Great British Energy - Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

About Great British Energy

Great British Energy (GBE) is a publicly owned energy company, created to accelerate the deployment of clean energy technologies and to ensure UK taxpayers, billpayers, communities and the energy workforce reap the benefits of a clean and secure energy system.

For more information on GBE, please click here: Great British Energy Live Assignments – FWB

About the Role

Reporting to Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is accountable for the financial health, resilience and integrity of GBE. Reporting directly to the CEO, the CFO will set the financial strategy, lead enterprise risk management and internal audit, ensure robust controls and transparent reporting, and act as a key partner to the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) on investment and portfolio decisions.

The CFO will manage the Head of Finance, who oversees day-to-day finance operations, reporting, and shared services delivery, ensuring capability scales with GBE’s mission and public value objectives. The CFO will also play a pivotal role in capital planning, investor relations, and risk management for large-scale renewable projects.

As a key member of the executive team, the CFO will lead on fundraising, M&A, and strategic investments, ensuring compliance with statutory and ESG requirements. The role will collaborate across functions to drive operational excellence, profitability and sustainable growth, supporting GBE’s transition to a clean energy future.

Key Responsibilities

Financial strategy & planning

• Set and lead GBE’s financial strategy, including long-range planning, budgeting, and capital allocation to deliver clean energy capacity, community outcomes, and sustainable returns.
• Drive financial modelling, forecasting, and scenario analysis for project viability, M&A, and strategic investments.

Financial control & reporting

• Establish high standards for statutory, management, and public reporting, ensuring clarity and transparency under public scrutiny.
• Oversee fiscal and regulatory compliance, including auditing, budgeting, and ESG disclosures.

Renewables / Energy Investment execution and portfolio management

• Oversee portfolio management and investment execution, ensuring decisions meet public value and return requirements.
• Lead buy-side and sell-side transactions (projects, portfolios, JV stakes); direct valuation, due diligence, and negotiations; actively recycle capital to optimise portfolio returns.
• Oversee transactions from Heads of Terms to close; manage external due diligence; structure deals (minority equity, project ownership/JVs, grants/loans) consistent with GBE’s mandate.
• Oversee the structuring of financing stacks (debt, equity, tax equity) and run the Investment Committee process; coordinate legal and technical workstreams to achieve reliable HoT-to-close outcomes.
• Lead portfolio stage-gates, decision papers, and reporting; set risk KPIs (e.g., cost of risk capital, confidence levels, aggregation horizons).
• Lead Quarterly Business Reviews and identify optimisation initiatives across operational assets and JV interests, including repowers, O&M improvements, and offtake upgrades.

Treasury & liquidity

• Manage cash flow, liquidity, and funding structures (grants, loans, equity positions), optimising cost of capital while protecting public value.
• Oversee treasury and capital structuring for large-scale renewable projects.

Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) & Internal Audit

• Lead ERM and coordinate audit activity across verticals and horizontals; oversee enterprise risk management policies, processes and KPIs to ensure consistency.

Governance & assurance

• Interface with the Board and committees (e.g., Investment Committee; AAERC) to provide clear advice and uphold Managing Public Money principles.
• Communicate financial performance to stakeholders and support fundraising and investor relations.

Market relationships

• Maintain strategic relationships with banks, PE/infrastructure investors, co-developers, and financiers; mobilise private capital, especially for nascent technologies and deepwater wind.

Shared services & systems

• Sponsor the design and maturity of finance systems and UKSBS/ICS shared services, enabling scalable, digital-first operations, working closely with the Chief Corporate Officer.

Leadership

• Build and lead a high-performing Finance & ERM directorate; mentor senior leaders and foster a values-driven, high-performance culture.
• Collaborate with other ELT members to shape corporate strategy and drive operational excellence.

Person Specification

Essential Experience and Skills

• Senior finance leadership in complex organisations, delivering high-quality reporting, controls, and public accountability.
• Proven experience as CFO or senior finance leader in renewable energy, infrastructure, or other capital-intensive sectors, combined with transaction expertise and a proven ability to structure complex investments and partnerships.
• Expertise in ERM and internal audit frameworks, with experience advising Boards and Committees.
• Demonstrable experience in treasury, capital planning, and funding strategies for large portfolios.
• Track record of success in revenue and profitability growth, capital efficiency, and M&A integration, including capability in merchant and contracted portfolio optimisation, hedging and basis risk management, and capital recycling/M&A.

Desirable Skills:

• Exposure to energy markets (PPAs, CfDs, storage, renewables) and renewable energy incentives.
• Experience with FLOW and LDES transactions or supply chain investments and grants.
• Exposure to multiple ISO/RTOs and international markets, including repower strategy.
• Advanced degree (MBA, MSc) or professional certifications (CPA, ACA, CFA).
• Experience with digital transformation, ERP implementation, and financial systems optimisation.
• Knowledge of public company financial reporting and compliance (e.g., TSX, LSE, NYSE).

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree
• Professional qualification (CPA, ACA, CMA, CFA) mandatory.
• MBA or MSc in Finance preferred

To arrange a confidential conversation, please contact the Edinburgh office via gbenergyexec@fwbltd.com

To apply, please submit your CV, Covering Letter and complete the equal opportunities questionnaire here: Chief Financial Officer (CFO) - FWB