Title:  Head of Planning and Performance (Strategic Finance) - NESO

About the role

National Energy System Operator (NESO) recognises the potential of bright and talented individuals, and we encourage you to join us as Great Britain’s energy system undergoes an ambitious, exciting, and vital transformation. Together with industry, we are creating a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.

Reporting to the Head of Strategic Finance, the Head of Planning & Performance is a Senior Manager within NESO who leads the CFOs co-ordination of internally and externally focused performance management activities. The role holder is responsible for setting and implementing the governance frameworks and timetables for these activities, and for providing insightful and quality planning, analysis, forecasts, and counsel to support long-term financial and business performance.

This role is based in Warwick, and we continue to offer hybrid working from office and home. We are open to full time and part time applicants, as well as flexible working arrangements.

Key accountabilities

• Strategic Vision & Influence: Leading the development and implementation of NESO’s performance framework, aligning it with corporate strategy and fostering a shared vision of success across the organisation.
• Inspiring Performance Culture: Championing a culture of accountability, learning, and continuous improvement by embedding clear success measures and promoting data-informed decision-making at all levels.
• Executive Communication: Owning and delivering the Business Performance Review, using compelling storytelling and visual dashboards to communicate performance against strategic goals to senior stakeholders.
• Insight-Driven Leadership: Translating complex performance data into actionable insights, challenging assumptions and encouraging strategic discipline and innovation.
• Business Intelligence & Governance: Driving the development of a centralised Business Intelligence hub and ensure robust data governance practices that support transparency and trust.
• Value for Money Leadership: Embedding a value-for-money framework that supports efficient, effective, and impactful decision-making, and communicate outcomes with clarity and purpose.
• Investment appraisal: Scoping, assessing, and evaluating the impact of strategically significant initiatives and investments. Providing evidence-based insights that challenge assumptions and encourage a culture of strategic discipline, learning, and performance accountability.
• Planning Excellence: Leading the strategic direction and continuous improvement of the business planning process, ensuring it is forward-looking, integrated, and aligned with measurable outcomes.  Defining and agreeing on success measures with executive leadership and business units. Leading the monitoring and reporting of corporate performance, ensuring insights are used to reinforce a results-oriented mindset. Establishing a single, authoritative source for performance data to ensure clarity, consistency, and trust in reporting.
• Collaborative Leadership: Building strong relationships across NESO, working with virtual teams and technology partners to co-create tools and solutions that enable high performance. 
• People Leadership: Inspiring, developing, and empoweingr a high-performing team of planning and performance professionals, fostering a culture of inclusion, growth, and excellence.

About you

We’re forging the path, and we know we can’t do it alone. That’s why we need visionary minds like yours to join us on this transformative journey. In this case, we’re looking for someone who has/is:

• Leadership experience in performance management and strategic planning.
• A proven track record of leading cross-functional teams and influencing senior stakeholders.
• Exceptional strategic thinking and analytical skills, with the ability to simplify complexity.
• A passion for data and technology, and a commitment to evidence-based decision-making.
• Strong communication and storytelling skills, with the ability to inspire and align others.
• A collaborative mindset and the ability to build trust and drive outcomes across diverse teams.
• Commitment to developing people and fostering a high-performance, values-led culture.
  

About what you'll get

A competitive salary between £85,000 - £92,000pa – dependent on capability.

As well as your base salary, you will receive a benefits allowance, a bonus of up to 20% of your salary for stretch performance, private medical insurance, 28 days annual leave as standard and a competitive contributory pension scheme where we will double match your contribution to a maximum company contribution of 12%.

You will also have access to a comprehensive benefits package tailored to support your well-being and professional success. From a competitive salary to flexible work arrangements, we promote your work-life balance. Enjoy fit for purpose wellbeing and lifestyle offerings, ongoing skill development aligned to our Purpose and Values, and be part of a supportive community that values your individuality and where you can belong.

About us

National Energy System Operator (NESO) has a key role to play in tackling climate change by transitioning GB’s electricity system to net zero. We already operate the fastest decarbonising electricity system in the world, with an ambition for zero carbon power operation by 2030 when there is sufficient renewable generation. We are also providing advice to the Government on achieving a decarbonised power system by 2030.

So, join the energy transformation and help shape the future.

Your energy, our future, together.

About the National Energy System Operator (NESO)

In Autumn of 2024, the ESO transitioned to National Energy System Operator, or NESO for short. Previously denoted as the Future System Operator (or FSO), the new National Energy System Operator is the independent body responsible for planning Great Britain’s electricity and gas networks and operating the electricity system.  

NESO, including all of its existing roles, are now at the heart of the new National Energy System Operator. As NESO, we will build on our existing roles, capabilities, and ways of working significantly to create an organisation the energy system and its users’ need. Our new capabilities will enable us to look across vectors, including electricity, natural gas and hydrogen, and crucially consider the trade-offs between them.

The organisation is set up as a public corporation with its own Board of independent directors, with complete operational independence from government, the regulator and any and all commercial interest. As was the ESO, NESO will be licenced and regulated by Ofgem through price control agreements and obligated to identify optimal solutions to system operations and planning in the most sustainable, affordable and secure way for all.

The time to deliver is now. As part of our team, you won’t just be touching the lives of almost everyone in Great Britain – you’ll be shaping the way we use and consume energy for generations to come.

More information

This role closes on 28/08/2025 at 23:59, however we encourage candidates to submit their application as early as possible and not wait until the published closing date as this can vary.

We work towards the highest standards in everything we do, including how we support, value and develop our people. Our aim is to encourage and support employees to thrive and be the best they can be. We celebrate the difference people can bring into our organisation, and welcome and encourage applicants with diverse experiences and backgrounds, and offer flexible and tailored support, at home and in the office. 

We're committed to building a workforce that represents the communities we serve, and a working environment in which each individual feels valued, respected, fairly treated, and able to reach their full potential.

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