Mott MacDonald
Divisional Finance Manager
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Location/s: Croydon or London, UK
Recruiter contact: Aoife Cullen
About the business unit
We help conceive, drive, and implement transport solutions for cities, regions, and asset owners/operators around the globe. From preparing the business case and advising on related issues - such as revenue, procurement, and environmental legislation - to delivering the completed infrastructure and helping maintain it. Our planning, engineering, environmental, and management skills cover the whole project cycle. We play a major role in developing and delivering the Global Transport Sector Strategy.
Overview of the role
As a key member of the Divisional Management Team, the Divisional Finance Manager will serve as the strategic finance partner to the Divisional General Manager, providing leadership, insight, and challenge to drive the sustainable growth and performance of the Heavy Civils & Infrastructure (HCI) Division.
This senior leadership role is accountable for shaping and delivering the Division's commercial and financial strategy, ensuring informed decision-making, robust governance, and strong financial performance across a business of approximately 600 professionals operating across multiple locations within the Transport Business Unit.
The role extends beyond traditional financial management, acting as a trusted adviser to the leadership team and influencing strategic direction through data-driven insight, commercial acumen, and proactive business partnering. The Divisional Finance Manager will champion a high-performance culture, driving profitability, operational excellence, business transformation, and continuous improvement across the Division.
As an ambassador for Mott MacDonald, the successful candidate will embody the company's Code and PRIDE values, building strong and collaborative relationships across the business and representing the Division with credibility and influence.
Key responsibilities and duties include:
Strategic Leadership and Business Partnering
- Act as a trusted strategic adviser to the Divisional General Manager and Divisional Leadership Team, influencing key business decisions and growth strategies
- Lead the financial planning process and provide commercial insight to support the development and execution of Business Plans and Budget
- Shape and monitor strategic objectives and key performance indicators to drive accountability, performance improvement, and sustainable growth
- Provide robust financial challenge and independent perspective to support decision-making, investment priorities, and risk management
- Play a key leadership role in identifying opportunities to improve profitability, utilisation, operational efficiency, and long-term business value
- Represent Finance at Executive and Management Board meetings, contributing to the strategic direction of the Division
Commercial Performance and Project Leadership
- Provide commercial oversight and challenge across the project portfolios, ensuring effective management of financial risk, contractual obligations, and project performance
- Partner with project leadership teams to maximise project profitability, strengthen revenue performance, and improve commercial outcomes
- Review bids, proposals, and contractual arrangements, ensuring commercial risks and opportunities are appropriately evaluated and managed
- Lead working capital performance across the Division, improving cash generation through effective invoicing, collections, and cash flow management
- Provide financial leadership for major and high-risk projects, ensuring robust project controls and proactive intervention where required
- Foster a culture of commercial accountability and continuous improvement across project and finance teams
Financial Performance, Planning, and Governance
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- Lead the interpretation and communication of financial performance, translating management information into actionable business insight for leaders
- Drive delivery of annual budgets, forecasts, and medium-term business plans aligned with strategic objectives
- Champion performance improvement initiatives focused on margin enhancement, utilisation, overhead optimisation, and working capital efficiency
- Ensure strong financial governance and compliance with Group policies, statutory obligations, and regulatory requirements
- Maintain a robust financial control environment and oversee internal and external audit requirements
- Work collaboratively with Group Finance, Treasury, Tax, and Shared Services to deliver consistent, high-quality financial support to the business
People Leadership and Capability Building
- Lead and develop a high-performing finance function that is recognised as a valued business partner across the Division
- Build financial and commercial capability within project teams and business leaders through coaching, training, and knowledge sharing
- Sponsor finance transformation and continuous improvement initiatives that enhance efficiency, insight, and business performance
- Foster an inclusive, collaborative, and high-performance culture aligned to Mott MacDonald's values and behaviours
Candidate specification
The successful candidate will be a commercially minded finance leader with a proven track record of influencing senior stakeholders and driving business performance in a complex, project-based environment.
Essential:
- Professionally qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA)
- Significant experience operating as a strategic finance business partner at a senior leadership level
- Strong commercial acumen with the ability to translate financial information into strategic business decisions
- Proven experience leading budgeting, forecasting, business planning, and performance management activities
- Demonstrable ability to influence, engage, and challenge senior stakeholders constructively
- Excellent analytical, communication, and relationship management skills
- Experience within professional services, infrastructure, engineering, or construction environments is desirable
- Willingness to travel across the UK as required
Leadership attributes:
- Strategic thinker with strong commercial judgement
- Influential and collaborative business partner
- Visible and credible leader capable of operating at executive level
- Results-focused with a commitment to continuous improvement and business transformation
- Passionate about developing people, building capability, and driving organisational success
We are actively recruiting a diverse workforce that is reflective of the communities we serve. We recognise that differences in ability, skills, and experience are a strength and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds.
UK Immigration
Mott MacDonald Ltd. are not currently offering sponsorship to candidates under the Skilled Worker visa route in the UK. This decision is as a consequence of the changes made to the Skilled Worker route by the UK Government in April 2024. We continue to welcome applications from candidates who are eligible for alternative immigration routes in the UK, that do not require sponsorship as a Skilled Worker now or in future.
Agile working
At Mott MacDonald, we believe it makes business sense for you and your manager to choose how you can work most effectively to meet your client, team, and personal commitments. We offer a hybrid working policy that embraces your well-being, flexibility, and trust.
Equality, diversity, and inclusion
We put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of our business, seeking to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they can contribute.
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AI Usage
At Mott MacDonald, we see the value AI can bring, but we take a people-first approach to hiring. While AI tools can help candidates prepare and build confidence, every application and hiring decision is reviewed by our recruitment and hiring teams. We encourage the responsible use of AI while ensuring we get to know the real person behind the application.
Accessibility
We want you to feel supported and able to perform at your best throughout our recruitment process. If there is anything we can do to make applying or interviewing with us more accessible, please contact us at reasonable.adjustments@mottmac.com and we'll be happy to discuss how we can help.
We offer some fantastic benefits including:
Financial wellbeing
- We match employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%.
- Life assurance equal up to 4 x your basic salary, with an option to increase the level of cover to 6 x your salary.
- Our income protection scheme provides a financial benefit, as well as absence and return to work support due to long-term illness or injury.
- Flexible benefits, including increased life assurance cover, critical illness insurance, payroll saving, and will writing.
- As an independently owned business, we share the financial success of the business with all our colleagues in various ways, including annual bonus schemes.
Employee Ownership
- Our employee ownership model means no external investors, just us, creating a culture of shared success.
- Our employees have a stake and a voice in our business, giving them a direct connection to our success through our personal and group performance bonuses.
- As your career grows, so does your stake, recognising your long-term impact and contribution.
- Your voice matters, with the opportunity to connect directly with senior leadership through formal channels to help shape our future.
- For our senior roles, you will have a direct pathway towards ownership from day one.
Health and wellbeing
- Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues.
- Health cash plan to support you with everyday health costs and treatments.
- Access to Peppy, providing free support from menopause experts for all UK colleagues.
- A variety of wellbeing support is available through our comprehensive wellbeing program, including access for you and your family.
- Ability to flex your salary to opt into a wide range of health benefits, many of which can be extended to your family too.
Lifestyle
- A minimum of 33-35 days holiday each year, inclusive of public holidays and dependent on level, with the ability to buy or sell leave through our flexible benefits programme.
- 10 days additional paid leave for Armed Forces Reservists and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers.
- Holiday entitlement increased to a minimum of 35 days after 5 years’ service.
- Variety of employee saving schemes and discounts from high-street retailers.
Enhanced family and carers leave
- Enhanced family leave policies, including 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave, and two weeks paid paternity/partner leave.
- Our shared parental leave matches maternity leave, meaning we pay up to 24 weeks at full pay.
- Up to five additional days leave are provided for those with significant caring responsibilities, two of which are paid.
- We offer policies and dedicated support to help military families balance service life with career and wellbeing.
Learning and development
- Primary annual professional institution subscription.
- A broad
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