Commercial Finance Director

Avove Utilities; Chorley; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday plus bank holidays

Company Car/Allowance

Annual Bonus

Company pension scheme

Life assurance

Private Medical Cover

Avove Discount Scheme

Family friendly policies

Lifestyle benefit options

Financial wellbeing programme

Employee assistance program for health

Volunteer days and charity matched giv

Job summary

Avove seeks a Commercial Finance Director – Capital Frameworks to lead the commercial and financial performance of the Capital Frameworks, driving margin improvement and robust cash conversion. You’ll shape governance, entitlement management and client relationships while partnering with Compliance to embed controls across frameworks.

You’ll influence at senior levels, develop improvement plans and oversee cross-functional teams including procurement and pre-contract to maximise value.

Qualifications

• Significant senior commercial and financial leadership experience within infrastructure, utilities, construction or another contract-based environment.
• A relevant degree, professional qualification or equivalent experience in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, Finance or a related discipline.
• A strong track record of delivering margin improvement across multiple contracts or frameworks.
• Practical experience of working capital management, cash conversion, accrued income and WIP.
• Strong knowledge of complex contracts, change control, contractual obligations and commercial governance.
• Experience developing senior client relationships and leading senior commercial or commercial finance professionals.
• Excellent commercial and financial acumen, with the confidence to challenge performance and influence at senior level.
• Strong leadership, coaching, negotiation and communication skills.
• High standards of judgement, integrity and accountability.

Responsibilities

• Lead the commercial and financial performance of our Capital Frameworks, delivering budgeted margin and driving sustainable improvement.
• Develop and oversee margin improvement plans, identifying opportunities and addressing areas of commercial underperformance.
• Drive cash conversion and working capital performance, with a strong focus on WIP, accrued income, certification, invoicing and cash collection.
• Provide robust challenge around forecasts, cost-to-complete, commercial risks and operational performance.
• Maximise commercial value by effectively managing contractual entitlement, change, risk and commercial opportunities.
• Ensure strong commercial governance across new bids, retenders, framework extensions and contract mobilisation.
• Partner with operational, procurement, supply chain and pre-contract teams to improve productivity, commercial strategy and whole-life value.
• Build trusted senior client relationships, leading commercial negotiations, performance reviews and the resolution of key contractual issues.
• Provide leadership, coaching and development to Commercial Finance Leads, creating consistency and sharing best practice across the frameworks.
• Work closely with the Director of Commercial Compliance to ensure Avove’s commercial policies, controls and contractual obligations are effectively embedded across the portfolio.

Skills

Senior leadership

Negotiation

Financial analysis

Forecasting

Cash flow management

Contract governance

Client relationship management

Commercial acumen

Education

Degree in Quantity Surveying/Commercial Management/Finance

Job description

The Commercial Finance Director – Capital Frameworks will lead the commercial and financial performance of Avove’s Capital Frameworks, working closely with Commercial Finance Leads to drive strong and sustainable results. With a clear focus on margin improvement, cash conversion, commercial risk and contractual performance, you’ll ensure work delivered is effectively converted into certified revenue, billing and cash. You’ll also play a key role in protecting Avove’s contractual position, ensuring entitlement is understood, evidenced and maximised.

You’ll provide strategic leadership and constructive challenge across the frameworks, helping teams strengthen commercial performance while ensuring compliance with Avove’s financial and commercial policies, governance requirements and client commitments. Working closely with the Director of Commercial Compliance, you’ll help translate Avove’s wider commercial strategy and assurance requirements into effective, practical controls across each framework.

What Will Your Day Look Like…

• Significant senior commercial and financial leadership experience within infrastructure, utilities, construction or another contract-based environment.
• A relevant degree, professional qualification or equivalent experience in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, Finance or a related discipline.
• A strong track record of delivering margin improvement across multiple contracts or frameworks.
• Practical experience of working capital management, cash conversion, accrued income and WIP.
• Strong knowledge of complex contracts, change control, contractual obligations and commercial governance.
• Experience developing senior client relationships and leading senior commercial or commercial finance professionals.
• Excellent commercial and financial acumen, with the confidence to challenge performance and influence at senior level.
• Strong leadership, coaching, negotiation and communication skills.
• High standards of judgement, integrity and accountability

About You…

• Lead the commercial and financial performance of our Capital Frameworks, delivering budgeted margin and driving sustainable improvement.
• Develop and oversee margin improvement plans, identifying opportunities and addressing areas of commercial underperformance.
• Drive cash conversion and working capital performance, with a strong focus on WIP, accrued income, certification, invoicing and cash collection.
• Provide robust challenge around forecasts, cost-to-complete, commercial risks and operational performance.
• Maximise commercial value by effectively managing contractual entitlement, change, risk and commercial opportunities.
• Ensure strong commercial governance across new bids, retenders, framework extensions and contract mobilisation.
• Partner with operational, procurement, supply chain and pre-contract teams to improve productivity, commercial strategy and whole-life value.
• Build trusted senior client relationships, leading commercial negotiations, performance reviews and the resolution of key contractual issues.
• Provide leadership, coaching and development to Commercial Finance Leads, creating consistency and sharing best practice across the frameworks.
• Work closely with the Director of Commercial Compliance to ensure Avove’s commercial policies, controls and contractual obligations are effectively embedded across the portfolio.

What’s In It For You…

• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Company Car/Allowance
• Annual Bonus
• Company pension scheme
• Life assurance
• Private Medical Cover
• Avove Discount Scheme
• Family friendly policies
• A selection of lifestyle benefit options
• Financial wellbeing programme
• Employee assistance program for health and wellbeing and onsite mental health first aiders to support our colleagues
• We love to give back so we offer you volunteering days in your community and charity matched giving where we will boost your fundraising.

About Avove...

Avove is a leading infrastructure services provider, delivering critical utility and energy solutions across the UK. With a strong focus on safety, sustainability, and innovation, we specialise in the design, maintenance, and renewal of essential infrastructure for water, energy, and telecoms networks. Our people are at the heart of everything we do, and we are committed to long-term investment in training, development, and modern equipment to support our teams in delivering high-quality, reliable services for our clients and communities.

We are an equal opportunities employer...

At the heart of what we do is a commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion. We celebrate what makes each of us unique and are building a workplace where everyone feels safe, valued, and empowered to be their authentic selves.