Infrastructure Corporate Finance Lead

The Major Projects Team

Our client's Major Projects team sits within their Major Projects and Markets directorate, playing a key role in overseeing some of the most significant infrastructure developments the water sector has seen in over 30 years. These large-scale projects, ranging from several hundred million to several billion pounds, require expert oversight to ensure they are delivered efficiently, on time, and with the best interests of customers and the environment in mind.

This is a dynamic and varied role where no two days are the same. Team members may be involved in developing policy for commercial and regulatory frameworks, assessing project proposals to ensure they offer value for money, or engaging with senior executives, investors, government bodies, and regulators to resolve challenges and remove regulatory barriers where appropriate. It's an exciting opportunity to shape the future of major infrastructure projects in the sector.

The Role

Our client is seeking an experienced Infrastructure Corporate Finance Lead to join their growing Major Projects Team at Principal level. This is a unique opportunity to play a key role in shaping the delivery of major water and wastewater infrastructure projects across England and Wales, with a strong focus on corporate and project finance. The role involves facilitating the development and implementation of large-scale projects through competitive delivery models such as the Direct Procurement for Customers (DPC) model and the Specified Infrastructure Projects Regulations (SIPR), as seen in the Thames Tideway Tunnel project. Additionally, the successful candidate will engage with projects approved through the RAPID (Regulator's Alliance for Progressing Infrastructure Development) process.

This role offers significant autonomy and responsibility, allowing the right candidate to apply their expertise in infrastructure finance while collaborating with key stakeholders across the sector. You will work closely with advisory services, water and wastewater companies, and regulators to ensure projects deliver maximum value for customers. With a focus on innovation and best practice, you will have the chance to contribute to some of the most critical capital projects in the sector, leaving a lasting impact for generations to come. Our client fosters a learning-focused, agile, and trust-based work environment, offering ample opportunities for professional development, mentoring, and skill-sharing. This is a once-in-a-career opportunity to influence major infrastructure delivery while advancing your expertise in corporate finance for large-scale projects.

Key Deliverables

In this role, you will be expected to:

• Lead the delivery of a programme of work or specific policy area related to corporate or project finance within major infrastructure projects.
• Analyse company submissions, focusing on complex commercial, financial, and technical proposals, providing scrutiny and challenge, and preparing recommendations for senior management.
• Lead engagement with water and wastewater companies on large infrastructure projects, covering commercial models, procurement strategies, cost and risk estimation, and technical issues.
• Provide wider support to the Major Projects team in delivering its programme, particularly in areas of financial complexity and in collaboration with RAPID and other key stakeholders.

Our client fosters a collaborative culture, and you will be expected to work seamlessly across teams and with external partners to ensure an integrated policy framework is in place, driving high-quality and successful outcomes for the projects and programmes.

Professional Requirements - Essential Criteria

To be successful in this role, you will need the following essential attributes, experience, skills, and knowledge:

Experience, Skills, and Knowledge

1. Professional Qualification: A finance-related professional qualification (e.g., CFA, ACA, ACCA, CIMA, ACT) or equivalent experience.
2. Project Finance Experience: Significant experience and/or extensive knowledge in project finance, major infrastructure project financing, or corporate finance, gained through work in sectors such as banking, government, public, and regulated industries (e.g., water, energy, rail, or other economic and social infrastructure).
3. Financial Structures Understanding: A solid understanding of company and group structures, how companies raise finance, the types of available finance, and the relevant commercial issues.
4. Financial Data Analysis: Strong ability to analyse and challenge financial data (e.g., from companies, financial strategies, structures, and policy frameworks) while assessing value for money.
5. Evidence-Based Decision-Making: Proven ability to draw conclusions and present evidence-based decisions and solutions.
6. Stakeholder Relationship Management: Experience in building and maintaining constructive working relationships with diverse stakeholders, with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively to achieve desired outcomes.
7. Project and Programme Management: Strong ability to plan, prioritise, and deliver programmes of work and projects, including managing multi-disciplinary teams.
8. Communication Skills: Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to present complex analysis in a clear, understandable way to non-technical audiences.

How to Apply

For detailed application guidance and interview preparation tips, please contact Alex Shaw at Advance TRS.

Your CV will need to be accompanied by a personal statement which addresses the following:

Your experience and/or extensive knowledge of project finance, major infrastructure project financing, or corporate finance, obtained through work in, but not limited to banking, government, public, and regulated sectors (such as water, energy, rail, or other economic and social infrastructure).

We will assess your CV and personal statement against criteria 1, 2, 4, 6, and 7 from the professional requirements.

Ensure your full application is submitted by the deadline-23:55 on 09 March 2025, as late applications cannot be considered. The sifting process will begin the week of 10 March 2025, and interviews will be held the week of 17 March 2025.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity in our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.