Financial Planning & Analysis Manager

About DFT Operator

Join Our Team at DFTO

DFTO is the government’s public sector rail owning group. Its purpose is to bring all currently privately-owned train operators into public ownership in advance of the creation of Great British Railways in 2027 - and deliver improvements in the here and now by unifying and integrating train operations under common public ownership.

DFTO has over 30,000 employees, runs over 11,000 services a day and delivers over 930 million customer journeys across its networks every year. 7,000 people joined the railway family in the last year

Major improvements are being delivered by DFTO train operators (TOCs) that are already under public ownership - these are LNER, Northern, TransPennine Express (TPE), Southeast, South Western Railway (SWR), c2c, Greater Anglia, WM Trains and GTR.

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.

Primary Purpose of Job:

Provide expert financial planning, forecasting and analysis support across DFTO’s portfolio, developing credible, evidence-based financial plans aligned to business planning objectives and timetable milestones. The role provides insight, challenge and recommendations to support decision-making, fiscal event submissions and the implementation of Spending Review settlements across DFTO, train operating companies and key external stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities:

• Draft instructions, coordinate timetable requirements, and prepare financial templates, reporting, analysis and insight aligned to key planning milestones, including quarterly forecast updates.
• Develop and maintain a portfolio-wide forecast of financial performance to inform business planning, budget setting and decision-making with train operating companies, identifying risks, opportunities and efficiencies to improve overall financial performance.
• Critically review, evaluate and assess consolidated DFTO forecast financials, providing challenge and analysis to ensure outputs are robust, consistent and supported by clear evidence.
• Lead financial performance discussions and meetings, providing portfolio-level insight, advice and guidance to support business decisions.
• Provide expert insight into individual train operating company forecasts, including benchmarking performance against peers and assessing whether forecasts are realistic and deliverable.
• Identify emerging opportunities, risks and issues through horizon scanning, working with the business to develop appropriate responses and shape financial strategy.
• Influence and challenge senior budget holders to understand the impact of their financial performance and forecasts against budgets, supporting more effective business management.
• Proactively support stakeholders across DFTO and train operating companies to strengthen accountability, improve financial discipline and enhance decision-making.
• Provide expert contributions and insight in the development and implementation of credible, evidence-based financial plans to inform fiscal event submissions and wider strategic planning requirements
• Work collaboratively with internal teams and external stakeholders, including train operating companies, the Department for Transport and Network Rail, to support DFTO in preparing for and implementing Spending Review settlements.
• Contribute to wider analysis and modelling activities within the Financial Planning & Analysis team, including challenging and supporting the reporting of efficiencies and the financial impacts of policy implementation.

Knowledge, Skills, Experience & Technical Qualifications:

• Membership of a recognised professional accountancy body (ICAEW, ACCA, CIPFA, CIMA, ICAS) or IFAC equivalent.
• Strong financial planning, forecasting and analysis experience within a complex portfolio, ideally in transport, the public sector or a regulated environment.
• Significant experience of managing ambiguity in a financial environment, with strong evaluation and decision-making skills.
• Excellent analytical skills, with the ability to interpret consolidated financial information, identify trends, manage risks, assess forecast realism and translate analysis into clear insight and recommendations.
• Demonstrable experience of business planning, budgeting and forecasting cycles, including financial reporting timetables and the preparation of clear planning outputs.
• Ability to provide constructive challenge to senior stakeholders, using financial evidence to support accountability, decision-making and improved business outcomes.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to work collaboratively across DFTO, train operating companies and external partners, including the Department for Transport and Network Rail.
• Advanced Excel and financial modelling capability, with experience of producing clear reporting outputs and briefing material for senior audiences.
• Excellent technical financial and accounting knowledge, with sound judgement and experience of governance and financial control.

DFTO Behaviours – You will need to demonstrate the following behaviours which align with our DFTO Cultural Pillars:

Simple, Sustainable and Commercially Minded

• Professional level: Uses data and insights to inform decisions and challenge unnecessary complexity where appropriate.

Aligned as One Railway, Managed as a System

• Professional level: Collaborate across teams, share information proactively and consider wider system impact related to your work.

Pace with Purpose, Bias Towards Action

• Professional level: Prioritise effectively, make timely decisions and follow through on actions.

Future-Focused

• Professional level: Balance short-term delivery with longer-term considerations and actively engage in learning.

Vacancy Details:

Duration: Fixed Term up to 31st October 2027 contract/secondmentLocation: We currently have officesin London Waterloo, Leeds, Birmingham, HybridSalary Range: £60,000 to £67,000
Closing date: XX Month 2026

DFTO Locations:

DFTO currently have office locations in London, Birmingham and Leeds and individuals can be based from any of the three locations. Whilst we do offer hybrid working there are sometimes demands to travel to the other office locations.

DFTO Benefits:

• 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

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 Name Jason.blakemore@dftoperator.co.uk