Cost Intelligence Manager

Hello! Thanks for stopping by. Let us tell you about all the great reasons to join us here at Yorkshire Water:

We offer a competitive salary, depending on experience (£55,000 to £70,000).

•    A company car lease/allowance scheme (£2,510 cash allowance).

•    Annual incentive related bonus (up to 10% of annual salary).

•    Private health care (self only).

•    Attractive pension scheme (up to 10% company contribution).

•    Life assurance cover of 4 times pensionable salary.

•    25 days annual leave plus bank holidays – plus an extra wellness day!

•    A great benefits package – choose from health cash plan scheme, critical illness insurance, dental insurance, life assurance flex and partner cover.

•    Retail savings scheme.

•    Online GP service, cycle to work scheme, gym membership discounts and many more!

Location: This role will initially be based in Bradford but we’re moving our office to Leeds Valley Park in summer 2026, so you’ll be based there in the future.  Leeds/Bradford/Hybrid Working (1 office day a week).

 
Work type: Permanent. 37 hours per week, Monday – Friday.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Cost Intelligence Manager to join the Commercial Assurance function at Yorkshire Water and be a part of helping Yorkshire Water to provide the best service to our customers. Could this be you?

What we do!

Everyone has an idea of what a water company does. Here in Yorkshire, we make sure that over 5.4 million people living in the region and the millions of people who visit our region each year, can rely on our services, and have clean and safe drinking water on tap and that their wastewater is taken away. But for us, it’s so much more than this.

We look after communities, protect the environment, and plan to look after Yorkshire’s water, today, tomorrow 24/7, 365 days a year. We provide essential water and wastewater services to every corner of the Yorkshire region, and play a key role in the region’s health, wellbeing, and prosperity.

New environmental legislation, unprecedented levels of investment and changing expectations from customers means that this is an exciting time to discover opportunities within the water industry. The Commercial Assurance function are a key part of how we plan to meet the changing expectations of customers and regulators.

The Cost Intelligence Manager is a vital role in enhancing commercial assurance capabilities, driving greater cost transparency, control, and value across complex, high-spend contracts with the objective of reducing value leakage by embedding preventative controls and commercial insights into day-to-day operations. To lead the development and delivery of cost intelligence capabilities that support strategic decision-making, commercial assurance, and value optimisation across the organisation, unlocking sustainable economic value.

The role holder will be responsible for leading a programme of cost intelligence dashboard systems designed to gather, analyse, and interpret cost data to provide actionable insights, benchmarks, and forecasts that enhance commercial performance and risk management.

Where you fit in!

As our Cost Intelligence Manager you will:

•    Embed a new systemised capability to proactively prevent contract value leakage supporting our drive to establishing robust supplier relationship management. This will be achieved through the development and deployment of an AI-enabled cost intelligence platform designed to provide contract managers with live dashboards, enabling data-led decisions to enhance commercial performance and prevent value leakage at source.

•    To oversee the development and maintenance programme of cost intelligence systems, designed to flag value leakage exceptions on complex, high spend contracts.

•    To provide insights into cost drivers and variances to support strategic planning and risk mitigation.

•    Drive continuous improvement in cost intelligence processes, tools, and data governance.

•    Support the development of cost models and scenario analyses to evaluate commercial options and risks carried out through value engineering.

•    To lead, managing and develop a team of Cost Intelligence Business Partners to successfully deliver the cost intelligence programme to time, cost and quality, providing assurance that costs claimed are in line with contracted terms and conditions of the agreement.

What skills & qualifications you will need:

•    Qualified to at least Degree level (e.g. Finance, Accounting, Quantity Surveying or relevant to commercial auditing).

•    Excellent knowledge and experience of commercial contract arrangements, and the inherent risks and opportunities with each option.

•    Experience in risk-based auditing in a commercial environment with a keen eye for detail.

•    Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to deliver high quality outputs and effectively communicate reports to senior management.

•    Strong analytical skills and ability to challenge existing frameworks, processes and controls.

•    Experience of leading and coaching a high performing team.

•    Have a positive, can do attitude with a drive to continually improve and is results driven.

You will also benefit from having:

•    Experience in managing third party consultants, required to support the delivery of complex commercial contract audits.

•    Knowledge and understanding of commercial governance.

•    Experience of implementing change initiatives and effectively working within a team to drive performance improvements.

•    Experience in infrastructure, construction, utilities, or a similar sector is advantageous.

•    Strong analytical and quantitative skills with a deep understanding of commercial cost structures and drivers.

•    Experience in commercial data visualization and business intelligence tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau, Excel).

Although we operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, it’s important to us that we support flexible working patterns and job share options (when we can), to help you make the best of both your work and home life. We know that juggling childcare responsibilities or getting that ideal work/life balance isn’t always easy!

Do we sound like your cup of tea?

If you’ve got experience in development and maintenance of cost intelligence systems as a Cost Intelligence Manager or similar and want to help us deliver great service for our customers whilst looking after the environment, then be sure to apply today to find out what a career with Yorkshire Water can offer you.

Closing date for this role is 2nd December 2025.

Interviews will be held throughout December.

If successful for the role, you will be required to undergo pre-employment checks that will include a Basic Disclosure Check, carried out through a Third-Party Company, prior to commencing employment. Depending on the role, you may also be required to go through the security vetting process for either a Counter Terrorist Check or Security Check clearance.

All our roles are subject to a medical questionnaire, and further medicals when required.

We are committed to removing barriers and ensuring our recruitment process is accessible to everyone. We offer a range of adjustments to make your application experience as comfortable and straightforward as possible.

If you have an accessibility need, disability, or condition that requires changes to the recruitment process, please include this information in your application. We will then discuss any reasonable adjustments required.

Kelda Group reserve the right to close this position before the published closing date, should the need occur. We therefore advise that you complete and submit your application as soon as possible.

No agencies please.