CWG
Senior Manager - Commercial Finance
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Department: Accounts
Company: Canary Wharf Limited
Reporting to: Associate Director - Commercial Finance (Developments)
Job Summary
The Senior Manager sits within the Commercial Finance team, responsible for overseeing the financial management and reporting of CWG's development and construction portfolio, including forecasting, business planning, cost control, valuations, debt drawdowns, liquidity support, development models, Board reporting and financial governance.
The role leads the finance business partnering relationship for Development and Construction, working closely with Development Managers, Construction Managers, Development Finance, Treasury and senior stakeholders to provide commercial challenge, strategic insight and robust decision support throughout the development lifecycle.
You will be responsible for the management, development and performance of direct reports, providing leadership, coaching and mentoring to ensure they achieve their objectives while supporting their long-term professional growth.
Salary £95-110K DOE
4 days office / 1 WFH
Main Responsibilities
Forecasting, Planning & Performance Management
- Lead the quarterly reforecasting and annual business planning processes for the Development and Construction segment – i.e. capital spend forecasts for all development projects (active / pipeline) and the Development and Construction Profit and Loss.
- Oversee the preparation and review of development spend forecasts, cashflows and financial reporting across the development and construction portfolio.
- Drive continuous improvement in forecasting accuracy through post period reviews and analysis of forecast variances, providing robust challenge to Development and Construction teams.
- Monitor project performance and budgets against approved business cases highlight emerging risks and opportunities.
- Partner with the Manager – Commercial Finance (Development & Construction) to ensure development appraisal models appropriately reflect current project assumptions, approved business plans and operational forecasts.
- Review and challenge key modelling assumptions relating to costs, values, sales rates, phasing, financing and cashflow to ensure outputs remain commercially robust.
- Assess and clearly articulate the commercial implications of changes in development performance, including impacts on profitability, debt requirements, liquidity, equity funding and shareholder returns.
Valuations, Funding, Debt & Liquidity
- Lead the internal and external property valuation process for developments under construction, including the preparation and review of valuation inputs such as capital expenditure to date and forecast costs to complete. Work closely with the external valuers for the bi-annual external property valuations, providing clear analysis of the key commercial and operational assumptions driving valuation movements.
- Support liquidity forecasting and financing activities through close collaboration with Development Finance, Treasury and FP&A teams.
- Support debt-related reporting, lender reporting requirements and financing discussions as required (e.g. lead debt drawdown forecasting), ensuring key risks and equity requirements are identified and communicated.
- Review the impact of project changes on debt, equity and shareholder returns.
Business Partnering & Stakeholder Management
- Build and maintain strong relationships with Development, Construction, Debt & Treasury, FP&A, Financial Accounts and external stakeholders, providing effective business partnering and commercial challenge.
- Present financial information, risks, opportunities and recommendations to senior management, Boards and shareholders as required.
Financial Modelling & Analysis
- Review and enhance development appraisal models for active projects, ensuring best‑practice structure, version control, clear audit trails, and accuracy.
- Clearly explain movements in key metrics for quarterly CWG Boards, JV Boards and shareholder reporting
- Translate numerical changes into clear, commercially focused commentary.
- Support liquidity analysis and cashflow forecasting where models feed into broader business forecasting processes.
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Board Reporting, Governance, Risk & Controls
- Support the preparation and review of the Development Status Reports, Board, and shareholder reporting, ensuring financial information is accurate, consistent and supported by appropriate commercial narrative.
- Ensure robust governance and financial controls are embedded across forecasting, reporting, budget management, development expenditure approval and development appraisal processes.
- Ensure development and construction costs, forecasts and reporting remain aligned between finance systems, development models and operational delivery teams.
- Work closely with the Financial Accounts team to reconcile development costs reported within legal entities to those reflected in development appraisals and financial models, ensuring differences are investigated, understood and resolved on a timely basis.
- Drive consistency of reporting, assumptions and methodologies across the development projects.
- Identify and proactively manage financial, commercial and operational risks across the development portfolio, assessing the impact of changes in costs, programme, sales, leasing and funding assumptions on project returns, liquidity, debt requirements and shareholder value. Ensure material risks are escalated to senior stakeholders with recommended actions.
- Ensure compliance with internal policies, delegated authorities and governance requirements.
Systems, Automation & Continuous Improvement
- Lead the continuous improvement of financial processes, reporting and systems across the Development and Construction finance function
- Support the ongoing development of Anaplan and Yardi to improve automation, efficiency, scalability and reporting quality - e.g. automate DEX and drawdown processes in Yardi, automate project forecasts in Anaplan.
- Standardise reporting outputs and financial processes.
Leadership & Team Development
- Lead, develop and support direct reports, ensuring clear objectives, effective performance management and succession planning.
- Act as the day-to-day lead for the Development & Construction Commercial Finance team, managing and reviewing the work of two direct reports while maintaining hands-on involvement in key deliverables. Ensure issues, risks, opportunities and recommendations are identified for the Associate Director.
- Promote collaboration across the Commercial Finance and Development Modelling teams to ensure the delivery of accurate, consistent and commercially focused financial information.
Act as a role model for CWG values and leadership behaviours.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
- Qualified Accountant with significant experience in commercial/ development / real estate finance
- Strong understanding of development appraisals, cashflow forecasting, business planning and property valuations.
- Strong analytical skills with excellent attention / consistent and thorough approach to detail.
- Experience leading budgeting, forecasting and performance reporting processes.
- Experience of Anaplan, Yardi or similar finance systems would be advantageous.
- Strong coaching and mentoring skills.
- Experience managing competing priorities.
- Strong commercial acumen with the confidence to challenge constructively.
- Strategic thinker who can connect project-level decisions to wider business outcomes.
- Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
- Committed to continuous improvement and innovation.
Health Safety And Welfare Responsibilities
All staff are required to fulfil their legal duty to take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and others who may be affected by their acts and omissions, and to follow all guidance and instructions given in this respect. Further details regarding Health & Safety responsibilities are set out in the Health & Safety Policy in the Administrative Rules and Procedures, and the Health, Safety & Welfare Manual.
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) Responsibilities
Recognising the centrality of ESG principles within our organisation, we have developed a comprehensive ESG Strategy. It is imperative that all staff members understand and adopt this strategy into their respective roles. This includes adhering to environmental regulations, minimising waste, supporting nature within our urban environment, and facilitating positive change for those in need within our community and utilising our volunteering.
Quality Management Responsibilities
In line with the latest ISO 9001 requirements and our dedication to quality management, all staff are mandated to comply with system requirements as detailed within the Company Quality Manual & Policies. Additionally, it's vital to ensure the effective implementation of all Procedures, Plans, and Forms within our Electronic Document Management Systems (EDMS) to meet the ISO 9001: Quality Management Standard.
Company Values
Commit to Excellence
- Act with integrity and deliver high performance
- Put our customers at the heart of what we do
- Resolve issues by providing high quality solutions
Foster Collaboration
- Find opportunities to collaborate with others across the business to achieve shared goals
- Encourage inclusive networks and treat others with respect and fairness
- Use knowledge to work effectively with suppliers / contractors to meet shared goals
Encourage Engagement
- Confident in making decisions appropriate to the role
- Learn from mistakes and listen to constructive feedback to improve performance
- Prioritise safety and actively support community, wellbeing and sustainability programmes
Take Ownership
- Take pride in delivering high quality service which exceeds expectations
- Committed to opportunities for self-development
- Take responsibility for my own performance and look for ways to improve
Embrace Innovation
- Embrace change and innovation
- Proactively suggest ways to improve our business and encourage others to share ideas
- See new challenges as opportunities to deliver effective change
What We Offer
Diversity and Inclusion
We recognise the importance of embracing diverse experience, skills and perspectives at all levels and operating in an inclusive working environment, in order for everyone to reach their full potential. We also recognise that it makes business sense, since being an inclusive employer leads to better business performance and higher levels of employee engagement and satisfaction. We welcome applicants with diverse backgrounds, perspectives and skills and are committed to fostering a culture whereby everyone can reach their full potential.
Flexible Working
As an inclusive employer, we recognise the positive impact flexible working can have on an individual, their wellbeing, engagement and productivity. Therefore, we are open to consider flexible working arrangements, both temporary or permanent.
Learning and Development
At Canary Wharf Group, our employees receive a wide range of support to help improve their skills and achieve their career goals. We offer development opportunities through classroom and e-learning training, mentoring, cross department experience and on the job learning. We heavily invest in our staff attaining accreditations to develop existing and new skills, support chartered status, sponsorships and provide further educational opportunities which are job and business related. We never stand still and continually invest in developing skills and knowledge to ensure individual and company growth.
Other Benefits
We are committed to building a safe, happy and healthy community for our employees and we offer a comprehensive range of benefits, all designed with our employees and their wellbeing in mind. From generous pension and insurance plans, to health benefits, subsidised gym membership, store discounts and family leave
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills
Location