Specialist Cost Planner

Who we are

The Senior Cost Planner is responsible for managing financial planning, forecasting, governance, and cost control across a portfolio of technology and business programmes. Working closely with Product, Engineering, Finance, Procurement, and Portfolio teams, the role provides financial insight, ensures strong governance, and supports investment decision-making across Capital and Operational expenditure.

What you’ll do

Key Responsibilities

Financial Planning & Forecasting

• Lead budgeting, forecasting, and month-end financial activities across multiple portfolios.
• Develop and maintain financial plans covering Capex, Opex, capitalised overheads, and resource costs.
• Monitor and analyse spend against budget and forecast, identifying risks, opportunities, and corrective actions.

Cost Control & Governance

• Ensure compliance with financial policies, accounting standards, and governance requirements.
• Manage project funding, purchase orders, accruals, recharges, and investment tracking.
• Challenge financial assumptions and forecasts to improve accuracy and control.
• Support audits through accurate, well-documented financial records.

Portfolio Financial Management

• Partner with Product, Engineering, Delivery, and Finance teams to provide financial reporting and insight.
• Track costs against approved funding and investment plans.
• Analyse variances, trends, and cost drivers, providing recommendations to leadership.
• Maintain financial visibility across complex, multi-million-pound portfolios.

Capitalisation & Compliance

• Act as a subject matter expert for Capex, Opex, and capitalisation policies.
• Ensure costs are treated correctly in line with accounting requirements.
• Review resource allocations and capitalisation activities to maximise value and compliance.
• Provide guidance on financial governance and cost management best practice.

Reporting & Insight

• Produce dashboards, reports, and executive presentations.
• Turn complex financial data into clear, actionable insights.
• Report on portfolio performance, forecast accuracy, risks, and opportunities.
• Drive reporting automation and continuous improvement.

Process Improvement

• Identify opportunities to simplify processes and improve financial controls.
• Lead initiatives that increase efficiency and reporting quality.
• Implement automation solutions to reduce manual effort and improve data accuracy.
• Establish scalable processes that support business growth.

Stakeholder Management

• Build strong relationships across Finance, Product, Engineering, Delivery and Procurement teams.
• Serve as the key contact for financial planning and governance matters.
• Influence senior stakeholders through insight-based recommendations.
• Support strategic planning and investment prioritisation.

Team Leadership & Coaching

• Mentor and support other Cost Planners.
• Share best practice and contribute to capability development across the team.

Skills & Experience

• Strong experience in financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and cost management.
• Good understanding of Capex, Opex, capitalisation, and financial governance.
• Experience supporting large technology, engineering, or transformation portfolios.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to present financial information clearly to senior stakeholders.
• Experience using Accounting systems e.g. SAP/Oracle, reporting tools, and financial dashboards.
• Track record of driving process improvement and automation.

Typical Outcomes

• Accurate financial plans and forecasts.
• Strong cost control and governance.
• Improved financial visibility for decision-makers.
• Increased efficiency through automation and simplification.
• Effective investment management and cost optimisation.
• Audit-ready financial documentation.

Essential Qualifications & Experience

• Excellent written and spoken English.
• Experience in a fast-paced IT or Telecommunications environment.
• CIMA/ACCA qualification, or significant experience in IT project accounting.
• Experience managing budgets exceeding £50m.
• Business Intelligence and reporting expertise.

Desirable Qualifications

• Degree in Finance, Business, Economics, Information Management, or similar.
• Knowledge of Agile, Lean Portfolio Management, PRINCE2, or P3O.
• Experience with Lean Six Sigma or other process improvement methodologies.

Direct Reports

• No direct line management responsibility.
• Will lead and coordinate cross-functional activities and provide guidance to Cost Planners across the portfolio.

Benefits

• Hybrid work model 
• Bonus on top of the gross salary.
• Meal voucher (Ticket Restaurant), additional to gross salary. 
• Flexible working hours from Monday to Thursday, and an intensive schedule on Fridays.
• Intensive Summer Schedule during July and August.
• Up to 20 days per year of 100% remote work from other locations.
• Private Health and Life Insurance for employees.
• 25 vacation days, plus December 24th and 31st off.
• Optional Pension Plan.
• Access to an online learning platform for continuous training.

#LI-Hybrid  

REF: 289179

Please, apply with an English version of your CV.

Not a perfect fit?

Concerned you may not meet every requirement? Vodafone is committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive. If you are excited about this role but your experience does not align exactly with every aspect of the job description, you are encouraged to apply. You may be the right candidate for this or another opportunity, and the recruitment team will support you in exploring where your skills fit best.

VOIS Equal Opportunity Employer Commitment

Vodafone recognises and celebrates the value of diversity in building a workforce that reflects the customers and communities it serves. No form of discrimination is tolerated. This includes, but is not limited to, discrimination based on race, colour, age, veteran status, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy, maternity or parental status, ethnicity, disability, religion or belief, political affiliation, trade union membership, nationality, citizenship, indigenous status, medical condition, HIV status, neurodiversity, social origin, cultural background, marital or civil partnership status, or socio-economic background. 

Join Us

At Vodafone, we’re working hard to build a better future. A more connected, inclusive and sustainable world. As a dynamic global community, it's our human spirit, together with technology, that empowers us to achieve this.
We challenge and innovate in order to connect people, businesses, and communities across the world. Delighting our customers and earning their loyalty drive us, and we experiment, learn fast and get it done, together.
With us, you can truly be yourself and belong, share inspiration, embrace new opportunities, thrive, and make a real difference.

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