Unit Finance Manager

Job Description

Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management, and development consultancy committed to delivering impactful work that shapes the future.

We are a team of over 20,000 experts working across the world in more than 50 countries.
We are proud to be part of an ever-changing global industry, delivering transformative work that’s defining our future. It’s our people who power that performance. As an employee-owned business, we invest in creating a space for everyone to feel safe and valued and empowered with the right tools and support.

Whether you want to pursue excellence in your specialism or broaden your experience with flexible roles across our business, you’ll be connected to a community of global experts championing you to be your best. Join us and shape your story with Mott MacDonald, where everyone has the opportunity to be brilliant.

About the role

This is a senior leadership role within the SMM Unit, reporting to the Unit General Manager and Regional Finance Manager. The Unit Finance Manager is accountable for all finance matters across a 600-strong, geographically dispersed and complex business, encompassing project, division and territory-focused dimensions.

Working closely with the Unit General Manager and wider senior leadership team, you will ensure the Unit’s operating model aligns with market needs, the Mott MacDonald Group strategy and the Unit business plan. You will play a pivotal role in transforming and evolving the finance function to enhance competitiveness and productivity, while maintaining full compliance with Group and accounting standards.

This role demands strong leadership, communication and influencing skills, with the ability to drive change across a diverse business and engage confidently with senior stakeholders across the Group.

Key responsibilities

Driving change

• Develop, communicate and implement finance strategies that support the Unit Business Plan and reduce risk
• Support statutory compliance across all entities and territories in collaboration with specialist teams
• Enable winning work through innovative pricing strategies and cost-effective solutions
• Act as a key member of the Unit Leadership Team, proactively analysing and improving financial performance

Management and leadership

• Partner with the Unit General Manager and leadership team on business planning and decision-making
• Set objectives and KPIs to monitor performance and quality outcomes
• Build strong relationships across project teams and the wider business, sharing best practice and driving a unified culture
• Represent Unit finance matters across the wider Mott MacDonald Group

Projects and commercial support

• Provide proactive financial support to the WIN process, including proposal reviews and contract financial assessments
• Support project set-up, forecasting, working capital management and performance reviews
• Identify and manage financial risks, profit erosion and opportunities for additional fees
• Lead and embed strong project financial control and governance

Reporting and compliance

• Oversee monthly management accounts, forecasts and Unit financial reporting
• Prepare Board papers, budgets and business plan inputs
• Ensure strong financial controls and local compliance across relevant territories

People, resourcing and development

• Lead, coach and develop the Unit finance team
• Champion continuous professional development and high professional standards
• Build succession plans and celebrate strong performance across the team

Candidate specification

Qualifications and experience

• Qualified Chartered Accountant
• Significant experience in a senior finance leadership role, ideally within a project-based or professional services environment
• Experience managing geographically dispersed teams and complex stakeholder environments

Skills and attributes

• Strong leadership, communication and influencing skills
• Excellent commercial judgement and decision-making capability
• Collaborative mindset with the confidence to challenge constructively

Flexible working
At Mott MacDonald, we support our staff to create work-life balance which works for them and welcome candidates looking for career flexibility. We are open to discussing flexible working at interview stage.

Our benefits package is designed to enhance your experience:

• Agile working
• Critical illness and compassionate leave
• Paternity Leave
• Group term life insurance, and Group medical insurance coverage
• Career mobility options
• Short and Long-term global employment opportunities
• Global collaboration and knowledge sharing