Corporate Finance Manager

11 airlines operate from LLA, including key carriers EasyJet, Wizz Air, and Ryanair. LLA’s route network serves over 150 destinations across 42 countries with 24/7 operations. LLA is an integral part of the local region and a major economic contributor to the UK through direct employment of over 700 people and indirectly supports over 10,000 jobs. The freehold owner of the airport is the Luton Borough Council (“LBC”) (held in Luton Rising (“LR”)), and the current concession to operate and develop the airport is held by London Luton Airport Operating Limited (LLAOL), an entity that is joint owned by AENA, the world’s largest airport operator, and AMP Capital, a specialist global infrastructure investment manager.

DEPARTMENT: Finance

REPORTS TO: Head of FP&A

DIRECT REPORTS: N/A

ROLE CONTEXT:

LLA is on an exciting journey in the coming years and is forecast to reach 32 million passengers per annum by 2050. To meet this rising demand, the next phase of LLA’s expansion may feature a restructured partnership with the freeholder, LBC, and further major capital investment to increase capacity beyond the current 18 million planning limit in a sequential and phased manner. In delivering this, LLA’s vision for the airport is to improve the passenger experience and to operate at all times in a safe and environmentally sustainable manner, as it looks to be a leading airport in the world’s largest aviation system.

There are a number of work streams ongoing which means it has been decided that a permanent, full-time corporate finance analyst is required to assist in delivering this growth ambition. The key ones are:

1. An immediate project to expand Luton Airport’s capacity to 21.5/23m passengers per annum.
2. A mid-term project to expand capacity to 32m passengers per annum. This will include significant airside and landside infrastructure development, including major upgrades to transport links and new car park facilities. This is made up of two key workstreams:

• An internal appraisal of how LLAOL could deliver this growth ambition, which could be through a partnership with LBC and could involve the construction of a second terminal.
• Work together with LBC to assist them in the delivery of a Development Consent Order (“DCO”) in order to gain planning permission to expand. 

ROLE OVERVIEW:

Additional capability is required in the finance team to execute LLA’s strategy outlined above.

• Specifically, LLA wishes to build more expertise in corporate finance, M&A, economic modeling, and debt financing activity in order to:
• Deliver core business processes such as the long-term Strategic Plan and 5-year Business Plan.
• Deliver strategically important projects such as the DCO, LLAL/LBC partnership, debt refinancing, and major CAPEX investment. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Strategy & Finance Business Partnering: Assist in the strategy plan preparation.
• Assist with the 5-year Business Plan preparation.
• Rebuilding / improving commercial models.
• Proactive Finance Business Partnering support; bringing financial insight and analytics to support and inform decision making and drive business decision making.
• Ownership of the Corporate Model. 
• Airport growth strategy: Ensure a robust business case is developed and approved for the continued expansion of the airport, working proactively with all stakeholders.
• Develop the economics of LLAL partnership.
• Develop the economics of DCO / expansion CAPEX. 
• Other areas: Assist in formulating the company's future direction.
• Debt refinancing processes.
• Commercial projects require deep modeling expertise.
• Ad hoc corporate finance type work to support the wider business.

PRINCIPAL STAKEHOLDERS:

InternalExternalExecutive DirectorsLBC / LRHead of FP&A and FP&A team shareholdersWider Finance team Commercial team 

PERSON SPECIFICATION

LLA is looking for an enterprising self-starter who has the attributes shared by the wider business, being integrity, open-mindedness, resilience, and agility, with the desire to continually learn and apply the values of LLA. The specific requirements that are considered essential and desirable for this role are set out below.

Essential:

• Education
• Graduate level or equivalent as demonstrated through experience.
• Chartered Accountant (ACA, CIMA, ACCA, or equivalent).
• Skills and Knowledge
• Communicate effectively and appropriately both face-to-face and in writing.
• Manage and develop mutually beneficial relationships with all stakeholders.
• Deliver high-quality work in a timely manner whilst managing the expectations of stakeholders.
• Responsive and disciplined with the proven ability to manage multiple, potentially conflicting and/or changing priorities, often under time pressure.
• Analyze data and issues and present practical solutions to problems in a clear manner, supported by sound reasoning to form a clear and decisive solution.
• Use effective negotiating and influencing skills to achieve the desired outcome.
• Core IT skills with experience in effectively using the MS Office Application Suite & Outlook (particularly, an advanced understanding of excel functionality).
• High level of numeracy and good data manipulation skills.
• Attention to detail and accuracy.
• Demonstrate commercial and financial acumen.
• Demonstrate drive, passion, and energy to deliver results.
• Experience
• Operating as a business partner that can challenge and support the business, critically appraising performance, and investment cases.
• Corporate finance pedigree (3-5 years in a corporate finance team).
• A practical understanding, and experience using, core economic concepts (NPV, IRR, sensitivities, discount rate judgments, etc.).
• Building and operating integrated driver-based economic models and running scenarios/sensitivities.
• Working within a wider team to deliver a common goal.

 Desired:

• Education
• Further, corporate finance-specific qualifications e.g., CISI, CFA, etc.
• Skills and Knowledge
• Broader leadership capability. Ability to contribute to the airport’s growth agenda beyond immediate role remit.
• Knowledge of VBA macros.
• Experience
• Previous experience within the travel industry, an airport environment, or another infrastructure-led business.
• Industry Awareness of who key stakeholders are (both external and internal) within the aviation industry and of the organization's aims and objectives.
• Involvement in a debt refinancing process.

WHAT WILL LLA GIVE YOU?

• A competitive salary based on experience.
• Membership in a profit share scheme (upon completion of a qualifying period).
• Flexible working arrangements based on a 37-hour working week.
• A market-leading employer pension contribution of up to 12%.
• Medical insurance.
• Optional study for further qualifications – fully-funded with learning support.

Extensive travel is not anticipated with the role, however, on occasions, both trips within the UK and overseas may be required, as will occasional long hours. This should be considered when applying for this role.

This job description is intended to give an appreciation of the role and the range of duties and responsibilities to be undertaken. It does not attempt to detail every activity. Specific tasks and objectives will be agreed upon on an ongoing basis. The post holder will be required at all times to perform any other reasonable tasks appropriate to your skills, as requested by the Line Manager in order to meet the operational needs of the business.

TO APPLY: Please email your CV and cover letter using reference CFM0505 in the subject line.

NB: Successful applicants must be able to provide us 5 years of checkable work/ education history and pass a satisfactory criminal record check

LONDON LUTON AIRPORT OPERATIONS LIMITED. AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER