Metroline Ltd | Finance Business Partner – Bids & Tenders

Background

The UK government is determined to deliver better bus services, grow passenger numbers and kickstart economic growth, by supporting local authorities to take back control of their local bus services.

The UK Government is in the process of providing all Local Authorities (powers currently limited to Metro Regions) the powers to franchise bus services, as an alternative model for operating bus services, moving away from the existing deregulated model.

In a franchised bus scheme, the Local Authority determines the details of the service to be provided – where they run, when they run and the standards of services for example they will determine the route, timetable, fares and branding. Operators tender to run a Franchise and operate services under contract to the local authority.

Metroline successfully won four Franchises in the Greater Manchester region, the first region in the UK to introduce a Bus Franchising Scheme.The operation of the Franchises will commence on 5th January 2025.

Due to the increasing number of bus franchising opportunities arising in the UK and our ambitious growth targets, it has been decided to expand our bid team with the introduction of the position of Finance Business Partner who will help develop competitive tenders for new bus franchises in UK.

Location

ComfortDelGro House, Cricklewood, London, NW2 6JP with option of hybrid working

Whilst the Bid Team is centred in London, the role will require some travel and time spent in the locations of the bidding opportunities.

Job summary

• Support the bid team, by providing specialist assessment and analysis of physical and financial information relating to existing and proposed new Franchises.
• Provide first line financial support for workstream teams
• Work with the Head of Finance to deliver the requirements of the Financial Workstream in Bids

Main Responsibilities

Work with the Head of Finance – Bids & Tendering on the Finance workstreams within the Bids to deliver:

• Development and population of the Bid Model
• Population of client bid templates
• Completion of the Record of Assumptions
• Development of the KPI’s / Cost benchmarking
• Development of the Cap-Ex Plans
• Completion of the Balance Sheet
• Completion of the Working Capital
• Completion of the Funding Plan
• Development of the Risk and Opportunities matrix – using benchmarking and other information
• Develop a Performance model
• Prepare timely and accurate financial and commercial information.
• Provide insight and challenge in the development of a winning solution
• Work with other team members to ensure a joined up and methodical approach to the Bid.
• Contribute to the wider Bid (e.g cost modelling and reviewing)

Essential Criteria

• Part-qualified ACCA, CIMA or equivalent qualification or experience;
• Demonstrable experience of good all-around accounts experience including management accounts, analysis and balance sheet reconciliations;
• Skilled in the use of IT systems, specifically Finance Systems (e.g. Oracle, SAP etc) and also PowerPoint, Excel, Word, Sharepoint and Outlook;
• Knowledge of the UK bus market (desirable)
• Experience of working on bids / tenders (desirable)

Competencies & Skills

• Self-motivated, having determination and confidence
• Excellent problem-solving skills
• Solid data analysis, interpretation and evaluation abilities.
• Ability to work to deadlines, under pressure
• Ability to work on your own initiative and as part of a team
• Strong Data Analysis and Presentation Skills
• Good interpersonal and communication skills, including presentation and report writing skills