Finance Transition Manager

About DFT Operator

DfT Operator Ltd (DFTO), is the public sector owning group behind four key train operators: LNER, Northern, Southeastern, and TransPennine Express. We're here to make your rail journeys smoother, safer, and more reliable. Since taking on LNER in 2018, we've focused on delivering better train services, enhancing customer experiences, and boosting performance across the network. Today, DFTO helps 270 million passenger journeys happen each year, with a team of nearly 17,000 dedicated colleagues. We now manage 25% of Britain's railway and are committed to shaping the future of train travel to better serve passengers.

We work closely with the DfT but operate independently with our own governance and leadership teams. Our priority is ensuring efficient, dependable rail services for everyone.

Vacancy Details

• Duration: 2 Year FTC
• Location: Hybrid (main bases: DFTO satellite offices)
• Salary: up to £60,000K
• Closing date:
• Reporting to: Finance Senior Transition Partner

Annual Leave: Starting at 25 days and rising to an additional day per year of service completed within the first 5 completed years up to a maximum of 5 additional (30 days)

DC Pension Scheme: 10% Employer contribution, 5% Employee contribution

Opportunities to learn and network across the wider industry

Primary Purpose of Job:

This role will play a pivotal part for integrating incoming Train Operating Companies (TOCs) to the DFTO Group whose purpose is to bring all currently privately-owned train operators into public ownership. There are two arms to the role, the first is focus on mobilisation and the other post transfer, both working alongside the incoming TOCs. The role will be more focused in one of the two arms below, however, the role will be flexible to work where required.

Finance Mobilisation (pre-transfer)

Tasks for the finance transfer and transition workstream focusing on the setting-up of the financial and operational requirements that the incoming TOC will need. They will be responsible for ensuring the transfer is efficient, and critical tasks are completed (or mitigated) by the transfer date of the integration to the DFTO group. The role will be responsible for the finance and insurance transition workstream in collaboration with DfT Public Ownership Program (POP) team.

Post Transfer

We will be creating a Parachute Team that will be there to support incoming TOCs post transfer date. This role is a finance role that will be utilising their knowledge and skillset, working alongside the TOCs, and other DFTO colleagues, to ensure that the finance teams understand changes to their ways of working when joining the DFTO group. They will be responsible for ensuring the TOCs fully are supported as they learn the processes within DFTO Group while the continue to hand over any of their previous owning group's responsibilities.

The role reports to the Senior Finance Transition Partner, supporting the activity on transition

Key Competencies:

• Ability to liaise with senior internal and external stakeholders, working toward a common goal
• Extremely organised and pro-active approach to following up with key tasks to work towards a deadline
• Effective time and project management skills
• Microsoft (suite) competent
• Exceptional communication skills (verbal and non-verbal)

Key Responsibilities:

Main responsibilities but not exclusive:

• Deputise for the Finance Senior Transition Partner where needed.
• Support mobilisation requirements, and be accountable of ensuring all documentation is completed, and kept up to date.
• Manage other ad hoc projects and tasks as required

Finance Mobilisation

• Be the Finance & Insurance workstream lead (POP) while working through a listed tracker and ensuring it's up to date. This includes preparing agendas for key finance meetings
• Set up and provide assurance for banking arrangements with NatWest including the opening of bank accounts, cash collection, BACS, credit/purchase cards
• Liaise with the incoming TOC and its third-party merchant acquirers (e.g., fuel card providers, PayPal, etc.) to ensure relevant accounts, agreements, and processes are in place.
• Oversee the transfer and setup of HMRC-related registrations
• Prepare cashflow forecast to determine the incoming TOCs working capital requirements to ensure they have sufficient funds in place for the transfer date
• Understand the TOC's finance teams, processes and finance systems to identify any gaps and implement plans to mitigate risk post transfer
• Engage with incoming TOC and DFTO group insurance brokers, ensuring the necessary information is collected and reviewed to allow insurance brokers to put in place insurance post transfer.
• Support for the TOC post transfer to ensure a smooth handover is carried out with the post transfer support team.
• Assist in preparation for any reporting to DFTO Finance Board on the Programme.

Post Transfer

• Act as the primary point of contact for TOC finance teams post-transfer, providing timely support and responding to questions.
• Proactively identify and resolve issues, escalating to the Senior Finance Transition Partner as required.
• Build strong, trusted relationships with TOC senior stakeholders to foster a positive and collaborative transition experience.
• Provide financial and accounting guidance to ensure compliance with DFTO Group policies, internal controls, and current accounting standards.
• Support the TOC in understanding new centralised ways of working and adopting new processes across key areas such as intercompany accounting, treasury and cashflow, management accounting and financial reporting and VAT compliance and returns.
• Become a subject matter expert in DFTO Group's finance processes by studying and applying the DFTO Process Handbook as well as continually updating processes as required
• Assist in the design and delivery of training sessions for TOC finance teams in line with DFTO's process documentation and operational requirements.
• Act as a key link between the TOCs, DFTO Business-as-Usual Finance teams, and any relevant external providers (e.g., auditors, systems consultants, insurance brokers).
• Understand finance systems and lead the set-up of new processes as required for ease of reporting, while supporting TOC on process development where required.
• Facilitate effective knowledge-sharing between all parties involved in the post-transfer process.

Knowledge, Skills, Experience & Technical Qualifications:

Essential

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, Finance, Business, or a related discipline
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills all levels. This should include all levels of staff, including management, and senior stakeholders, both with TOCs, and internally
• Experience in managing ambiguity in a financial environment with strong evaluation and decision-making skills.
• Excellent technical Financial and Accounting knowledge and application of that knowledge in a complex and commercial environment.
• Ideally Project Management experience

Desirable

• Qualified ACCA, CIMA, ACA or equivalent
• Substantial experience within multiple finance disciplines
• Knowledge and technical expertise of Government accounting and relevant financial governance

Understanding of project management principles and experience of managing complex projects to successful conclusion.

(How to apply)

Additional Information

Disclaimer: Candidates applying for this position on a secondment basis must inform their line manager prior to submitting their application. This is to ensure transparency and facilitate any necessary discussions regarding workload and responsibilities.

About our people and the recruitment process - We're an inclusive employer of choice and we welcome applications from everyone! We encourage our colleagues to work flexibly, as we know traditional working patterns don't always fit. If you want to consider working flexibly, just let us know and we'll do our best to help and invest in your career with us, whilst you have a healthy work life balance.

Contact: If you have any questions or reasonable adjustments, please contact

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