Finance Manager Capex & Operating costs

Job Description

• Sit on Tier-1 capital programmes as the finance lead, working the project managers to shape; scope, phasing and delivery to maximise NPV/IRR and payback; provide robust gate reviews and decision packs.
• Own the Capex portfolio budget, forecast and cashflow phasing; challenge assumptions, run scenario/sensitivity analysis, and recommend trade-offs.
• Assist the development of and pressure-test business cases (driver-based, should-cost, risk-adjusted), ensuring clear KPIs and benefits owners.
• Drive benefits realisation: complete post-implementation reviews for all Tier-1 projects, quantify benefits vs business case, and hold owners to account with recovery plans where needed.
• Lead month-end Capex accounting (WIP, capitalisation/commissioning, impairments), ensuring ledger and fixed asset register integrity and timely close.

Opex Cost Leadership & Contract Optimisation

• Take ownership of designated OpEx lines (e.g., IT, rents, management fees): deliver accurate month-end (accruals, prepayments, reclasses), budgets and rolling forecasts.
• Run cross-functional spend reviews; produce trend and unit-cost analysis by supplier/category to surface leakage, duplication and optimisation opportunities.
• Partner with Procurement to prioritise key suppliers; support negotiations (volumes, indexation, SLAs, service credits), support RFPs/consolidation, and quantify savings with clear baselines.

Performance, Analytics & Automation

• Generate ad hoc reporting/dashboards for Capex/OpEx performance, supplier concentration, savings pipeline, and benefits realisation; enable one source of truth.
• Maintain clear bridges & variance analysis (PY Budget Forecast Actuals) and run scenario/what-if analysis to inform prioritisation and risk management.

Business Partnering & Influence

• Act as a proactive finance business partner to project managers and operational leaders; challenge constructively, translate data into actions, and influence senior stakeholders (incl. ExCo).
• Lead monthly performance reviews with action logs, owners and deadlines; track delivery of cost optimisations and project benefits.

Reporting, Controls & Governance

• Deliver timely, accurate submissions to Group via HFM, with clear variance commentary and forward-looking insights.
• Maintain strong financial governance across Capex and OpEx cycles (policies for capitalisation & accruals); ensure audit readiness and respond to external audit requirements.
• Own the Capex pipeline, benefits register and savings tracker with audit-ready documentation and evidence.
• Various other duties, including project based work, as assigned by the Head of Financial Planning & Analysis.

Essentials

• A professional accounting qualification and membership of a recognised professional accounting body or working towards an accounting qualification with significant hands on accounting experience
• High level of systems, IT and Excel skills
• Strong project/time management skills
• Self-motivated and well organised
• Able to work as part of a team
• Ability to analyse situations effectively and proactively provide solutions
• Ability to analyse, interpret and present financial information to non-financial persons and consider business implications
• Energy and enthusiasm with good leadership skills
• Excellent communications skills, both written and verbal

Desirable

• Experience working in telecoms or technology sector
• Exposure to VBA, SQL and a variety of accounting packages
• Experience of accounting within a commercial environment