Financial Operations Manager

Finance Operations Manager

Leeds, West Yorkshire - hybrid working

The Role:

The Finance Operations Manager is responsible for the overall management of the transactional finance function, Accounts Payable (AP), Accounts Receivable (AR) and related financial processes.

The role oversees the transactional finance team ensuring financial transactions are processed accurately, controls are maintained and statutory and regulatory requirements are met, including the timely and accurate preparation and submission of VAT and CIS returns.

The role also focuses on improving finance process, strengthening financial controls, and ensuring finance systems operate effectively.

Key duties:

Transactional Finance Oversight

• Lead and manage transactional finance team
• Provide overall management of the AP and AR functions.
• Ensure supplier invoices, customer invoices and related transactions are processed accurately
• Review and approve supplier payment runs
• Ensure effective management of credit cards and employee expenses
• Ensure balance sheet reconciliations relating to transactional finance are completed and reviewed on a regular basis.

Compliance and Statutory Reporting

• Prepare and review VAT returns and ensure compliance
• Manage and oversee Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) reporting and compliance.
• Prepare and submit Payment Practices Reporting
• Act as the primary finance contact for external audit in relation to transactional finance

Financial Controls and Process Improvement

• Maintain and develop strong financial controls across transactional finance activities.
• Identify opportunities to improve finance processes, automation and operational efficiency.
• Maintain a thorough understanding of contractual changes (e.g. price increases) and ensure financial changes are consistently and correctly applied.
• Drive continuous improvement of finance processes, identifying inefficiencies and implementing practical enhancements
• Drive the transition from manual and paper-based activities to more automated and system-based processes

Finance Systems and Process Ownership

• Act as the finance lead for key transactional finance systems and platforms
• Oversee system administration
• Ensure billing rules and system configurations support accurate financial processing

Skills required:

• Qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA/AAT) or qualified by experience with strong practical knowledge of transactional finance operations and financial controls
• Experience of line managing and developing staff
• Strong understanding of VAT, and related compliance requirements, and experience of owning, producing and submitting VAT returns
• Experience of producing balance sheet reconciliations
• Experience of supporting statutory audit processes including responding to audit queries
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• A high level of attention to detail with a focus on accuracy and completeness