Project Business Case Assurance Manager in London

Transport for London is responsible for some of the most complex and high‑profile infrastructure investments in the UK. TfL’s Project Assurance team operates as a “Critical Friend” providing second line assurance across TfL’s Capital Investment Programme. As a Project Business Case Assurance Manager you will play a critical role in safeguarding London’s investment decisions. This is a pivotal role ensuring that TfL’s project‑based investments deliver genuine value for money, withstand scrutiny, and support the long‑term success of London’s transport network.

Working at the interface of finance, strategy and delivery, you’ll act as an independent, expert voice – challenging assumptions, strengthening business cases, and giving confidence that spending of public funds provides value for money.

What you’ll be doing

• Applying your investment appraisal expertise to ensure project teams are constructively challenged during assurance reviews. You will guide and undertake investigative analysis, to inform decision‑makers in line with HM Treasury guidance and good industry practice.
• Determining appropriate lines of inquiry aligned to key investment decisions, ensuring that costs, risks, benefits and value‑for‑money performance is appropriately understood, so that priorities can be validated, and evidence‑based recommendations for change (including project cancellation) can be robustly made.
• Critically assessing the preferred scope and delivery approaches of our largest and most complex or risky initiatives and providing independent recommendations and advice.
• Identifying strategic trends and risks across TfL’s investment portfolios you will advise the Mayor’s Independent Investment Programme Advisory Group and relevant TfL Committees and governance forums on your findings, their significance, and what potential responses might be.
• Working collaboratively with other assurance colleagues and subject matter experts across the business to comprehensively understand the impacts of emergent issues on all dimensions of the business case, value for money position, and justification to proceed.
• Working closely with first line assurance business case specialists in TfL to define and promote best practice principles, advocating for rigorous and proportionate HM Treasury five‑case and industry best practice thinking whilst flexibly adapting to changes in project / programme management methodology and delivery models.
• Maintaining a detailed understanding of legislative, policy and appraisal best practice developments. You will drive cultural changes to continually improve the evidence base that informs TfL’s investment decisions.

What we’re looking for

• Knowledge
  • Fluency in the HM Treasury five‑case business case framework, how it evolves through the programme and project lifecycle, and its role in informing decision making.
  • Comprehensive knowledge of business planning, programme and project delivery, benefits management, risk and commercial management. Strong understanding of assurance approaches, including risk‑based assurance.
  • Authoritative expertise in demand forecasting, cost‑benefit analysis and benefits realisation management.
  • Degree‑level education or equivalent professional experience in a quantitative or analytical discipline.
  • A professional qualification in Programme or Project Management, Management of Benefits, Social Return on Investment or equivalent professional experience.
  • Desirable: Strategic understanding of the role and key features of a multi‑modal transport network within a major metropolitan context.
• Skills
  • Ability to proportionately analyse complex business cases, identifying gaps in logic, weak evidence and calculation errors.
  • Strong critical‑thinking and judgement skills across a broad range of investment contexts.
  • Excellent verbal communication and influencing skills, able to challenge robustly while maintaining strong stakeholder relationships.
  • High‑quality written skills, producing clear, authoritative, impactful assessments.
  • Proven ability to operate as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders.
• Experience
  • Experience across major HM Treasury five‑case investment appraisals within dynamic stakeholder environments.
  • A proven record in the production of complex investment documentation such as strategic business cases, benefits analysis and Transport & Works Act Order applications.
  • Experience using relevant analytical tools and using the outputs to inform critical thinking and decision making.
  • Desirable: Planning responsibility for a large‑scale urban regeneration project.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. We want to represent the city we serve, which will help us become a more innovative and efficient organisation. Our goal is to make our recruitment as inclusive as possible. We are a disability confident employer who guarantee an interview to any disabled candidate who meets all of the essential criteria. We also use anonymising software that removes identifying information from CVs and cover letters to make the process fair.

Benefits

• Final salary pension scheme
• Free travel for you on the TfL network
• Reimbursement of 75% of the cost of a standard class Ticket for National Rail travel from home
• 30 days annual leave plus public holidays