Corporate Finance Controller

Overview

Job Title: Corporate Finance Controller

Salary: Competitive plus benefits

Location: Walsall

South Staffs Water are entering an exciting and transformational period in the water sector, with significant growth opportunities as we move through the regulatory cycle to 2030 and beyond. As our Corporate Finance Controller, you will act as a key financial adviser to the Managing Director and Finance Director of South Staffs Water, working closely with colleagues across Finance, Strategy & Regulation to deliver critical financial and regulatory success for AMP8 and future planning periods.

You will lead both short‑ and long‑term financial planning, ensuring sustained earnings growth, financial resilience, and maximised regulatory returns. This includes full ownership of business planning, long‑range modelling, treasury and cashflow management strategy, and the development of central financial assumptions and investment benefits cases. This is a high‑impact role in a lean finance team, perfect for a commercially minded, technically strong financial leader who enjoys combining strategic insight with hands‑on modelling.

You’ll work closely with senior leaders, influence decision‑making at the highest level, and act as a primary link to the South Staffordshire PLC Group finance function.

• Leading the annual planning cycle, including budgets, 5‑year forecasts, cashflow and balance sheet projections.
• Developing and managing treasury strategy covering debt, working capital, cashflow forecasting, and financing performance.
• Ownership of the Corporate Finance Model, synthesising performance metrics such as earnings, gearing, credit metrics, RoRE, totex and RCV.
• Supporting the Finance Director with PLC Board communication, reporting, and presentations.
• Providing insight through scenario modelling, KPIs and performance analysis to guide business decisions.
• Translating and simplifying regulatory and statutory frameworks, acting as a bridge between Finance and Strategy teams.
• Supporting regulatory and financial reporting processes, including stress testing and year‑end financial resilience assessments.

Skills & Experience:

• Fully qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA) with 5–10 years’ post‑qualification experience.
• Advanced financial modelling skills, with strong technical accounting knowledge.
• Strong analytical capability with the ability to support evidence‑based, commercially driven decision‑making.
• Proven stakeholder management skills and ability to influence at senior levels.
• High‑quality written communication, including experience preparing reports or papers for Board audiences.
• Self‑starter with a continuous improvement mindset and strong delivery focus.
• Ideally an understanding of the UK water sector’s regulatory framework,
• Experience working in a regulated environment or within a PLC group structure, desirable.

• A recognised professional accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA or CIMA) – required.
• Evidence of continued professional development in financial modelling or corporate finance – advantageous.

• Significant exposure to senior executives, including the MD, FD, PLC Board and Audit & Risk Committee.
• Opportunities to present directly to the PLC Board on strategic financial matters.
• Full ownership of long‑term financial modelling, with the chance to build new capability and influence long‑term financial strategy.
• The opportunity to become a regulatory expert, shaping the PR29 business plan and long‑term strategy to 2035.
• A role with exceptional visibility, impact and development potential within a highly engaged finance function.