Head of Financial Control & Analysis

Head of Financial Control & Analysis [Group]

Location

Milton Keynes, GB

Department Name

Finance

About Network Rail

About Network Rail…

🌟 Join Our Team at Network Rail! 🌟

Are you ready to make a difference in people's lives? At Network Rail, we connect passengers and freight customers, ensuring safe and efficient transportation across the country.

We're dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that reflects the passengers we serve. To achieve this, we're committed to becoming an open, diverse, and inclusive workplace, leveraging the skills and expertise of our talented workforce. Together, we strive to create a safe and accessible railway for everyone.

Investing in our people is key to enhancing the safety, reliability, and efficiency of our railway system. If you're passionate about making a meaningful impact, then this opportunity is for you!

Brief Description

Vacancy Details

Duration: Permanent

Location: This role is based in The Quadrant: Milton Keynes. Applications for candidates based in Manchester Square One or London Waterloo will be accepted. This role is a full-time opportunity, flexible working patterns will be considered.Youmust live within 90 minutes of The Quadrant.

Band & Salary: Band 2C £85,395 - £96,070 (Subject to experience)

Closing date: 1st August On occasions, we may need to close the advert early based upon application volumes. Late applications may not be accepted.

Next Steps: Interviews will be held in August depending on business requirements.

Some of our great benefits:

🌍 Flexible/hybrid working arrangements considered.

🌞 Generous annual leave (28 days plus statutory days), with the option to buy/sell days.

🎁 Discounts at stations with your Network Rail pass.

Defined benefit pension scheme

🚂 75% subsidy on train tickets.

🎟️ Interest-free travel loan for train and car park season tickets.

🕊️ Volunteer leave to make a positive impact.

Plus more….

About the role (External)

About the team..

The Head of Financial Control & Analysis [Corporate Services] role is part of the Corporate Services Finance team. This role has a sizable number of stakeholders across the business and so significant abilities in dealing with a wide customer base will be a requirement.

The Finance team support 4 key functions: Group HR, CFO Directorate, National Communications and Board. A significant part of the role will be supporting the business with alignment to CP7 operational expenditure budgets and headcount targets. At the heart of the role is business partnering the functions and their Senior Leadership team in its strategic decision making, including enabling efficiencies.  In that regard, we are looking for an established individual with the right level of experience.

Main Responsibilities

To provide strategic oversight on leading the finance team/s that manage the financial analysis and accounting operations of the relevant business areas, to deliver budgets and financial forecasts, month-end reporting, year-end activities as well as financial and non-financial analysis to support strategic insight and enable sound business decisions to be made.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking to recruit a Head of Financial Control & Analysis for a permanent opportunity.

You'll be at the heart of our operations, based in the Network Rail office in Milton Keynes. You will provide strategic oversight, leading the finance team/s responsible for financial analysis and accounting operations of the relevant business areas. This role will encompass budgeting, financial forecasting, month-end reporting, year-end activities, as well as financial and non-financial analysis to support strategic insights and enable sound business decisions.

What does the average day look like?

·Lead and advise the finance and corporate governance processes for the function, in accordance with statutory, regulatory, government and group financial policy and regulations, to remain aligned with Network Rail and relevant accounting standards (incl. International Financial Reporting Standards IFRS).

·Leverage business and commercial acuity to suggest appropriate strategic options, where sustainable financial plans and objectives can be developed. Evaluate, justify, and embed strategic options using various innovative methods to implement strategy and manage change to effectively deliver business objectives.

·Oversee all accounting, analysis, and reporting activities (incl. Profit & Loss, balance sheet, cashflow reporting), whilst enabling robust financial controls and governance for the associated function, with particular focus on managing public money principles to reduce risk to the business.

·Lead the team to produce insightful management reporting and analysis. Advise and influence senior stakeholders on appropriate strategies to manage business and organisational performance in relation to business and finance risks, while communicating the impact effectively to influence strategic decisions.

·Lead and coach the finance team in their day-to-day operations of the core financial and analytical activities and create a positive team environment by identifying strengths of individuals and empowering them to collaborate effectively.

·Create policies and systems for internal financial control and challenge partners to support the integrity of assets and the associated financial records, to reduce financial and reputational risks to the business.

·Find opportunities for efficiencies and challenge business partners on their value offering as part of the commitment towards continuous improvement and to enable more efficient and effective business decisions.

·Lead the business planning process through strong business partnering and influencing stakeholder at all levels to optimally utilise taxpayer’s funds. Create innovative approaches towards directing effective budgeting and financial forecasting and monitoring to improve financial performance and trends to enable better business planning to allow for sound management decisions and effective use of public funds and resources.

·Consult on the design and use of the latest technology and information systems for finance to evolve decision making and organisational performance in line with advancements in current technologies.

·Develop and improve the co-ordination with other functions, maintain positive working relationships with internal and external stakeholders (incl. the government) to aid collaborative working and lead to cohesive and effective business performance.

Essential Criteria

·Significant post qualification experience with relevant accounting institution (i.e. ACCA, CIMA, ICAEW, or equivalent).

·Thorough knowledge of emerging risk management and governance procedures (incl. operating under Managing Public Money rules).

·Strong demonstrable commercial experience, with an understanding of investment regulations.

·Considerable experience in balancing stakeholder expectations against the needs and capabilities of the business and wider government.

·Expansive experience within multiple financial fields.

·Strong ability to identify, evaluate, and advise on alternate sources of business finance and diverse ways of raising finance.

·Influence and lead senior stakeholders through effective conflict resolution by positive challenge.

·Considerable experience in influencing wider business decisions.

·Experience of leading and motivating a team.

·Strong ability to manage people through periods of significant changes and business pressures.

For a full list of the key accountabilities and essential/desirable criteria, please refer to the dedicated Network Rail job description attached to this advert.

How to apply (External)

Additional Information…

We're an inclusive employer of choice and we welcome applications from everyone!

We're also a Disability Confident Leader employer and we'll try our best to adapt the process and offer a reasonable alternative to help support people with disabilities access, apply and interview for roles. We will interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria.

Safe behaviour is a requirement of working for Network Rail. Applicants should be able to demonstrate their awareness of our Safety Vision

Visit Evenbreak’s Career Hive should you need accessibility support to apply or any require any reasonable adjustments, please email [email protected]

BPSS

As an arm’s length department of the UK Government, Network Rail is required to comply with a well-established pre-employment vetting process for all prospective employees. Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks require prospective employees of Network Rail to meet the following requirements.

• Provide eligibility to work in the UK and identity documentation

• Complete a satisfactory 3-year employment history check

• Complete a satisfactory unspent criminal conviction disclosure check for more information regarding BPSS pre-employment related checks, please visit the UK Government website for further information - UK Government - BPSS Checks

Network Rail welcomes applications regardless of age, disability, marital status (including civil partnerships), pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, transgender status, sex (or gender), employment status, trade union affiliation, or another factor.