Budget Improvement Lead

ScottishPower; Glasgow; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading energy company in Glasgow seeks a Budget Improvement Lead to enhance budgeting processes and financial forecasting. The ideal candidate will oversee budget models, lead cross-functional teams, and manage stakeholder relationships effectively. This role offers a competitive salary starting from £61,600 plus benefits such as a car allowance and private medical cover. Successful candidates will demonstrate strong analytical skills, project management experience, and a deep understanding of the utilities industry.

Benefits

36 days annual leave

Healthcare benefit options

Electric Vehicle Schemes

Share Schemes

Qualifications

• Degree qualified, or equivalent experience at an operational level.
• Experience in creation of budget models across a range of cost types.
• Strong stakeholder management skills with effective communication abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead and optimize budgeting processes and forecasting.
• Conduct financial governance meetings with budget holders.
• Identify opportunities for streamlining budgeting processes.

Skills

Budget modeling

Stakeholder management

Analytical skills

Project management

Education

Degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Financial modeling tools

Job description

Budget Improvement Lead

ScottishPower HQ or Aspect House - Glasgow

Salary starting from £61,600 + up to 20% bonus, car allowance, private medical cover & other excellent benefits

Closing date: 06/01/2026

Help us create a better future, quicker

The purpose of this role is to lead and optimise budgeting processes, ensuring accurate forecasting, variance analysis, and continuous improvement of financial models to support operational and strategic decision‑making.

What you ll be doing

• Produce the annual Budget and reforecast for UK Operations ensuring accuracy and consistency across all cost types
• Ensure all key stakeholders are aware of all risks, assumptions and opportunities associated with the budget
• Create monthly monitoring of all Opex and Capex costs, ensuring robust reporting is in place to explain any differences. Work with the budget holders to clearly and concisely explain any deviations to plan and refine budget models for subsequent reforecasts and annual planning
• Conduct monthly financial governance meetings with budget holders, present actionable steps to achieve objectives, and highlight risks with mitigation strategies
• Identify opportunities to streamline budgeting processes and implement best practices
• Identify opportunities for decreasing the UK Operations spend and set up and lead budget improvement projects
• Establishing and leading cross functional teams from across UK Operations to support improvement projects. Working with all departments of Energy Retail where their activities have an impact on the UK Operations Budget
• Submit weekly financial and operational metrics for UK Operations
• Proactively learn and apply new technologies to enhance efficiency in the budgeting and forecasting process
• Identify and lead the implementation of budget modelling software to ensure accuracy and transparency of assumptions, risks, and opportunities
• Play an active role in industry finance meetings with the DCC (and other Industry bodies such as AltHan, RECCo, Elexon). Manage the DCC invoice validation ensure compliance with financial controls. Manage the renewal of financial support provided to the DCC
• Responsible for the management and development of up to 2 direct reports and the management of resources supporting the improvement projects

What you ll bring

• Degree qualified, or equivalent experience at an operational level
• Experience in creation of budget models across a range of cost types and proven ability to track the accuracy of these models
• Strong stakeholder management skills and proven ability to communicate effectively at all levels within organisation and at a higher level with Global senior management
• The integrity, breadth of knowledge, and professional business acumen to lead, co-ordinate and develop internal relationships
• Senior management experience in utilities industry with a clear understanding of the complexities inherent in the de-regulated electricity and gas markets, specifically those that impact the Budget
• Leader who is highly motivated and proactive with ability to motivate, inspire and drive people to deliver improvement solutions and financial benefit for the ScottishPower Customer Business
• The role requires project management qualification or proven track record of managing projects and the associated disciplines
• Excellent commercial skills and ability to demonstrate lead and deliver strong analytical and problem- solving skills
• Proven ability to motivate & inspire teams (including virtual ones) to deliver stretch goals and objectives and use the Iberdrola leadership model and ways of working to do so

Minimum Criteria

• Educated to degree level or equivalent professional qualification
• Commercial Delivery experience essential
• Advanced proficiency in financial modelling and forecasting methodologies & tools
• Proven track record of precision, accuracy and attention to detail essential
• Ability to manage multiple deliverables and remain focused on priorities
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities
• Confidence, ability and presence to constructively challenge at all levels
• Highly numerate, strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Experienced in management of operational areas

Whats in it for you

As well as a competitive salary which is reviewed annually, you can also enjoy a number of other benefits. With our pension scheme, we'll double match your contribution up to a company contribution of 10%.

At ScottishPower, we believe it's the little things we do in life that make a big difference. From helping you look after your family's wellbeing, save for your future and take personal steps for climate action - our benefits are designed to help you do just that - so that you have everything you need to take care of your world - today and tomorrow. That's why our benefits include:

• 36 days annual leave
• Holiday Purchase - perfect your work/life balance with extra annual leave
• Share Schemes
• Payroll Giving and Charity Matched Funding
• Technology Vouchers - save more and spread the cost of your technology purchases
• Electric Vehicle Schemes - to help you transition to green/clean driving
• Cycle to Work scheme and Public Transport Season Ticket Loans
• Healthcare benefit options including: Dental Insurance, Private Medical Insurance, Health Cash Plan and annual Health Assessments
• Life Assurance (4x salary)
• Access to Savesmart financial wellbeing support
• Plus shopping, leisure, restaurant and gym discounts, and unique employee deals on travel insurance and more

Why ScottishPower

ScottishPower is part of the Iberdrola Group, one of the world's largest integrated utility companies and a world leader in wind energy. With a commitment to generate all of our energy from renewable resources and a drive to create the energy infrastructure of the future, we're at the forefront of the journey to Net Zero and investing over £6m every working day to make this happen. With diverse opportunities across our businesses and a commitment to invest in our own internal talent, ScottishPower can offer people real career opportunities that meet personal and professional goals, in a global organisation.

Inclusion, diversity, and a social purpose are at the heart of everything we do. Together with our values, they bring us together into a stronger, more sustainable business with direct links to the communities we serve. It takes all kinds of people to build a large-scale business like ours, so whatever your background, you'll fit right in.

ScottishPower is committed to providing reasonable support or adjustments in our recruiting processes for candidates with disabilities, long term conditions, mental health conditions, or who are neurodivergent or require pregnancy‑related support. If you need support, please reach out to careers scottishpower.com .