Director of Finance, Investment and Planning

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Discover a one-of-a-kind career. Our vision at Heathrow is to be an extraordinary airport, fit for the future. In the Finance team we know that generating income is critical to driving our business forward, but it’s also vital that we create positive passenger and customer experiences that make every journey better. You’ll help us to get the balance right so we can continue investing in our world‑class environment. Heathrow is a world‑class airport, offering exciting opportunities for everyone. Finance here is about more than numbers – it’s about being influential, developing trusted relationships and showing the world that we’re a responsible investment with a bright future in digital innovation and sustainability.

Job Description

The Director of Finance, Investment & Planning is accountable for leading the financial investment and business planning across Heathrow. This includes responsibility for delivering the long-term, value‑accretive case for investment in the expansion of Heathrow, with clear quantified choices, risk assessments and trade‑offs to enable Heathrow to deliver a sustainable, affordable and financeable strategy to grow.

A qualified accountant with strong technical experience of capital planning coupled with excellent direct and indirect people leadership skills will hold the business to account for delivering the plan.

Your role will involve

• Capital portfolio prioritisation and scenario planning.
• Financial capital governance and stakeholder engagement for the capital investment of the Expanded Heathrow.
• Delivering clear plans, independent investment appraisals, and analysis that facilitates high‑quality decision making and for holding senior executives to account to ensure optimised, sustainable decisions for growth.
• Leading a team responsible for developing and maintaining the long‑term (40 years), medium‑term (5 years) and short‑term (annual) business plans and financial models as well as evaluating, scenario planning and prioritising the capital portfolio by holding financial capital governance and stakeholder engagement.
• Leading the team to develop risk‑based, value‑driven investment analysis and strategic business planning for the expanded Heathrow. The team will bring clarity and insight to enable high‑quality decision making including for significant, complex and long‑term investment decisions.
• Leading the team to provide constructive challenge and shape the balance of trade‑offs regarding efficiencies, risk, service, financeability and affordability as we deliver an expanded Heathrow.
• Developing excellent working relationships across the other Finance teams (e.g. Financial Control, Treasury, Business Partnering, Business Services and Procurement) and with other Leadership teams across Heathrow where alignment on planning, investment and external engagement is critical.

These Skills Are Essential

• Qualified accountant or qualified by experience with considerable leadership experience operating at a technical and strategic level.
• Technical experience of investment appraisal and analysis, proven delivery in complex, capital infrastructure environments.
• Broad financial knowledge, with experience in driving effective change within Financial Planning, Performance and Analysis teams, and proven delivery in complex, operational environments.
• Exceptional and proven commercial acumen.
• Demonstrated experience of successfully building and developing a team.
• An ability to think strategically whilst also maintaining a strong grip on the day‑to‑day and the detail.
• An ability to deal effectively with high levels of complexity, to be able to solve the most complex of problems.
• Experience gained from large infrastructure and/or regulated environments.

About Us

There’s something so special about working at the world’s most iconic airport. Heathrow brings out the best in all of us, and inspires everyone to deliver on our ambitious plans. Together, we’re working to welcome millions more passengers while ensuring aviation can continue to be a force for good by leading global efforts in sustainability.

Our rewards

We offer competitive salaries and excellent benefits that will support you now and in the future. As well as performance‑based annual bonuses and our longer‑term Share in Success Bonus plans, we also offer generous annual leave allowances and market‑leading pensions. With family‑friendly policies, access to private health insurance and a wide range of well‑being tools, we’ll support you to be at your best inside and outside work. And of course, we’ll provide varied learning and development opportunities too.

Working Location

Our Hybrid working approach offers the opportunity for colleagues in some roles to work from home for an average of two days a week, providing the flexibility to work in an agile way whilst ensuring we deliver for the operational needs of Heathrow. Working arrangements vary from team to team and will be confirmed during the recruitment process. You’ll need to be based in the UK and within a commutable distance to Heathrow.

Sustainable Travel to work

Heathrow’s Sustainable Travel Guide sets out easy and sustainable travel options that everyone can access.

Equal Opportunities

As an equal opportunities employer, we encourage applications from all. We believe that diverse talent makes us stronger – not least because we welcome passengers from all corners of the globe, every single day. Heathrow is an accessible place to work. With five diversity networks, we champion inclusivity and celebrate individuality.

Seniority and Employment

Seniority level: Not Applicable
Employment type: Full‑time
Job function: Finance and Sales
Industry: Airlines and Aviation