Head of Commercial Finance

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Full-time, permanent contract

About the role

The Head of Commercial Finance is a critical leadership role within a global, multidisciplinary architecture practice. Partnering directly with the CFO and senior leadership teams, the role is responsible for driving financial performance, strategic insight, and operational discipline across a complex, multi-studio, multi-sector international environment.

This position will play a central role in strengthening the firm's financial planning and reporting processes, improving global forecasting accuracy, supporting the implementation of the Target Operating Model (TOM), and driving the standardization and automation of reporting. The role requires a blend of commercial acumen, analytical capability, stakeholder influence, and experience managing financial processes within a project-based professional services business.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the global budgeting and forecasting cycles, ensuring accuracy and clear accountability across all studios and sectors.
• Manage a team of 4-5 Finance Business Partners
• Produce monthly group reporting packs with variance analysis, margin insights, and utilisation metrics.
• Analyse performance across regions, sectors, and service lines, identifying profitability drivers.
• Support improvements in commercial governance, pricing discipline, and project performance.
• Partner with senior operational leaders to improve resource planning and project controls.
• Ownership and continuous improvement of Planning and Reporting IT Tools.
• Model and analyse strategic initiatives including M&A, expansion, and major platform projects.
• Drive improved cash conversion through forecasting of WIP, debt, invoicing, and collection.
• Enhance FP&A processes, data quality, and financial systems; standardise reporting and dashboards.
• Coach and develop FP&A/Business Partner team members, raising capability across the finance function.

About us

BDP is a leading, global, multidisciplinary design practice united by a shared purpose: to design a world that's built for good. For more than 60 years, we've been solving problems, creating innovative spaces, and pushing the boundaries of what's possible. From the start, we've been pioneers in the world of design, and our legacy is built on the meaningful, people-centred places we've brought to life.

We are a diverse, international practice of architects, engineers, designers, and urbanists. We work closely with our clients, users, and communities to craft spaces for living, working, learning, and enjoying life across the globe. With studios spanning the UK, Ireland, Europe, Asia, and North America, our reach is as broad as our expertise. And since joining forces with Japan's Nippon Koei in 2016, our ability to deliver integrated, impactful design has only grown stronger.

Our work is rooted in creativity, quality, and collaboration. We believe that great design removes barriers and opens new possibilities, all while meeting the demands of a constantly evolving world. Whether we're designing homes, workplaces, or public spaces, we always put people at the heart of our thinking, ensuring that the environments we create are not just functional, but also inclusive, beautiful, and socially and environmentally responsible.

We're proud of the places we've shaped and the lives we've touched, and we are committed to continuing our mission of designing a better, more connected world-one that leaves every place better than we found it.

About you

Skills & Experience

• Fully qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA or equivalent).
• Extensive experience in FP&A or commercial finance.
• Strong financial modelling skills, including scenario analysis and valuation.
• Understanding of project-based metrics such as utilisation, margin, WIP, and cost-to-complete.
• Experience in global or multi-entity organisations.
• Strong communication skills and ability to influence senior stakeholders.
• Experience with BI tools, analytics platforms, and ERP systems.

Attributes & Behaviours

• Curious, analytical, and commercially minded.
• Comfortable challenging assumptions constructively.
• Highly organized, resilient, and able to manage competing priorities.
• Collaborative approach with strong stakeholder engagement skills.
• Values-driven and aligned with the mission of improving the built environment.

BDP offers

In return, BDP can offer you a wide range of learning opportunities to encourage personal and professional career development. From sponsorship to profession led CPD events, we also offer annual appraisals and a mentoring scheme that is supported by our internal online learning platform.

We are committed to being an employer of choice and offer a competitive remuneration and benefits package that includes an employee profit share scheme, tax efficient smart benefits, private medical insurance, life insurance, long term sickness insurance, interest free season ticket loans, health screening, opportunity to buy/swap holidays and enhanced maternity and paternity provision, plus many more.

We offer regular international, and studio based social, sporting and charitable events. Some recent events include month-end socials, a hiking club, wellbeing webinars and toolbox talks. Our variety of employee forums gives everyone the platform to have a voice and be heard which drives cultural changes and helps to create an engaged, inclusive organisation.

To find out on more detail about what BDP can offer you, please visit: https://www.bdp.com/en/careers-at-bdp/why-join-bdp/.

To apply

To apply please click on the 'Apply' button below. You will then need to complete the online application form and attach a CV and cover letter (<400 words) that outlines how your skills and experience fulfil the requirements of this position.

BDP is actively fostering an inclusive organisation where people can be themselves and everyone has a sense of belonging. We want our teams to be diverse at every level, reflecting the communities we design for. As designers, we will create spaces for all that promote equity, wellbeing and participation within the built environment. We actively encourage people from a variety of backgrounds with different skills, professional and life experiences, to join us and help us to achieve our aspirations. We also welcome applications from candidates who wish to work flexibly. BDP also operates a hybrid working policywhich is usually three days in the office and two days working from home.

No agency or third-party applications please.