Job Description

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Network Rail operates and maintains the railway infrastructure 24/7 365 days a year.

Our ambition to be responsive to passengers and freight users drives us every day and we\'re empowered to do the right thing for those who use the rail network. We actively challenge unsafe practices and take responsibility for addressing risks, resolving issues and protecting safety and wellbeing.

We\'re passionate about great service and we ask ourselves, what can we do to put our passengers and freight users at the centre of everything we do? With this in mind, we pull together as one industry because we care about people and teamwork is key.

This is an exciting time to join Network Rail. We\'re passionate about great service and commit to our service equation vision by \xe2\x80\x9cputting passengers first\xe2\x80\x9d. Performance, safety and getting the fundamental basics right, is something we strive for as well as asking ourselves - what can we do to put our passengers and freight users at the centre of everything we do?

You will be part of the NW&C Region which consist of three routes:

• North West
• Central
• West Coast South - and a regional team supporting Regional Major Programmes & Professional services.

To find out more about NW&C/us, visit -

For us, \'Diversity\' means recognising differences between people while valuing the contribution they make. \'Inclusion\' means creating safe and welcoming workplaces with fair cultures that encourage innovative and fresh ways of thinking.

We value the commitments you may have outside of work and will consider flexible working applications. If we can make it work - we will! .

We off hybrid working - with the requirement to be in the office two/three days a week.

Brief Description

To work with the supported business leadership team, under the direction of the Financial Controller/Senior Finance Business Partner, to deliver professional finance and accounting advise.

Provides proactive, value add finance support to the business leaders across the function/route.

This is a 12-month secondment/FTC opportunity with the potential to be made permanent.

About the role (External)

What will you be doing? * Lead and provide financial advice and guidance to senior budget holders in understanding the impact of the period results and forecasts against budges so they can understand their business better.

• Be the expert in the function on accounting practices and advise on financial results and forecasts for budget holders, including preparing period accruals, transfers and adjustments to validate accounts are reflective, relevant.
• Manage corporate governance throughout the cost centres they manage, conducting deep dives and reviewing compliance with financial regulations to protect the business from legal or negative consequences.
• Deliver expert and accurate business review information and reporting, and highlight any significant issues with financial and other business results to enable informed decision making by the business area.
• Engage and influence senior members of the team to help them understand their financial position and use professional expertise to guide in initiatives to improve business performance
• Build bottom up, detailed plans to manage and develop the production of business plans and budgets to enable good corporate governance and value add analysis for senior leaders
• Identify and proactively manage commercial risks, including the financial suitability of new customers or suppliers reducing the potential risk impact on the business area and influencing decision makers.
• Manage the performance of central accounting functions to deliver for the cost centre area to enable an efficiently and effective accounting service.
• Collate, investigate and make recommendation for investment appraisals and business case analysis to aid business decisions.
• Model and analyse cost base and identify and drive opportunities and efficiencies to achieve area targets.

Essential Criteria

To be successful in this role, we would like you to have/to be:

• Demonstrate strong understanding of business needs and relevant application of accounting standards
• Membership (Or working towards a membership) of a relevant accounting body (CIMA/ACCA)
• Expert knowledge and experience of creating and maintaining accounts and annual budget
• Significant experience within relevant finance disciplines
• Strong excel skills and use of data manipulation
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to interpret technical accounting regulations into everyday language
• Demonstrable effective influencing skills at a senior level
• Significant understanding of financial control and risk
• Excellent technical finance and accounting knowledge

Desirable Criteria

We would also like but it isn\'t crucial to have/to be:

• Understanding of project management principles and experience of managing complex projects
• Membership of a relevant accounting body
• Extensive experience of Oracle based systems
• Degree or equivalent qualification in finance and accounting or business management or experience

How to apply (External)

Keeping people safe on the railway is at the heart of everything we do, safe behaviour is therefore a requirement of working for Network Rail. Applicants should demonstrate their to safety in their application.

Drugs & Alcohol test: All prospective candidates offered a conditional role will be required to undergo and pass a drugs and alcohol test. Your application will be rescinded if you record a positive test. All positive drugs and alcohol test results for prospective candidates will be securely held on and a 5 year suspension from applying for a safety critical role, a role which requires PTS certification or a Key Safety role on Network Rail Managed Infrastructure will be enforced.

A career with Network Rail is a journey and we will do everything we can to make it a great one.

That means plenty of support for personal and professional development. It also means a great range of benefits. Working with us, you\'ll enjoy 28 days holiday, access to a range of contributory pension schemes, and the potential to top up your competitive salary with a bonus. We can offer you a season ticket loan, annual season tickets are discounted. What\'s more, you can take advantage of childcare vouchers, discounted cycle hire and more. Discover more at .

Network Rail positively embraces flexible working recognising that employees may wish to balance work and family/home life.

We adhere to a structured pay framework, any salary offered will be within the following pay range: Band 4C Starting salary of \xc2\xa343,588 raising to \xc2\xa349,037.

Closing Date: 18th July 2023. We retain the right to close the advert before the listed closing date based on application volumes.

To submit your application, click \'apply now\'.

You can visit for advice on accessibility support if you\'re unsure of the options available. Should you require any reasonable adjustments/modifications, please add a note to your application.

Network Rail