Senior Manager – Finance Projects

Who are we?
First Rail is one of the most experienced rail operators in the UK, with more than 770,000 passenger journeys daily last year across our Department for Transport contracted operations and open access routes.
We operate three major UK train operating companies – Avanti West Coast, Great Western Railway (GWR), South Western Railway (SWR) and two open access passenger rail services, Hull Trains and Lumo. We are also ‘shadow operator’ on the HS2 programme and operate the London Trams service on behalf of Transport for London.
Our First Rail head office is home to specialist teams that provide expert support across the Engineering, Finance, Property, Operations, Procurement, IT, and Human Resources functions of the rail division.
First Rail is part of FirstGroup, the largest rail operator in the UK and second largest bus operator in the UK outside London. FirstGroup operates services throughout the UK and Ireland, with over 30,000 employees providing services that make travel smoother and life easier. FirstGroup works hard to reduce its impact on the environment, introducing cleaner and more environmentally responsible methods of transport.

About the job
The FRH Finance Projects team is a crucial enabler across all strategic projects within First Rail. The Sr. Manager will lead the junior members of the Finance Projects team and will support the Director of Finance Projects in delivering key support across the Rail Division and in in working with senior leaders and project owners and managers across First Rail to ensure that the strategy is delivered, business plans are implemented, business cases for projects are robust, benefits are delivered, and the return on investment and spend are closely monitored and are well understood by all key stakeholders.

Your main responsibilities will be:

Supports the Director of Finance Projects and the wider Finance Leadership Team (FLT) in developing and implementing the best-in-class Finance strategy and policies across First Rail
Supports the Director of Finance Projects in assisting various First Rail teams and First Rail entities on key finance projects such as new bids, large capital procurements, etc.
Support the Group entities in delivering their internal as well as external (where applicable) forecasting and budgeting plans and annual business plans
Embeds profitability and excellent commercial judgement in business decision making within the First Rail projects
Ensures control, governance and compliance requirements are met and owns the project level Income Statement and Balance Sheet in line with Group policies
Instils a sense of operational excellence and understanding of the competitive environment across the Finance teams within divisional area
Maximises financial and business performance (including efficiencies delivery) through high quality analysis of financial plans, management information and performance data

You’ll need to be:

Educated to degree standard or equivalent
MBA or Qualified accountant (i.e. CIMA/ ACA /ACCA) or equivalent
Experience in building effective partnerships across all levels of the organisation and stakeholder management
Experience in building and/or reviewing complex integrated financial models
Experience in reviewing and/or drafting commercial contracts, especially those between the Government and the private sector
Experience of working with the DfT/Government Departments on infrastructure/capital projects would be useful but is not essential
Experience within Rail or the wider transport sector would be useful but is not essential

As a minimum, you will need to have:

Financial analysis, valuation
Financial Modelling
Business case analysis, development and assurance
Business planning
Professional accounting principles and standards
Management reporting and external reporting and ad-hoc communication
Commercial acumen
Stakeholder management

The Reward

Minimum of 10% (5% employer and 5% employee) contribution to your Pension (only applicable to members of the company pension scheme)
25 days Holiday plus National Bank Holidays
Travel Offers for Bus and Rail *
Shopping Discounts including discounts and cashback on electrical goods, your weekly shop, holidays, cinema trips, car insurance, upgrading your mobile and lots more
Buy as You Earn – allows you to buy shares each month. You can vary the amount you save or stop it at any time. You need to participate in the scheme for at least 3 years to receive the matching shares *
Save as You Earn – allows you to use your savings after three years, to buy shares at a discounted price, or take your savings back as cash *
Employee Assistance Helpline – free, confidential employee support service provided by an independent provider
Payroll Giving – donate directly from your pay to a Charity of your Choice

After 6 months employment

We all belong at First Rail Holdings. FirstGroup’s vision is to provide an inclusive environment for all colleagues, across its group of businesses, ensuring all candidates have an equal opportunity to access meaningful employment.
We value our differences such as age, gender, LGBTQIA+, ethnicity, religion, and disability. We maintain a zero tolerance towards any form of prejudice towards our colleagues, customers, and future talent.
We celebrate and encourage diversity of thought, progressive ways of working and seeing all our colleagues grow and thrive.
We review all roles and job descriptions to ensure they are accessible and, where possible, we support and provide flexible working options; we recommend that you refer to each vacancy description for further details.
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