Capital & Projects Finance Manager - ESO

About the role

The UK has set out its ambition to be net zero by 2050 and the energy industry is responding – together we are building a cleaner, greener Britain.

The Capital & Projects Finance Manager is responsible for leading comprehensive financial support to the Project Portfolio Management teams, ensuring relevant financial processes are standardised, repeatable and fit-for-purpose. They are also responsible for leading a team to deliver high-quality provision of financial reporting, analysis and insight to ensure effective forecasting, review and financial control for Future System Operator (FSO) business projects. 

This role will be based at our Warwick office, with occasional travel to our Wokingham office, and we continue to offer hybrid working from office and home. 

About us

The ESO has a key role to play in tackling climate change by transitioning GB’s electricity system to net zero. We already operate the fastest decarbonising electricity system in the world, with an ambition for zero carbon operation by 2025. And by 2035, we want to run 100% clean, green energy, all the time.

Becoming the Energy Future System Operator

As you may have seen the Government and Ofgem have asked the ESO to take on new roles and responsibilities

Becoming the Energy Future System Operator is a critical step to help deliver a reliable and clean energy transition for all. The ESO, including all of its existing roles, will be at the heart of the new Future System Operator, taking on additional roles with a whole energy system mindset to drive progress towards net zero while maintaining energy security and minimising costs for consumers.

The new organisation will be set up as a public corporation with operational independence from government – bringing parties together to support optimised decision making and action. As now, it will be licenced and regulated by Ofgem through price control agreements. It is anticipated that the new organisation will be up and running by or in 2024.  

The time to act on climate change is now. As part of our team, you won’t just be touching the lives of almost everyone in Great Britain – you’ll be shaping the way we use and consume energy for generations to come.

Key Accountabilities

• Lead, motivate and develop a team of Investment and Fixed Asset Accountants, responsible for ensuring accuracy, integrity, and completeness of financial information for all projects and fixed assets for the FSO and for ensuring that the accounts are submitted into company systems with auditable supporting information in a timely manner. 
• Provide periodic reviews of project financial performance to Senior Management and project teams, undertaking trend, variance analysis, critical evaluation and provision of financial insight to drive improved project performance.  Evaluate commercial and non-financial performance-related decisions through scenario analysis, supporting the management of financial risks and the implementation and maintenance of controls.  
• Provide total FSO monthly management narrative on Opex and Capex projects, together with forecast risks and opportunities against sanction and deliverables to ensure relevant stakeholders are engaged and informed. 
• Act as the key Finance stakeholder to the Portfolio Management Teams and support the Senior Project Managers in interpreting and understanding their portfolio, including its regulatory outcomes and financial performance. Ensure that project portfolio forecasts are at all times thorough, comprehensive, and fully incorporate accurate risk assessment, consistent with the needs of the programme.  
• Be recognised as a critical trusted partner and drive customer service excellence across the function, ensuring the team understand and incorporate business context into reporting, and that financial performance insights are delivered directly to the business. 
• Develop and drive an appropriate governance and controls environment across month end, forecasting, and regulatory reporting, providing Ofgem taxonomy view as appropriate to ensure financial deliverables and timescales are agreed and adhered to.  
• Ensure that all controls for the area are properly conducted and any deviations are escalated as appropriate and remedied accordingly.  
• Ensure all team members are providing ad-hoc training and are actively liaising with project managers, portfolio leads and other business customer to ensure their finances (e.g. accruals and pre-payments) and responsibilities (e.g. purchase orders and time-sheeting) are fully understood, and that forecasts are up-to-date and accurate.  
• Lead the implementation of standardised, fit-for-purpose financial processes to support the forecasting and reporting on project performance.  
• Support the external audit process as required providing guidance and responses to any related queries to ensure the audit process is conducted smoothly and accurately. 

About you

• Educated to graduate level and / or equivalent professional experience.       
• Fully qualified accountant (member of CIMA, ACCA, or ACA).  
• Experience in leading project accounting teams. 
• Excellent project and fixed asset accounting skills including investment appraisal. 
• Experience in financial and management accounting/reporting (including planning, forecasting, and budgeting). 
• Experience of using SAP S/4 HANA, in particular the fixed asset modules, is preferred. 
• Strong understanding of governance, risk, and internal control frameworks. 
• Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills. 
• Strong customer service orientation and ability to instil the same in others. 
• Strong commercial awareness. 

What you’ll get

A competitive salary between £53,000 – 65,000 – dependent on capability.

As well as your base salary, you will receive a bonus of up to 15% of your salary for stretch performance and a competitive contributory pension scheme where we will double match your contribution to a maximum company contribution of 12%. You will also have access to a number of flexible benefits such as a share incentive plan, salary sacrifice car and technology schemes, support via employee assistance lines and matched charity giving to name a few.

More Information

This role closes on 29/09/2023 at 23:59, however we encourage candidates to submit their application as early as possible and not wait until the published closing date as this can vary.

We work towards the highest standards in everything we do, including how we support, value and develop our people. Our aim is to encourage and support employees to thrive and be the best they can be. We celebrate the difference people can bring into our organisation, and welcome and encourage applicants with diverse experiences and backgrounds, and offer flexible and tailored support, at home and in the office. 

We're committed to building a workforce that represents the communities we serve, and a working environment in which each individual feels valued, respected, fairly treated, and able to reach their full potential.

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