Utilities Manager

Location: Blackburn
Salary: £35,000-£45,000 per annum (DOE)
Hours: Full-time, permanent, Monday-Friday
Working Arrangement: Office-based

We are seeking an experienced Utilities Manager with a strong technical understanding of energy consumption, utility billing and contract management to oversee electricity, gas and water across a large UK-wide commercial property portfolio.

This role requires more than general contract administration. You will need a solid understanding of energy measurement and billing, including kilowatt-hours (kWh), gas calorific values, meter readings, consumption data and energy conversion calculations. You will be responsible for ensuring utility invoices are accurate, investigating discrepancies, challenging suppliers where necessary and identifying potential cost savings and revenue leakage.

You will also lead a small utilities team, working closely with finance, suppliers, contractors and internal stakeholders to improve processes, maintain compliance and ensure utilities are managed efficiently across multiple sites.

• Lead and manage a small team responsible for day-to-day utility contract administration and account management.

• Oversee electricity, gas and water contracts across a large, multi-site UK property portfolio.

• Validate utility invoices, ensuring charges accurately reflect consumption, meter readings, contractual rates and applicable billing calculations.

• Apply a strong technical understanding of kilowatt-hours (kWh), gas calorific values, correction factors, meter units and the conversion of gas consumption into billed energy.

• Investigate discrepancies between meter readings, actual consumption and supplier invoices, challenging incorrect charges and resolving billing disputes.

• Monitor energy usage and consumption patterns to identify anomalies, potential revenue leakage and opportunities to reduce costs.

• Understand electricity and gas metering arrangements, including the relationship between meter readings, units consumed and billed energy.

• Conduct site visits and meter checks to verify readings, investigate unusual consumption and ensure accurate supplier records.

• Work alongside finance teams to manage invoice approvals, payment tracking, expenditure reporting and utility budgets.

• Review utility costs against contractual rates and agreed budgets, ensuring all approvals comply with internal financial procedures.

• Manage supplier relationships, negotiate contractual arrangements and resolve operational or commercial issues.

• Maintain accurate records of utility contracts, meter information, site accounts, billing data and contractual documentation.

• Attend project meetings, coordinate actions and ensure deadlines are achieved.

• Produce accurate consumption, cost and performance reports for internal and external stakeholders.

• Identify opportunities to improve billing accuracy, strengthen controls, reduce unnecessary expenditure and support energy efficiency initiatives.

• Ensure utility contracts and associated processes comply with relevant regulations and contractual obligations.

We are looking for someone who combines strong commercial and management skills with genuine technical knowledge of utility consumption and billing.

You will ideally have:

• At least five years' relevant experience in utilities management, energy management, utility billing, metering or a similar technical and commercial environment.

• A detailed understanding of electricity and gas consumption, including kWh, gas calorific values, meter units and the calculations used to determine billed energy.

• Experience validating utility invoices and checking that consumption, meter readings, unit rates and charges are correct.

• The ability to independently investigate complex billing discrepancies, identify errors and challenge suppliers using accurate consumption data and cal