking for an experienced commercial finance professional to join our SMT.

The working hours for the role are Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm. The role is home based but there is the requirement for frequent travel to sites as required.

• Water industry knowledge would be significant advantage, in particular regulatory economics.
• A fully qualified Accountant.
• Experience in water, utilities, construction, engineering, or infrastructure sectors.
• Significant experience in commercial finance roles.
• Experience partnering with commercial, operational and project delivery teams.
• Extensive experience in commercial analysis and financial modelling.
• Strong corporate/project finance knowledge, in particular investment appraisal.
• Experience in working on highly complex, high value bids/tenders.

Benefits

• 25 personal holiday days per year (with additional 8 public holidays) increasing to 30 personal days after 5 years of service (includes options to buy and sell).
• Automatic enrolment onto our Employee Participation Scheme.
• Enhanced Maternity leave. Paternity and Adoption leave.
• Hybrid working options.
• Medicash health plan offers a wide variety of benefits from cashback on everyday healthcare treatments like optical, dental and physio treatments. Discounted gym memberships and free 24/7 online GP.
• 24/7 free and confidential employee assistance service.
• Pension matching scheme (up to 5% of salary).
• Developing our people is important to us - we support and encourage development by offering internal and external accredited courses, secondments and study support.
• Life Insurance (4 x annual salary).

Training + Development

Interview process

Visa Sponsorship

Security clearance