PPL:  Management Consultancy with a difference… 

  • Financial Times UK’s Leading Management Consultants ‘Gold’ rated 2023 and 2024 
  • Winner, B Corp ‘Best for the World’ for Workforce 2021 and 2022 
  • Winner, MCA Consulting Awards for Innovation, Client Service & Value, and Ethical Consultancy  

Founded in 2007, PPL is a Social Enterprise and B Corp that exists to promote better health, wellbeing, and economic outcomes across the UK, working with individuals, communities and the organisations that support them.   

We do this through applying the best of current and emerging thinking in the fields of strategy and innovation, management science, digital, analytics, organisational development and programme delivery to help people achieve better outcomes in life and to deliver social value. 

Finance & Business Development Manager @ PPL 

Being a Finance & Business Development Manager at PPL means playing a critical role in enhancing productivity, driving overall performance and our wider social impact. 

It is a multifaceted role, combining day-to-day financial operations and resource management with supporting the development and growth of the UK’s leading social enterprise management consultancy.   

Working within our operations team, this role includes: 

  • Financial management, financial forecasting and accounting, invoicing, cash flow and supplier management, and ensuring compliance with statutory requirements. 
  • Business development including supporting framework management, tender preparation and submissions, working with consulting colleagues and partners. 
  • Operational management with responsibility for quality, environmental, information security and resourcing processes and systems. 
  • Senior leadership team support, including development and presentation of analysis, insights and key performance data to support the work of the management, executive team and board. 

The Finance & Business Development Manager will develop and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders within and outside of PPL, in line with the values of our organisation. 

These responsibilities are further detailed in the full job description available for download by clicking the button at the top of this page.  

About the role 

Working with the operations team, you will manage the end-to-end financial processes around our project and client work and oversee PPL’s payroll, pension and employee benefits schemes.  

You will support the identification and responses to new business opportunities, manage consultancy frameworks both on behalf of PPL and our partners, and work to enable wider business development.  

You will play a key role in all aspects of operational management including allocating appropriate resources to projects and leading our approach to quality, environmental and information management in line with our ISO accreditations whilst also ensuring effective risk management strategies are in place.  

This is a unique opportunity for someone who enjoys both financial and the more strategic business development and operational management sides of their role, who is looking to provide support and guidance to a growing social enterprise management consultancy. 

The salary for this role is £49,875 per annum.  

In addition, you will receive a benefits package including: 

  • 26 days of annual leave, rising to 30 days based on length of service, plus UK bank holidays 
  • 10 days of paid volunteering leave per annum 
  • Training and development  
  • Company health, life insurance and pension scheme 
  • Access to a range of other discounts and rewards, including our Cycle to Work scheme 

What we are looking for 

PPL is focused on delivering consistently excellent services to our clients and the communities they serve. Being at the cutting edge of public sector reform is challenging, and we seek individuals with: 

  • Experience in a similar role, working as part of a finance / operational function within a professional services environment. 
  • Expertise in developing, managing, and monitoring budgets, financial forecasts, and models. 
  • The ability to manage accounts receivable, accounts payable, cash flow together with monthly and annual financial accounting and reporting. 
  • Strong analytical skills to interpret financial data, conduct profitability analysis, and drive financial performance. 
  • Proficiency using financial systems such as QuickBooks. 
  • Experience of project management methodologies and software (e.g. MS Project, CMAP)  
  • Experience of working within formal quality and environmental management frameworks, such as ISO 9001. 
  • Experience in bid development and submissions, including within a public sector environment 
  • Strong communication and organisation skills. 
  • Ability to effectively multitask and strong attention to detail 
  • The ability to work collaboratively across functions and organisations and to motivate, mentor and develop team members to achieve common goals. 
  • Commitment to understanding and meeting the needs of clients, both internal and external to PPL 

The process 

PPL operates a blind recruitment process.  Successfully shortlisted candidates can expect: 

  1. An initial telephone interview (approx. 30 mins) 
  2. Online aptitude tests 
  3. An in-person panel interview inc. case study at PPL’s SE1 offices (approx. 2 hours)  
  4. An in-person final interview  

Schedule 

All dates are subject to variation. 

Application instructions 

The linked application form will be used to assess eligibility before CVs are submitted for shortlisting via our blind recruitment process. 

Please email your CV and completed application form to recruitment@ppl.org.uk 

Please note cover letters will not be considered as part of the screening process, so please refer to the application form for all required details. 

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at the same email address.