Pennon Group
Finance Manager
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Powered by Water, Driven by Purpose
SES Business Water provides water and wastewater services for businesses across England and Scotland. Our customers include major high street retailers, supermarkets, hospitality and leisure, local and national government, NHS, independent schools, manufacturing, food processing and an international airport.
We’re proud to be part of Pennon Group, a leader in the UK water sector, working towards a greener future. Our goals? As well as lowering our carbon footprint, we’re working with partners to plant 300,000 trees, restore peatlands and supporting farmers and landowners to improve water quality and wildlife.
Whether you’re starting out or seeking a new challenge, our scale and ambition create opportunities for you to shape your own career.
Ready to make a splash? Join our team today.
Finance Manager
14-Month Fixed-Term Contract (Maternity Cover)
SES Business Water | Hybrid Working – 2 Days per Week in the Office
Salary - £50,000- £60,000 per annum plus excellent benefits
SES Business Water is looking for an experienced and commercially minded Finance Manager to join the business on a 14-month fixed-term maternity cover contract.
Reporting to the Finance Director, you will lead the finance function through a critical period, taking ownership of financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, audit delivery and commercial performance analysis. This is a highly visible role requiring a strong business partner who can build credibility with senior leaders and influence decision-making across the organisation.
You will lead a capable finance team, provide expert financial insight and ensure the business continues to maintain robust financial controls while supporting growth and operational performance.
What You'll Be Doing
- Leading the annual budgeting and forecasting process.
- Taking ownership of the end-to-end P&L.
- Producing and presenting financial and commercial reporting to senior stakeholders.
- Delivering insightful analysis that supports operational and strategic decision-making.
- Leading the interim audit (January-February) and full year-end audit (April-June), acting as the key contact for external auditors.
- Managing, developing and motivating the finance team.
- Ensuring strong financial governance, controls and compliance.
- Building effective relationships with leaders across the business and acting as a trusted finance partner.
- Translating complex financial information into meaningful, actionable insight for non-finance stakeholders.
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About You
You'll be an experienced finance leader with a strong commercial mindset and a proven background within the water industry.
You'll bring:
- Proven experience leading finance teams and managing end-to-end financial performance.
- Strong budgeting, forecasting and audit management experience.
- The ability to analyse financial performance and identify opportunities and risks.
- Excellent communication skills and the confidence to challenge and influence senior stakeholders.
- Experience presenting financial information to non-financial audiences.
- Advanced Excel skills and strong Microsoft Office capability.
- A collaborative approach, high attention to detail and the ability to remain effective under pressure.
Ideally, you'll hold a professional accounting qualification (CIMA or ACCA) or be Qualified by Experience (QBE). Experience of treasury management, long-term cashflow forecasting and business partnering would be advantageous.
Why Join SES Business Water?
This is an excellent opportunity to step into a key leadership role within a growing business. You'll work closely with the Finance Director and senior leadership team, leading important finance activities while helping shape business performance and decision-making.
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We offer a flexible hybrid working model, with two days per week in the office and three days working from home, alongside the opportunity to make a genuine impact in a supportive and ambitious organisation.
If you're a commercially focused Finance Manager looking for your next challenge, we'd love to hear from you.
At South West Water, we believe in rewarding our people for their hard work and dedication. As our Finance Manager you'll enjoy:
- Competitive Salary – Based on experience and skills
- Annual Bonus Scheme – Rewarding your performance
- Pension Scheme – Helping you plan for your future
- Healthcare Benefits – Access to private healthcare and employee assistance programs
- Professional Development – Support for career growth with training opportunities
- Employee Discounts – On various products and services
- Generous Annual Leave – Take time to recharge with our holiday entitlement
Closing Date: 27 July 2026
We may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible.
Please note that the successful candidate will be subject to a mandatory DBS check as part of the onboarding process.
Be yourself, we like it that way. Together, we will build a culture of belonging, where inclusion is instinctive. Diversity is our strength and a reflection of our communities. We care, we value everyone, we celebrate uniqueness.
Our core values, which are essential to our success, are:
- Be Rock Solid - Build trust and be trusted. Be the one we all look to and can depend on.
- Be You - We want you to bring your best everyday. Be yourself and make your mark in your individual way.
- Be the Future - Embrace change. Drive Progress. Own the challenge.
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