Innovation Finance Lead

National Energy System Operator Limited; Wokingham; Hybrid; GBP 57,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

26 days annual leave

Pension scheme

NESO Savings Plan

Job summary

National Energy System Operator Limited is seeking an Innovation Finance Lead to manage and report the financial performance of NESO’s Innovation portfolio. The role supports budgeting, forecasting and financial governance across the Innovation projects, working with NESO teams and external stakeholders.

The position offers hybrid working from offices in Wokingham or Warwick, with flexible arrangements. Suitable for candidates with strong accounting/finance background and experience in project

Qualifications

• Lead financial management and reporting for projects, programmes or portfolios.
• A degree or qualification in accounting, finance or related discipline is essential.
• Strong communication and engagement skills for effective collaboration.
• Portfolio and project management skills.
• Knowledge of the UK energy system is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead Innovation portfolio financial operations: POs, invoicing, queries, project and supplier setup.
• Coordinate annual budgets and milestone-aligned forecasts; explain variances and funding risks.
• Develop financial reports, dashboards and tools for senior leaders and stakeholders.
• Reconcile expenditure, commitments, accruals and forecasts with NESO teams; monitor cost centre spend vs budget.
• Provide data and evidence for regulatory reporting and external audits (NIA/SIF governance).

Skills

Portfolio finance

Financial reporting

Stakeholder engagement

Budgeting

Data storytelling

Education

Accounting/finance degree

Tools

ERP systems

MS Excel

Power BI

Job description

About the Role

NESO is at the heart of the transformation to a fully decarbonised energy system by 2030, and Innovation is critical to helping us meet the challenges of transitioning to a zero-carbon future. We work with innovation partners to solve problems arising from the energy system transition and to maximise benefits for the GB System and the end consumer. We co-create and deliver innovation projects with academic and industry partners across sectors. These will help us to operate the electricity transmission system more effectively in the future. More info Innovation | National Energy System Operator

As the Innovation Finance Lead

• Play a key role in helping the Innovation team manage, report and communicate the financial performance of NESO’s Innovation portfolio, including tracking and monitoring NIA and SIF spend, along with managing the Innovation Cost Centre finances
• Work collaboratively across NESO and the Innovation team to help ensure innovation activity is visible, aligned and delivered effectively
• This role can be based from Wokingham or Warwick, and we continue to offer hybrid working from office and home.
• This is a full time position and we are open to flexible working arrangements.

Key Accountabilities

As the Finance Lead for the Innovation Portfolio Team, you are instrumental to our journey towards zero carbon. You work across NESO teams, and with external stakeholders, to ensure that we are delivering our innovation portfolio of projects against our existing plans. You shape and adapt projects and NESO plans to meet the innovation portfolio objectives. Some key areas you will be working on include:

• Lead Innovation portfolio financial operations, including purchase orders, invoicing, query resolution, project and supplier setup, contractual checks, and financial closure
• Coordinate annual budgets and milestone-aligned forecasts, including Big Ideas and NIA/SIF spend tracking; explain variances and elevate cost pressures, overspends, underspends, delays and funding risks
• Develop financial reports, dashboards and tools for senior leaders and stakeholders, improving data quality, reporting and processes across the portfolio
• Work with Finance, Innovation and wider NESO teams to reconcile expenditure, commitments, accruals and forecasts, monitor Cost Centre spend against budget, and validate partner cost submissions, resolving discrepancies and retaining evidence
• Provide financial data and supporting evidence for annual regulatory reporting and external audits, in line with NIA/SIF governance and NESO licence conditions

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK by the start of employment. Visa sponsorship may not be available for this role and will be considered in line with business requirements.

About You

We’re looking for energetic self-starters who are passionate about driving the energy system transition and embedding innovation at the heart of NESO. The role would suit someone who can combine strong financial discipline with excellent reporting, data storytelling and collaboration skills. The key skills we are looking for are:

• Experience in leading financial management and reporting for projects, programmes or portfolios
• A degree or qualification in accounting, finance or related discipline is essential
• Strong communication and engagement skills for effective collaboration
• Portfolio and project management skills
• Knowledge of the UK energy system an advantage

If you believe that good communication, collaboration, and inquisitiveness drive better results, if you care about making our customers and internal stakeholders’ experience of working with the NESO a great experience, and if you are excited about change and comfortable with shaping and delivering fast-paced projects,

What You'll Get

A competitive salary of £57,000 - £68,000 dependent on experience and capability

As well as your base salary, NESO's core benefits are the essential perks and advantages that form part of your employee package.

• You will receive a bonus based on company performance
• 26 days annual leave as standard
• A competitive contributory pension scheme where we will double match your contribution to a maximum company contribution of 12%
• Annual Enrollment to NESO Savings Plan, when you save between £20- £500 a month from your take-home pay, we will pay a 50% matching contribution

NESO's flexible benefits programme provides you with more flexibility around your health, lifestyle and protection benefits, here's just a few available:

• Flexible Bank Holidays & Holiday Trading
• Additional Birthday Day Off
• Cycle to Work Scheme, Retail & Gym Discounts
• Private Medical Insurance, Critical Illness Insurance & Personal Accident Insurance

About Us

At the National Energy System Operator (NESO), we play a vital role in tackling climate change and securing Great Britain's energy future. We already operate the world's fastest decarbonising electricity system and are working towards our ambition to run it carbon-free for a short period this year - provided the market supplies electricity exclusively from renewable sources. Alongside this, we provide expert advice to government on how to deliver a clean power system by 2020. In autumn 2024, the Electricity System Operator (ESO) transitioned to become NESO - an independent, expert public corporation with a whole-system view across electricity, gas, and hydrogen. NESO operates independently and transparently, always actin in the best interests of all energy users. Licensed and regulated by Ofgem, we make impartial decisions that balance sustainability, affordability and security. Our organisation is fully independent from government, the regulator and all commercial interests, with a clear focus on system-wide benefit, long term thing and public value. The time to deliver is now. Join the energy transformation and help shape the future. Your energy. Our future. Together

More Information

This role closes at 23:59, on the day before date shown above, however we encourage candidates to submit their application as early as possible and not wait until the published closing date as this can vary. Research shows that some people may hesitate to apply unless they meet every single requirement. At NESO, we believe potential comes in many forms and we're committed to a fair, inclusive recruitment. We are committed to building a workforce that represents the communities we serve, and a working environment in which each individual feels valued, respected, fairly treated, and able to reach their full potential. process where everyone has the opportunity to show their talents. We celebrate the difference people can bring into our organisation, and welcome and encourage applicants with diverse experiences and backgrounds. At the National Energy System Operator (NESO), we play a vital role in tackling climate change and securing Great Britains's energy future. We already operate the world's fastest decarbonising electricity system and are working towards our ambition to run it carbon-free for a short period this year - provided the market supplies electricity exclusively from renewable sources. Alongside this, we provide expert advice to government on how to deliver a clean power system by 2020. In autumn 2024, the Electricity System Operator (ESO) transitioned to become NESO - an independent, expert public corporation with a whole-system view across electricity, gas, and hydrogen. NESO operates independently and transparently, always actin in the best interests of all energy users. Licensed and regulated by Ofgem, we make impartial decisions that balance sustainability, affordability and security. Our organisation is fully independent from government, the regulator and all commercial interests, with a clear focus on system-wide benefit, long term thing and public value. The time to deliver is now. Join the energy transformation and help shape the future. Your energy. Our future. Together