“It feels good to have a career with real purpose.”

Contract type: Permanent
Location: Alderley Edge or Edinburgh
Working style: Hybrid 50% home/office based
Closing date: 14th May 2026

We’re looking for a Senior Cost Manager to provide financial leadership, insight and constructive challenge across our Technology cost base and change portfolios. Working within Business Finance, you’ll partner closely with senior stakeholders to shape cost strategy in line with business priorities, strengthen cost control and provide clear performance insight to support decision-making—helping protect and create value for Royal London.

About the role

•    Provide financial leadership, insight and challenge to aligned business areas and change portfolios to shape and deliver cost strategy.
•    Partner with functional leadership teams as the dedicated Finance point of contact, building strong relationships and influencing outcomes.
•    Oversee and challenge run and change spend, promoting a strong culture of cost ownership, accountability, effective decision-making and benefits realisation.
•    Lead planning, forecasting and business plan cycles, facilitating and challenging inputs and providing clear commentary on drivers movements.
•    Lead Finance review investment cases.
•     Ensure cost drivers and allocation methodologies used in planning and valuation expenses are robust, appropriate and well understood.
•    Translate central cost decisions into clear outcomes for stakeholders, ensuring timely communication and follow-through.
•    Drive continuous improvement and automation across cost management processes and associated control frameworks

About you

•    Qualified accountant (or equivalent) with strong business partnering experience in commercial finance or management accounting. 
•    Proven ability to manage and challenge cost bases, budgets and forecasts, using both financial and non-financial drivers to inform decisions.
•    Strong business curiosity and commercial acumen, with the ability to anticipate forward-looking issues, evaluate and present options.
•    Knowledge of the cost drivers within Financial Services Technology and Change functions is preferable.  
•    Confident communicator with the gravitas to influence senior stakeholders, negotiate effectively and provide constructive challenge.
•    Experience improving finance processes and controls, with a mindset for continuous improvement and automation.
•    Excellent relationship management skills, able to partner collaboratively across functions, levels and build trust.
•    Values-led, acting as a positive role model and contributing to an inclusive, supportive team culture.

About Royal London

We’re the UK’s largest mutual life, pensions and investment company, offering protection, long-term savings and asset management products and services.    
  
Our People Promise to our colleagues is that we will all work somewhere inclusive, responsible, enjoyable and fulfilling. This is underpinned by our Spirit of Royal London values; Empowered, Trustworthy, Collaborate, Achieve.  
  
We've always been proud to reward employees by offering great workplace benefits such as 28 days annual leave in addition to bank holidays, an up to 14% employer matching pension scheme and private medical insurance.

Inclusion, diversity and belonging

We’re an inclusive employer. We celebrate and value different backgrounds and cultures across Royal London. Our diverse people and perspectives give us a range of skills which are recognised and respected – whatever their background.