Property Finance Manager -Dunstable based. Competitive Salary and Benefits + Car Allowance

Role: Development and Estates Finance Manager

Function: Finance (Property)

Location: Dunstable, Bedfordshire.  We are moving to a hyrid office working model up to 3 days a week in the office

Employment Type: Permanent, Full Time

Salary: c. £68 K + Benefits +£5K  Car Allowance

In the role of Development and Estates Finance Manager you will act a Business Partner to the Estates Director and their direct reports across Repairs & Maintenance, Head Office and Estates Management. You’ll be responsible for supporting the delivery of the R&M strategy, management of Property Occupancy costs (including Head Office) and wider property strategy. This will include managing relationships with 3rd parties managing the R&M system and process and management of estates costs for the business.

The role also acts as the key contact within finance for the wider Estates and Development finance team working closely with FP&A, accounting & control and fixed assets to make sure that all property costs are reported accurately, included within the appropriate financial plan (Business Plan, budget, forecast etc.) and that “one version of the truth” is presented regarding property performance.

This is a fantastic opportunity to where you will make a huge impact in the UK’s largest hospitality brand managing property costs totalling c£700m per anum. 

Inside the Role

• Act as Business Partner (BP) to Estates Director, their reports as well as external firms Ostara team and Gerald Eve, building a strong relationship with all partners, influencing their agendas in line with business goals and targets.
• Drive decision making and pro-active planning with regular and forward-looking reporting to BP’s.
• R&M - Effectively communicate and present relevant cost/operational metrics and insight to stakeholders, and ensure appropriate actions are put in place to drive performance.
• Support the development of new asset tracking tools to achieve its objectives including specifically to analyse and evaluate repair vs. replace decisions to optimise future R&M investment.
• Work with refurbishment teams driving insight on the link between refurbs and R&M.
• Estates - Alongside BP’s you will be responsible for influencing and driving improvements in our 3rd party Property advisor (Gerald Eve) including monitoring of agreed KPIs.
• You will be responsible for financial planning and analysis of UK R&M (Capital & P&L), Energy (Capital), Estates (P&L), Estates Director & Head Office overheads (Capital & P&L) and Expansionary capital.
• Drive everyday efficiency through agree stretching targets with Property team (P&L & Capital) to contribute to the everyday efficiency programme.
• Responsible for project tracking and Post Completion Review of R&M and Energy projects and Capital, working closely with property teams to track spend on all projects and flag any risks or opportunities in a timely manner.
• Strengthen and maintain effective Financial Governance through internal and audit reviews across the team, playing a key role in mitigating risks and maintaining key controls.
• You will be responsible for day to day line management of two analysts, coaching them to ensure that they are motivated and stretched to ensure all activities are conducted.

We’re open to you

• Qualified Accountant (ACMA, ACCA, ACA)
• Ideally, you’ll have previous experienced gained in a business partner role demonstrating how you act as a key partner.  A background within Property/ construction industries would also be beneficial.
• Brilliant stakeholder engagement with the ability to influence up to an executive level and build strong professional relationships.
• Confident and credible self-presentation when communicating at all levels with ability to translate financial concepts and requirements to a non-financial audience. 
• Highly numerate with ability to manipulate and draw conclusions from large volumes of data (and Excel) and identify key drivers of performance.  
• Excellent attention to detail
• You naturally demonstrate proactive behaviour with a solution focused mindset

Times are changing, but our ambition is bigger than ever. This means huge things when it comes to budget and forecasting, and that’s where our Finance team really springs into action. Finding the right answers to drive us forwards. With new concepts launching, new spaces secured and reams of plans in motion, there’s no more exciting time to join than right now. Get to experience career growth that moves as fast as we do and be part of framing where we’re headed.

We’re 1,200 hotels and restaurants in the UK, Germany and the UAE, but we’re more than that. We’re the 35,000 people supporting our brands every day. The ones sourcing the nation’s favourite breakfast, plating up family favourites, and the great night’s sleep guaranteed people. We’re also always preparing for new openings, looking ahead and revamping our online presence. We do it for our guests, and it’s the details that keep them returning time and time again. We could be at the end of their road, their trusty choice for business trips, or we could be the place they associate with big celebrations up and down the country. We’re a constant in a changing world, and we’d love you to join us.  Bring your energy, ideas and sense of fun, we’re waiting and so are our brands.

In return for your commitment, we’ve got some great benefits to offer:

• Salary - Up to 30% Bonus
• Sharesave scheme
• Car or Car allowance option.
• A collaborative work culture that focuses on enabling your success and continuing your personal development
• A genuine flexible working policy
• Individual BUPA healthcare
• Optional contributory pension matched up to 10%
• Up to 25% discount off our brands 
• Perks at work 

Whitbread is an inclusive employer. We believe that everyone is unique and there should be no barriers to entry and no limits to ambition. We welcome your application whatever your background or situation. Under-represented groups such as women, ethnic minorities, people with disabilities & members of the LGBTQ+ community (those who identify as gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, trans sexual, non binary or use another term), are strongly encouraged to build a career with us. We are open to part-time and flexible working and, where possible, will try to support this.