National Grid
Commercial Assurance Specialist
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Job Introduction
We're looking for a highly motivated and commercially minded Commercial Assurance Specialist to join our Commercial Projects team. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in ensuring strong financial governance, commercial assurance and performance oversight across a diverse portfolio of projects.
Working closely with Commercial Managers, Area Leads and Delivery Partners, you'll help ensure projects are delivered within approved budgets, regulatory allowances and commercial targets. You'll provide valuable insight, challenge and assurance throughout the project lifecycle, supporting informed decision-making and driving continuous improvement in commercial performance.
Because we know flexibility matters, this role offers a hybrid approach to working, combining home and office working. While we'd ideally like you to be based in the South West, but we're open to candidates located near any of our offices across the East Midlands, West Midlands, South West or Wales. Travel across our licence areas will be needed as part of this role.
Main Responsibilities
- Develop and maintain effective financial governance processes across the Commercial Projects portfolio.
- Ensure all projects comply with NGED financial governance, delegated authority and internal control requirements.
- Provide independent assurance that project expenditure remains within approved budgets and governance thresholds.
- Introduce and maintain commercial controls and assurance processes ('guard rails') to minimise financial risk and prevent overspend.
- Monitor project expenditure against approved budgets, regulatory allowances and commercial targets.
- Produce accurate spend forecasts in collaboration with Area Leads, Commercial Managers and Delivery Partners.
- Identify emerging financial risks and recommend corrective actions to maintain delivery within budget.
- Develop reporting and insight to support management decision-making.
- Monitor contractor financial and commercial performance against agreed contractual arrangements.
- Support commercial reviews and audits to ensure compliance with NGED governance requirements.
- Work closely with Area Leads to balance operational delivery with commercial performance.
- Challenge project assumptions where expenditure, programme or delivery outcomes may adversely affect commercial objectives.
- Develop new commercial assurance processes to support the team's evolving portfolio.
- Improve forecasting methodologies, reporting tools and management information.
- Build productive relationships with Commercial Projects, Finance, Procurement, Operations and Delivery Partners.
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Ideal Candidate
You'll have experience in commercial or project financial management, with a strong understanding of budget management, forecasting, governance and financial controls.
You'll Also Bring
- Experience monitoring project budgets, expenditure and forecasting performance.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and provide meaningful insights.
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and experience using ERP or financial systems.
- Knowledge of financial governance, assurance processes and internal controls.
- Experience working with contractors, suppliers or delivery partners.
- Excellent stakeholder management, communication and organisational skills.
- The ability to work flexibly, challenge constructively and support continuous improvement.
- Knowledge of NGED financial systems, or the ability to quickly become proficient.
- An understanding of RIIO price controls and the Ofgem regulatory framework.
- Experience working within utilities, infrastructure or capital project environments.
- Experience developing commercial reporting, dashboards and management information.
- A track record of improving processes and driving efficiencies through continuous improvement initiatives.
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About Us
We’re National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED), the owner and operator behind the electricity distribution systems for the Midlands, the Southwest of England and South Wales. Serving communities of more than 8 million people, our expert teams deliver heat, light and power for homes and businesses.
National Grid employs over 29,000 people worldwide. We are building an inclusive workplace, a place to actively celebrate the cultures, personalities and preferences of our colleagues – who in turn help to build the success of our business and reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. Our vision is to be at the heart of a clean, fair and affordable energy future and we are doing this in a fast-moving industry with an increasing focus on tackling climate change, exploring new energy sources that are renewable, low carbon, and improve efficiency to meet demand.
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