Senior Corporate Finance Analyst

We are Ofwat, the Water Services Regulation Authority, a non-ministerial government department responsible for regulating the water sector in England and Wales.

We have an opportunity for a Senior Corporate Finance Analyst to join our Major Projects Team within the Delivery Directorate. The Major Projects team is responsible for the policy and market development for the Major Water Infrastructure Programme, a pipeline of major infrastructure projects in the water sector in England and Wales, as well as Ofwat's role in the oversight of the development, procurement, and delivery of these critical projects.

The water sector is now entering a new chapter. The government has set out a bold new direction, bringing together expertise from across the sector to deliver better outcomes for customers and the environment. We are collaborating with fellow regulators to respond to recommendations in The Independent Water Commission Report, the Welsh Government’s response to the Green Paper, Shaping the Future of Water Governance in Wales, and the Government’s White Paper, A new vision for water.

Ofwat is working with the government and other regulators to help create a new body for England, bringing together our strengths with those of the Drinking Water Inspectorate, the Environment Agency and Natural England. We are also continuing to work with the Welsh Government to support decisions on the future arrangements for Wales.

While these changes take shape, our mission remains the same: to hold water companies to account, drive performance, and ensure the sector delivers real value for customers, communities, and the environment. If you’re passionate about making a difference, this is a unique moment to join us and help shape the future of water, and together we can continue to make a positive impact.

The Senior Corporate Finance Analyst role is a unique and exciting opportunity for someone with experience of infrastructure, project or corporate finance to work on the most important capital projects in the water sector, while gaining exposure to innovative private finance and delivery models.

In this role, you will:

• Lead defined tasks and smaller workstreams within the regulation and financing of new infrastructure projects, managing inputs, milestones and outputs to agreed standards and timescales.
• Assess project financing and delivery proposals, including financing plans, funding structures, procurement approaches and commercial arrangements, identifying key issues, risks and implications for customers.
• Undertake financial and commercial analysis using quantitative and qualitative information to develop clear insights, test assumptions and support evidence-based advice and regulatory decisions.
• Support investor and market engagement for the Major Water Infrastructure Programme by helping to prepare materials, respond to issues and gather evidence on market appetite, and investability.
• Build effective working relationships with water companies, investors, advisers, and colleagues across Ofwat, constructively challenging information and coordinating contributions where required.
• Prepare high-quality briefings, papers and presentations for senior colleagues, decision-makers, investors and regulated companies, translating complex financial and commercial matters into clear conclusions and recommendations.
• Contribute to policy, guidance and continuous improvement relating to the financing and delivery of major projects, sharing knowledge across the team and taking on greater ownership and leadership as your experience develops.

To be successful in this role you will need:

• At least two years’ experience in financing infrastructure or other large-scale projects, gained in one or more of the following environments: banking, consultancy, investment, corporate or government.
• An in-depth understanding of any of the following areas: financing of regulated utilities; private credit; project finance; credit ratings; infrastructure investment; corporate finance.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to interpret data and information to support evidence-based advice and decision-making.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex issues to non-technical audiences.
• Ability to build and maintain positive working relationships with a diverse set of stakeholders.

You will also benefit from:

• Excellent employer pension contributions of nearly 29%.
• 25 days’ annual leave (increasing to 30 with each year of service) plus bank holidays and an extra 2.5 days of privilege leave.
• Access to exclusive discounts on a variety of goods and services, including retail outlets, theatre tickets, holidays, insurance, and a gym membership.
• Flexible working arrangements that suit your lifestyle.
• Fees paid for membership of relevant professional bodies.
• Up to 3 volunteering days per year.
• Recognition vouchers scheme.
• Generous shared parental leave and pay.
• Enhanced sick pay.
• Regular development opportunities.
• Health and wellbeing initiatives.
• Cycle-to-work scheme.
• Season ticket loan for home-to-office travel.
• Free eye tests and contribution to lenses/spectacles for VDU users.