Finance and Commercial Manager

About the Role

Mears manages approximately 17,000 homes for government and oversees more than 750,000 social housing properties across the UK. The role works directly with senior operational and commercial leaders to drive financial discipline, improve commercial outcomes, and support strategic decision‑making. The manager will act as a trusted business partner, develop deep knowledge of operational processes and contracts, challenge teams on delivery against commercial terms and KPIs, produce high‑quality monthly performance reviews with insightful commentary, identify risks and opportunities, lead rolling forecasts and annual budgets, support pricing reviews and tendering, and communicate financial information to non‑financial stakeholders. • Partner with senior branch leadership to provide commercial and financial insight. • Produce monthly performance reviews with clear, insightful commentary. • Identify and communicate risks and opportunities; drive corrective actions. • Lead rolling forecasts and annual budgeting processes. • Support contract activities such as pricing reviews, variations, repricing, and tendering. • Translate financial data for non‑financial stakeholders to aid decision‑making.

Key Responsibilities

• ▸performance review
• ▸risk management
• ▸forecasting
• ▸budgeting
• ▸pricing review
• ▸tendering

What You Bring

Due to continued growth, Mears is seeking an experienced Finance & Commercial Manager to act as a critical business partner, providing robust commercial and financial support to senior operational leaders, ensuring they understand the commercial model, own financial performance, and manage contract profitability. The ideal candidate has a proven track record as a Finance and Commercial Manager in a contract‑based environment, is comfortable with complex financial models, can interpret and challenge performance, communicates clearly and concisely, and takes a proactive, independent, hands‑on approach to outcomes. Desirable experience includes social housing and housing maintenance, familiarity with schedules of rates, subcontractor pricing, and final accounts. The role reports to the Head of Commercial & Compliance and contributes to continuous improvement through insight, analysis, forecasts, and commercial support. Candidates must have the right to work in the UK; Mears does not sponsor visas. Driving a Mears vehicle requires the driver to be over 21, have held a licence for more than three months, and have fewer than nine points. All roles are subject to background, identity, and security checks. • Own financial performance and challenge operational teams on commercial terms and KPIs. • Proven experience managing finance in contract‑based environments. • Proficient in complex financial modelling and performance analysis. • Strong communication skills; able to present financial information clearly. • Desirable experience in social housing, schedule of rates, and subcontractor pricing.

Requirements

• ▸financial modelling
• ▸contract finance
• ▸social housing
• ▸communication
• ▸performance analysis
• ▸schedule rates

Benefits

Annual salary is up to £70,000 plus a £4,500 car allowance, with a hybrid working model of 3‑4 days on‑site in Kent supporting branches in Dartford and London and 1‑2 days remote. This is a permanent, full‑time position. Benefits include a £4,500 car allowance, enhanced pension scheme, enhanced sick pay, family‑friendly policies, a referral scheme with a £1,000 total award, a share‑saver scheme, eye‑test vouchers, employee assistance and wellbeing services, fully‑paid family fun days, and a performance‑recognition platform offering high‑street vouchers. • Benefits include £4,500 car allowance, enhanced pension, family‑friendly policies, referral and share‑saver schemes, wellbeing services, and fully paid family events.

Work Environment

Hybrid