Deputy Chief Financial Officer - London Area, United Kingdom - Allen Lane

Description

Our client is one of the most high-profile and complex infrastructure/construction businesses in Europe. Following a changing agenda and a recent ExCo departure, the business is looking to reshape its corporate services function which has created the role of Deputy CFO. With the revised permanent structure under consultation, we are seeking to appoint a proven board-level Finance & Corporate Services Executive on an interim basis for a likely minimum 12-month contract.

Working closely with and reporting to the CFO, the postholder will deputise as appropriate to ensure the CFO is appropriately supported to deliver the breadth of corporate service accountabilities in a constantly evolving landscape.

The role is responsible for the strategic direction and oversight of the following critical functions and capability areas:

· Finance

· Financial Control

· FP&A

· Strategic Finance

· Cost Verification

· Business Partnering

· Counter Fraud and Business Ethics

· Assurance

· Insurance

The Deputy CFO will act as a trusted advisor to senior business leaders, responsible for driving accountability and focus on cost control throughout the organisation which is fundamental to its success.

The scale and complexity of managing financial matters within the business has increased significantly over the past few years as Britain's biggest build, spending over £6bn per annum. The programme's operating environment has changed with a constrained, fixed annual budget environment. Additionally, the programme has experienced significant unplanned cost increases and in turn, this post holder will be fundamental to strengthening the finance organisation. Cost control and counter-fraud standards run down the spine of this requirement.

In addition, this role will be responsible for an effective assurance strategy and delivery plan to ensure it meets cost and schedule constraints, as well as government, stakeholder and regulatory requirements.

The Deputy CFO's portfolio is responsible for

· Developing and managing the entire end-to-end financial cycle including providing strategic advice and insight at both the corporate and Directorate level, the creation and management of a framework of financial governance, controls and delegations.

· Monitoring expenditure against the approved budget with reports to the Executive and the Board and working with directors and heads of department in managing their budgets.

· Overseeing the strategic direction for fraud, bribery, corruption and business ethics to ensure that such risks across the business and its supply chain are (where possible) prevented, deterred and mitigated using proactive and reactive strategies.

Group Finance and Insurance: ​

· Accountable for managing the interpretation of financial information and provision of expert financial advice

· Ensuring all spend is within approved funding envelope and reported on a monthly/quarterly/annual basis against agreed forecast spend, in compliance with Auditor and Financial Standard requirements. ​

· Accountable for the stewardship of (and compliance with) the business's key construction insurance programme - covering all supply chain tiers including the corporate assurance policies and insurance claims management arising from Programme activities. Oversee provision of specialist advice relating to insurable risk management, construction policy coverage and contractual risk transfer. ​

· Accountable for leading the Cost Verification Assurance strategy to verify the legitimacy of contractor incurred costs charged to the business

Business Finance: ​

· Accountable for effective delivery of Finance Partnering Services, delivered through a team of financial professionals managing Delivery and Indirects. These roles partner with various Directors (Delivery and Enabling) to drive aligned financial management and controls within respective function remit. ​

· Embedding and driving a cost control & productivity focused culture to support the business through a shift in funding arrangements, and longer-term through the evolving programme lifecycle

· Leading business performance management, leveraging a deep understanding of the value drivers of the business, and providing guidance on performance including ROI, scenario planning, KPI analysis and benchmarking, enabling senior leaders across the business to effectively manage their budgets

Programme and Corporate Assurance:

· Act as the single accountable owner for Assurance with integrated, complementary and efficient strategies for Corporate and Programme Assurance.

· Accountable for the development and management of a proportionate, risk-based assurance approach in support of Programme deliverables and investment approval decisions

· Accountable for annual Management Assurance Statement (MAS), validating business responses and compiling the final return. ​

Counter Fraud and Ethics: ​

· Accountable for the overall strategy (and resulting action plans) for the Counter Fraud and Ethics function and agreeing/reporting in accordance with governance processes. ​

· Accountable for policies, processes and standards in relation to preventing, deterring and mitigating fraud, bribery and corruption risks.​

· Accountable for Whistleblowing policy and 'Speak Out' facility; ensuring that investigations are conducted on an impartial basis. ​

· Actively promote and embed Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in all your work, and support and comply with all organisational initiatives, policies, and procedures on EDI.

To apply for this role, applicants will be qualified accountants with board-level experience leading large (100+ teams) with diverse skill-sets delivering a wide range of priorities and objectives. You will have experience in successfully developing and implementing strategies and process improvements across a complex matrix in a challenging and complex environment. You will have proven experience leading Finance functions in large capital programmes with management and/or influence of governance forums. Ideally, you will have experience working with or for Government