Head of Finance

About Dalkia UK

At Dalkia, we’re driven by a shared purpose: tackling climate change and building a better, more sustainable future. We bring together talented people who share knowledge, challenge each other and grow together.

Backed by EDF, Britain’s biggest generator of low carbon electricity, we’re a people-first culture. With 5,000+ employees and £600m+ turnover, we combine the strength of a major group with a great culture, innovative mindset and inclusive values making Dalkia a great place to work and grow your career.

We are now seeking a Head of Finance to join our senior leadership team and play a central role in driving financial performance, strengthening commercial discipline, and supporting strategic decision-making across the business.

The Opportunity

This is a senior leadership, board-facing role, reporting to the Managing Director and partnering closely with the Group CFO.

You will have full ownership of financial control, reporting, planning, forecasting, cash management and governance, while acting as a key strategic partner to the SLT in shaping performance and driving accountability across the business.

This role sits at the heart of decision-making and will directly influence operational, commercial and investment strategy.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a finance team (c.6), setting clear direction, structure and performance standards
• Own month-end close, management reporting and KPI delivery across the business
• Lead budgeting, forecasting and scenario planning in a fast-paced, project-led environment
• Partner with operational and commercial leaders to drive margin, profitability and performance
• Act as a trusted challenger to the MD and SLT, embedding strong financial discipline in decision-making
• Oversee cash flow, working capital, WIP and liquidity management
• Ensure robust financial controls, governance and statutory compliance
• Lead audit and external stakeholder relationships
• Drive continuous improvement across systems, reporting and financial processes

Essential Experience

We are specifically seeking candidates with senior finance leadership experience within one or more of the following sectors:

• Construction
• Engineering
• Infrastructure
• Facilities Management (FM) / Building Services
• Energy / Utilities / Energy Services
• Project-led, contract-based or capital delivery environments

You will have strong exposure to:

• Project accounting / WIP / contract accounting
• NEC / JCT contract environments (or similar)
• Commercial finance in operational businesses
• Cash flow, forecasting and working capital management in complex environments

What We’re Looking For

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA)
• Proven experience in Head of Finance / Finance Director / SLT-level roles
• Strong track record of operating in project-led, operationally complex industries
• Experience influencing senior stakeholders, including MDs and executive teams
• Strong financial control background combined with commercial acumen
• Ability to translate financial insight into business performance improvement
• Experience driving financial discipline and governance in fast-moving environments

The Ideal Candidate Will Be

• A credible senior finance leader from a relevant industry background
• Confident challenging senior leadership and holding teams accountable
• Commercially sharp, with strong operational understanding
• Experienced in managing complexity across projects and contracts
• A strong communicator who can influence at all levels
• A driver of financial discipline, structure and performance culture

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

We’re committed to an inclusive and fair recruitment process. If you need any adjustments, please let us know, in confidence, our team is here to support you.