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Our passengers and freight users are at the heart of everything we do. We help connect people to their friends and families and get goods to their destination safely and efficiently. We’re an organisation where people matter. When your part of our team, you matter to us, and you matter to millions.

We're continuing to build a more diverse and inclusive organisation which is representative of the passengers we serve. To do this, it is essential we become a more open, diverse, and inclusive organisation, harnessing the skills and expertise of all our people, and attracting the best talent to help us have a safe, accessible railway for everyone.

We believe that investing in our people is one of the most effective ways of improving the safety, reliability, and efficiency of the railway. For more information about Network Rail and how we recruit, please refer to the Network Rail Careers website.

About the function

The CFO Directorate is led by Jeremy Westlake, Chief Financial Officer and is made up of eight central functions comprising: Group Finance, Group Property, Legal and Corporate Services, Planning & Regulation, Corporate Finance & Business Development, Risk & Internal Audit, and The Rail Investment Centre of Excellence.

Who are we looking for?

A fantastic opportunity to support the CFO (Chief Financial Officer) as an EA (Executive Assistant) on a 12 – 15-month Secondment opportunity based in The Quadrant:MK in Milton Keynes to support the Functional Director, in the delivery of an efficient, high performing, and professional function. To co-ordinate and align activities across the function.

The CFO is part of the ELT Executive Leadership Team and a member of Network Rail’s Board, giving the successful candidate the opportunity to work with the CFO on exciting transformative and strategic business objectives. This includes Great British Railways Transition Team for which Jeremy is also CFO and a board member.

The CFO leads a team of eight Directors, which the successful candidate will also offer support, alongside working with the functions PA’s/ EA’s and TO’s to deliver across the directorate. The candidate will also work very closely with the Chief Executive Officer and their office, to coordinate activities across the business. Additionally you will work with members of the Chairman’s Office, Chief Executive’s Office, Network Rail Board, and other ELT members.

As EA to the CFO, you will effectively be the first point of contact for many colleagues and senior stakeholders from across the industry. The ideal candidate should be self-motivated, be able to handle highly confidential matters professionally, have the ability to work in a fast paced and changing environment, whilst offering a friendly, welcoming and helpful front of house service.

What does the average day look like?

The role of Executive Assistant [Chief Finance Officer] is a multifaceted role in that you will undertake various duties including (but not limited to):

• Manage the diary and inbox of the CFO to include filtering and replying to emails

• Maintain on-going tasks and project list to ensure the CFO is prepared and on top of workload

• Manage and co-ordinate the development of functional and external stakeholder documents to time and agreed levels of quality.

• Prepare briefing material for the CFO

• Manage, collate and produce presentations and papers suitable for submission to NR ELT, Board.

• Identify, champion and support the development and delivery of specific projects and manage the implementation of these projects amongst the senior management team alongside the CFO Programme Manager

• Co-ordinate planning against milestones, budget spend and resource requirements for CFO office.

• Lead cross-functional teams within Network Rail to identify and share best practice and improve customer service across all functions.

• Act as the initial point of contact within the function for business and change management issues and communications.

• Lead and manage arrangements for functions, conferences, visits and meetings for both internal and external stakeholders.

• Plan, deliver and review national presentations and briefings for all the functions employees, including group-wide business briefings and team building events.

What essential skills and experiences are required?

The successful candidate for this role will be required to be/have: -

1. Self starter and highly motivated with excellent organisation skills

2. Excellent written / oral communications and presentation skills

3. Ability to influence and negotiate at all levels

4. Ability to develop a good network of contacts internally and externally

5. Experience of working with or supporting senior management

A message from our Chief Executive, Andrew Haines:

Our passengers and freight users are at the heart of everything we do. We help connect people to their friends and families and get goods to their destination safely and efficiently. We're an organisation where people matter. Watch our video to find out more!

Duration: 12 – 15-month Fixed Term Contract

Location: This role is based at The Quadrant:MK. For roles based in the Quadrant:MK, you must live within 75/90 minutes of The Quadrant.

Closing date: 8th June 2023. On occasions, we may need to close the advert early based upon application volumes. Late applications will not be accepted.

Interviews will be held W/C 12th June 2023

Band & Salary: Band 3A - £40,434 - £45,488

What can we offer you in return?

We have a range of benefits including:

• 28 days annual leave entitlement, plus Bank Holidays and five volunteer days

• My Benefits – our discounted online shopping site

• A range of discounted offers including, Healthcare offers, cycle to work, healthcare club discounted membership and other benefits

• Subsidies of up to 75% on rail and underground season tickets

• A range of pension schemes

• Two weeks paid reserve leave for our Armed Forces community

• Training, development and employee assistance programme available

• To learn about the benefits we offer please here.

About our people and the recruitment process

We're an inclusive employer of choice and we welcome applications from everyone!

We encourage our colleagues to work flexibly, as we know traditional working patterns don't always fit. If you want to consider working flexibly, just let us know and we'll do our best to help and invest in your career with us, whilst you have a healthy work life balance.

We're also a Disability Confident Leader employer and we'll try our best to adapt the process and offer a reasonable alternative to help support people with disabilities access, apply and interview for roles.’

Visit Evenbreak’s Career Hive should you need accessibility support to apply or should you require any reasonable adjustments/modifications, please contact RecruitmentSupport@networkrail.co.uk and have your IRC number ready as this will be required.

As an arm’s length department of the UK Government, Network Rail is required to comply with a well-established pre-employment vetting process for all prospective employees. Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks require prospective employees of Network Rail to meet the following requirements.

Provide eligibility to work in the UK and identity documentation •

Complete a satisfactory 3-year employment history check •

Complete a satisfactory unspent criminal conviction disclosure check for more information regarding BPSS pre-employment related checks, please visit the UK Government website for further information - UK Government - BPSS Checks

Network Rail welcomes applications regardless of age, disability, marital status (including civil partnerships), pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, transgender status, sex (or gender), employment status, trade union affiliation, or another factor.

We will interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria.

Safe behaviour is a requirement of working for Network Rail. Applicants should be able to demonstrate their awareness of our Safety Vision

Network Rail positively embraces flexible working recognising that employees may wish to balance work and family/home life.

Drugs and Alcohol Standard:

Our Drugs and Alcohol Standard is changing as of 16.01.2023. All prospective candidates who have not been offered a conditional role by 16.01.2023 will be required to undergo and pass a drugs and alcohol test. Your application will be rescinded if you record a positive test. All positive drugs and alcohol test results for prospective candidates will be securely held on Sentinel database and a 5 year suspension from applying for a safety critical role, a role which requires PTS certification or a Key Safety role on Network Rail Managed Infrastructure will be enforced.