Project Finance Lead

We have an exciting opportunity for a temporary Business Controller to join our team on the BAM Infrastructure Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) West project on a 12-month contract. Based at our Huddersfield office, this role offers the chance to play a key part in a major infrastructure project. The Transpennine Route is one of the UK's most vital transport arteries, connecting key northern cities across a 76-mile stretch between Manchester, Leeds, York, Selby and Humberside, and supporting millions of passengers every year. As part of a multi-billion-pound investment programme, the TRU will transform this busy corridor into a high-performing, reliable railway, delivering increased capacity, faster journey times and enhanced passenger experience.

Your Team

• Location: Huddersfield (Office-based 4 days per week, 1 day working from home)
• Contract: 12-Month Fixed-Term Contract

Making Possible

• Strategic Leadership & Commercial Partnership: Act as a trusted advisor to the Senior Leadership Team, driving strategic decision-making through deep commercial insight. Proactively shaping financial outcomes by identifying key risks, opportunities, and value drivers across the project portfolio.
• Project Reporting & Insight Generation: Lead best-in-class financial reporting frameworks that deliver actionable insights and enable data-driven decision-making. Provide forward-looking analysis across P&L, cash flow and orderbook to support strategic planning and risk mitigation.
• Financial Governance & Review: Play a pivotal role within the project leadership team by providing robust financial oversight & control, challenge, and guidance across monthly, quarterly, and annual reviews. Driving accountability and performance improvement across all project stakeholders.
• Integrated Planning, Budgeting & Forecasting: Lead the development of integrated financial plans, including annual budgets and periodic forecasts, aligning financial objectives with strategic priorities. Embed advanced analytics, scenario planning, and KPI-driven insights to proactively manage performance, risks, and opportunities.
• Effective Cash Management: Drive optimisation of cash performance and working capital through robust forecasting, proactive management of WIP, and collaboration with operational teams. Influence strategic decisions that enhance liquidity and support sustainable financial performance.
• Commercial & Cost Optimisation Strategy: Ensure any proposed commercial agreements are strategically leveraged to maximise financial outcomes. Lead initiatives to identify and unlock cost efficiencies and recovery opportunities, embedding a value-focused culture across project financial management.
• Advanced Financial Modelling & Decision Support: Own and develop sophisticated financial models and scenario analyses to support strategic initiatives. Provide forward-looking insights that inform business strategy, commercial performance, and risk management.
• Transformation & Continuous Improvement Leadership: Lead and influence finance transformation initiatives, driving process optimisation, system enhancements, and adoption of best practices. Act as a change agent to improve efficiency, scalability, and quality of financial operations across the project.
• Audit & Risk Leadership: Manage internal and external audit engagements as the senior financial representative for the TRU West project. Ensure timely resolution of audit matters while strengthening any required financial governance, risk management, and compliance frameworks.
• People Leadership & Talent Development: Working closely with the Commercial Director, develop a high-performing commercial finance team, fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and professional growth.
• Strategic Contribution & Segment Initiatives: Contribute beyond core responsibilities by leading or supporting cross-functional strategic initiatives, transformation programmes, and ad-hoc projects that drive project-wide value creation.

What do you bring to the role?

• Fully qualified accountant (ACCA / CIMA / ACA)
• Expert in providing financial insight and support to Commercial and Operations
• Committed team player who thrives on collaborating across a large business
• Track record of building strong relationships with a variety of different stakeholders.
• Adept at influencing and negotiating within senior leadership teams
• Experienced in mentoring junior colleagues and supporting their development
• Highly motivated and enthusiastic, with exceptional organisational and time management skills
• Understanding and experience of critical finance transactional operations and underlying control points and best practice. Across full scope of P2P, R2R, O2C & Master data.
• Very good awareness of and ability to actively engage with specialists and communicate risk and opportunity around Tax strategy, filling, accounting, Transfer pricing, JV's, indirect and payroll taxes.
• Significant knowledge of Project Budgeting & Forecasting & Reporting; Risk and Opp management & cash forecasting

Whats in it for you?

• Competitive salary
• A wide range of family-friendly policies
• Company car/car allowance/travel allowance
• 8 % matched pension contributions
• Private healthcare
• Life assurance
• 26 days holiday
• 2 wellbeing days
• 1 volunteering day
• Personal and professional development

About BAM

Building a sustainable tomorrow. That's our mission and our promise at BAM. It's how we engineer vital infrastructure and construct high-quality buildings as one of the largest construction companies in Europe. We strive to create an environment where everybody feels welcome and valued. We're on an exciting journey to employ the best talent to join us regardless of social background, race, colour, religion, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability or other characteristics.