Commercial & Finance Director (6 Month FTC)
Advert Closes: Friday 4th April
Are you ready to lead the financial direction of major urban developments and strategic capital allocation for a £9bn+ business? We are seeking an experienced Commercial & Finance Director to join our team. In this critical role, you will provide complex financial analysis and direction for large-scale urban developments and significant transactions. You will act as a key financial advisor, ensuring our real estate investments deliver the long-term financial performance required.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead a team delivering appraisal modelling and investment analysis for major urban developments and transactions.
- Directly deliver appraisal modelling and reporting for existing and new development propositions, creating bespoke solutions for complex opportunities.
- Guide and support the Senior Corporate Finance Analyst, performing technical peer reviews as needed.
- Provide direct business partnership to development teams, offering commercial finance, risk management, and aggregated reporting support
- Implement appropriate financial metrics and targets for real estate investment, maintaining hurdle rates.
- While the role includes management responsibilities, it is primarily hands-on. Candidates should be prepared to actively engage in tasks, including working extensively with large Excel models and systems.
- Represent finance on significant internal capital decision committees.
- Lead capital forecasting and P&L reporting for development and investment activities.
- Act as a subject matter expert on real estate capital investment and development for group capital allocation and strategic planning.
- Take on broader finance function leadership and capability development roles as required.
Personal Requirements:
- Deep knowledge and extensive experience in real estate, particularly in development and investment transactions.
- Background in surveying or development real estate.
- Expert financial modelling and analysis skills, with experience in building complex models and drafting substantial technical recommendations.
- Significant experience in technical appraisal and Board-level decision materials, with the ability to deliver presentations at Board level.
- Desired qualifications: ACA/CIMA, with additional investment qualifications (e.g., CFA or IMC) and substantial post-qualification experience.
- Highly numerate with extensive experience in financial modelling and analysis.
- Excellent leadership skills, with the ability to lead teams and functions effectively.
- Meticulous attention to detail, considering business-wide implications and offering clear direction and solutions.
- Exceptional communication and drafting skills, operating with credibility at all levels of the business.
- Executive-level influencing and partnering skills, demonstrated through professional relationships and trust-based working.
- Ability to work flexibly and collaboratively to ensure team and individual delivery to timescales.
- Emotional intelligence and resilience, suitable for a senior leader in a mature finance function.
- Confident ownership and leadership of tasks and deliverables at short notice.
Capabilities:
- Problem Solving: Resolve issues with systems and software, implementing measures to prevent recurrence.
- Communication: Effective interpersonal skills under pressure. Clear communication of technical topics in an understandable manner.
- Design Thinking: Conduct analyses and provide data to support team efforts.
- Continuous Improvement: Commitment to change, staying updated on industry best practices and compliance requirements.
- Data Management: Manage infrastructure to maximise the value of data assets.
- Data Analysis: Collect, organise, and study data to address specific issues.
Join us in shaping the financial future of urban developments. Apply now to make a significant impact with your expertise!
Our Benefits
As well as a competitive salary, pension and performance related bonus offering, we have a wealth of benefits available ranging from flexible working; market leading family policies and shopping discounts in the West End, to private healthcare; life and critical illness cover and 28 days holiday with the option to buy more. We value work life balance and your wellbeing highly, enabling you to be your best self to work.
Disability Disclaimer:
We are a proud disability confident employer and operate the offer of interview scheme Disability Confident employer scheme - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
We are happy to offer alternative application methods or formats and can be flexible on our process to enable you to have the best opportunity.
If you have any questions about our recruitment process or would like to talk about adjustments, please contact us on careers@thecrownestate.co.uk
- Department
- Finance
- Locations
- The Crown Estate, 1 St James Market
- Remote status
- Hybrid
- Employment type
- Contract

The Crown Estate, 1 St James Market
Our Perks & Benefits
-
28 days paid holiday
We value that you get more time with your family and friends. Therefore, we offer everybody 28 days paid holiday, 2 volunteering days and the option to purchase further holiday.
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Flexible working
We value work-life balance highly, therefore we have flexible & hybrid working policies.
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Market leading family friendly policies
We want the support we offer to be inclusive of everyone, reflective of the wide range of situations people face in life.
Workplace, Culture & Diversity
It’s our ambition to be an inclusive organisation that reflects our society, one where all feel welcome, able to be themselves and belong.
A workplace where you’re empowered to be yourself, diverse thinking is encouraged, and a place where you can realise your potential.
About The Crown Estate
The Crown Estate is a unique business with a distinct heritage and a portfolio unlike any other.
It includes some of central London’s best places to work, shop and spend time, retail and leisure destinations across the country, and a substantial rural portfolio. As manager of the seabed and half the foreshore around England, Wales and Northern Ireland, we play a role in the UK’s world-leading offshore wind sector as well as marine aggregates, cables and pipelines. We are also responsible for the Windsor Estate, including the world-renowned Windsor Great Park.
Commercial & Finance Director (6 Month FTC)
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