A fantastic opportunity has arisen to join Southeastern Railway as a Business Planning Manager based from our modern London Bridge Head Office (with hybrid working).
This is a key role where you will support the development of annual £1bn+ business plan, support commercial focus, strategic planning, financial discipline and appropriate governance across all functions in the development of business cases as well as review and work closely with other organisations such as other train companies, DOHL, Network Rail and DfT in identifying opportunities for better outcomes for passengers and taxpayers. This is role is an excellent opportunity to develop and ultimately progress to a senior role within the organisation. You will support the delivery of accurate business casing and opportunity evaluation across Southeastern ensuring it meets the needs of key stakeholders including management, budget holders and DfT.
Take a look at the video below to see what we achieved in 2023!:
Package DescriptionSoutheastern recognises the value of every individual employee and offers benefits that reflect this.
As well as a generous salary, we offer an comprehensive benefits package which includes;
A Contributory Final Salary Pension Scheme
Free rail travel on Southeastern and GTR rail services (extends to family members for leisure/educational travel)
After a qualifying period, reduced rate travel on other train operators, including European services
Up to 25 days annual leave entitlement (plus bank holidays)
Private healthcare
Access to an array of discounts for retail and leisure products through our benefits scheme.
Family friendly benefits including enhanced maternity/paternity leave, parental leave and carers leave.
Main ResponsibilitiesThis will be a high profile role with regular presentations to Directors and industry leaders. You will have a number of key responsibilities that will include but not be limited to:
Supporting the Business Planning and Quarterly Forecasting process
Scrutinise cost and revenue changes as part of the annual and quarterly process
Manage and oversee the development and running of complex financial models.
To build excellent working relationships between Southeastern Finance and Directors, Managers and staff to provide them with timely, accurate management information and analysis based on insight and business acumen
To be responsible for the financial analysis of Southeastern's departmental initiatives and business cases and supporting relevant capital expenditure and major project approvals and ongoing project management monitoring and reporting.
To act as a business change agent for Southeastern, proactively identifying and implementing process improvements within the team and across the business.
Reviewing and supporting Business Cases across Southeastern
To provide financial support and insights to enable the Southeastern Executive Team and the wider business to make critical business decisions to drive revenue and deliver savings and efficiencies.
To provide support to Southeastern's Managers and Directors to develop new business cases
To Identify and monitor risks and opportunities through a sound understanding of the financial profile of the Southeastern’s key drivers of business value, making recommendations to maximise profitability and mitigate key risks within these constraints.
Identifying new opportunities for growth
Be the conduit link between critical business functions such as commercial, operational planning and capacity provision to deliver revenue growth
Working closely with Industry partners identifying efficiencies and revenue generating opportunities
Selling these opportunities to key stakeholders including at Board and DfT level
Overseeing the forecast and business planning modelling process
Ensuring complex financial models are run correctly and sense checking results
Preparing and developing management reporting and analysis for the Southeastern Alliance with Network Rail (NR).
The Ideal CandidateTo be considered for this role you will need to demonstrate the below in your application;
You have strong Excel skills and prior experience of Excel based Financial Models/Tools.
Have a high level of influencing skills at all levels of the business, including Exec/Board level and with non-finance stakeholders.
You are commercially astute with demonstrable experience of working to tight reporting deadlines in a high-pressure operating business.
You are used to presenting complex data in a format that is understandable to non-subject matter experts
You have an understanding of a rail business (desirable)
You have the ability to work efficiently, effectively and collaboratively as part of a team, contributing to a culture of continuous improvement within the finance function and wider business.
You have the ability to think pro-actively about the identification of financial reporting risks and develop appropriate strategies to manage those risks.
You have project management skills.
You can work cross functionally
You have the ability to communicate clearly and effectively (both written and oral) at all levels and explain financial issues to a non-financial audience.
You have experience of Oracle and iTM1 systems (desirable).
About The CompanyAbout Southeastern
Southeastern runs train services into London from Kent and East Sussex, operating almost 1,700 trains a day, carrying more than 400,000 passengers, serving 176 stations and covering 540 miles of track.
Just over 4,600 employees - mostly from the communities that we serve - work together to provide this vital service and we are looking to expand our successful team. We have a strong set of values that shape the way we run our business and guide our staff in delivering what our customers need. These are:
We aim to be the best
We make the difference together
We care passionately about our people and our passengers
We are committed to being an inclusive employer, creating a workplace where everyone can come to work, feel safe and comfortable and able to do everything to the best of their ability. Read about some of the great Diversity and Inclusion initiatives our Head of Colleague Experience has been leading on here.
We recognise the positive value of diversity and it matters to us that our teams reflect the communities we serve. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds.
We proud to be a WORK180 Endorsed Employer for Women. If you would like to know more information about how we are supporting our employees, you can view our policies and initiatives here.
We have also won the Top Employer award at the Women in Rail Awards 2022!
If you have been unsuccessful in the recruitment process for the same/similar position you will not be eligible to apply for a period of 6 months from that date.
All offers of employment are subject to us obtaining satisfactory references (covering all education, training, employment and unemployment in the preceding 5 years and any previous railway employment). We will also complete right to work in the UK and criminal record checks. This is to ensure we are employing the best person for the role and to protect our customers, colleagues and our reputation. We are unable to offer sponsorship to work in the UK.
This post will close before the intended closing date should sufficient number of suitable applications be received. Therefore, if you are interested in applying for this role, we suggest that you do so at the earliest opportunity to avoid disappointment.
SOUTHEASTERN is owned by SE Trains Ltd, a subsidiary of the Department for Transport’s public sector owning group, ‘DOHL.’ DOHL has responsibility for three rail companies, LNER, Northern Trains Limited and SE Trains.
