Head Of Corporate Finance

• Head of Corporate Finance for the Office of Rail & Road
• corporate finance, regulatory finance, cost of capital

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) is the independent economic and safety regulator for Britain's railways and monitor of performance on England's strategic road network.

This is an exciting time to join ORR, when they are delivering a significant transformation programme to create a consistently agile and enabling organisation, with the right capability and a strong, inclusive culture that reflects their talented people. This will ensure they continue to operate as an independent, expert regulator, fit for the future and equipped with the capabilities and ways of working required to support sector-wide rail reform, while contributing to the government's broader agenda on regulatory reform and economic growth.

This Head of Corporate Finance will lead on corporate finance matters relating to ORR's economic regulation of the Lower Thames Crossing. The job holder will play a critical role in helping influence the design of the economic regime in particular in relation to financing.

You will:

• Lead on corporate finance matters for the ORR, for example on the financial structure for Lower Thames Crossing company (including debt and equity structure), financial resilience, financial incentives, use of hedging/derivatives and Weighted Average Cost of Capital matters, working with external corporate finance advisers as appropriate.
• Develop ORR's wider corporate finance strategy, including engagement with rating agencies and beyond.
• Represent the ORR externally at Lower Thames Crossing working group discussions on corporate finance matters.
• Work with the Government's transaction advisors for the project on the financial transaction as required.
• Work with the banking advisors for the project on LTC Co credit ratings.
• Undertake annual financial resilience monitoring for Lower Thames Crossing.
• Engage on cost of capital issues on an on-going basis as required.
• With support from the regulatory finance team, provide advice on and undertake financial modelling for the ORR (e.g. scenario planning and reconciliation models as necessary)
• Advise the wider team on corporate and regulatory finance matters as necessary.

Good understanding of corporate finance issues in an economic regulation regime*

The key behaviours of communicating, influencing and leadership

Experience of working in a corporate finance role

Analysing and organising complex financial data, drawing robust conclusions

Producing clear and concise reports and presentations for internal and external audiences

Mandatory Degree in a Finance, Accounting or Economics (or a related numerical degree), or equivalent finance / accountancy qualification.*

The lead criteria for this role is:
Good understanding of corporate finance issues in an economic regulation regime.

If we receive a large number of applications, we might go through a pre-sift stage based on the lead criteria for this role; applications that pass pre-sift will progress to a full shortlisting stage against all criteria.

Interviews with the ORR panel are expected to take place w/c 7 December and 14 December. At interview, we'll assess you against the essential criteria listed above. As part of the ORR interview process, you will be asked to complete a written assessment and/or prepare a short presentation and submit these in advance by a deadline and discuss or present these at your interview.

Details of either a test or presentation and how you are expected to complete and deliver these, will be included in your email. The selection process may also include a second interview.

London £78,032 - £86,231 or Regional £72,421 - £81,918

This role can be based at any of the office locations:
London, Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester, York, Glasgow. ORR have adopted hybrid working and are currently expected to work from a workplace location for a minimum of two days per week or 40%. This may be higher depending on the role and business needs. Workplace locations include ORR offices, inspection sites, off-site meetings, conferences, and other approved business locations.

Closing date for applications: 23:55 on 23/11/2026