Commercial and Planning Manager

The Commercial and Planning Manager will provide leadership to the Middle East Division in respect of:

• Financial planning and analysis, including the annual business plan, budgets, forecasts and the multi-year strategic plan
• Management reporting and performance analysis that gives leadership clear insight into contract and divisional results
• Commercial oversight of procurement, ensuring value for money, compliance and effective supplier management
• Business partnering with operational and contract leadership to improve margin, cash and growth.

Working as a part of the shared finance model, the role reports to the divisional Finance Director and works closely with Operations, Business Development, Procurement and the Shared Service Centre (SSC).

Key Accountabilities

Financial Planning and Analysis

• Prepare the multi-year strategic plan and long-range financial projections, ensuring the business plan stays aligned with divisional strategy targets.
• Lead the annual business planning and budgeting cycle for the division, coordinating inputs from contract and functional leads and consolidating across legal entities.
• Own the monthly forecasting process, providing robust full-year outlooks for revenue, margin, overheads and cash, and explaining movements against plan.
• Produce monthly management reporting packs (DPR/OFR) for the divisional leadership team and Group, with clear commentary on performance, risks and opportunities.
• Perform variance analysis of actuals against budget, forecast and prior year, identifying root causes and agreeing corrective actions with budget holders.
• Develop and maintain financial models, scenario analysis and sensitivities to support business cases, investment decisions and strategic initiatives.
• Monitor contract profitability and overhead (SG&A) spend, identifying opportunities for margin improvement and cost efficiency.
• Support cash flow forecasting and working capital management, including delivery of cash conversion targets.

Commercial Management

• Provide commercial and financial support to bids and new business submissions, including margin analysis and bid reviews in line with Serco bid governance.
• Maintain the register and track key commercial obligations, milestones and renewal dates.
• Report claims and disputes with financial analysis and evidence.

Procurement

• Provide commercial oversight of procurement activity across the division, ensuring compliance with Serco procurement policy, the delegations of authority and Group standards.
• Lead or support sourcing for significant spend, including tender evaluation, supplier selection and negotiation of commercial terms.
• Review supplier contracts and purchase commitments from a financial and commercial perspective before approval.
• Monitor supplier spend, performance and savings, and drive cost-reduction and value-for-money initiatives.
• Ensure procurement processes in the ERP system are followed and that commitments are correctly reflected in forecasts and accruals.
• Support supplier risk management, including due diligence and contingency planning for critical suppliers.

Business Partnering

• Act as the finance business partner to corporate office stakeholders and operational leadership, providing insight that improves performance, margin and cash.
• Challenge and support budget holders on spend, efficiency and delivery of financial commitments.
• Work with Business Development, Operations and HR on growth initiatives, mobilisation of new contracts and resourcing decisions.
• Present financial and commercial analysis to senior leadership, turning complex data into clear recommendations.
• Participate on programme boards, investment committees and review/project boards as required.
• Work with the SSC and Group Finance to ensure accurate and timely financial data supports planning and reporting.

Governance and Risk

• Ensure compliance with Serco's governing principles, delegations of authority and financial controls across planning, commercial and procurement activity.
• Identify, assess and report commercial and financial risks and opportunities, and maintain the related entries in the divisional risk register.
• Identify process and system improvements in planning, reporting and procurement, and drive their delivery through the governance process.

Organisation and People

• Travelling to contract sites and across the region, as required.
• To ensure the continued development of the team by regularly reviewing organisational structures, capabilities, succession planning and individual development plans.
• To ensure compliance with best practice financial and commercial policies, procedures and processes, which are aligned to standards set by the Group.

Specific Requirements

Qualifications

• Suitable qualified accountant (CA, ACCA, CIMA or CPA)
• Procurement qualification (e.g. CIPS) or formal commercial/contract management training is desirable

Experience

• Significant post-qualification experience in financial planning and analysis, ideally in a services or outsourcing business
• Experience of working in a business with public sector and government customers
• Proven experience leading budgeting, forecasting and long-range planning across multiple contracts or legal entities
• Commercial experience in bids, pricing, contract management and contract negotiation
• Experience of procurement, supplier negotiation and spend management
• Experience as a finance business partner to senior operational leaders
• Experience in the Middle East / GCC region is preferred
• People management experience

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