Director of Finance Operations

We are exclusively working with a leading PE-backed Retail & Services business to recruit a Director of Finance Operations. This pivotal role will support the delivery of the finance roadmap and drive the ongoing strategic development of the Finance function in alignment with the wider organisational objectives.

Reporting to the CFO, the Director of Finance Operations will champion best-in-class finance practices across the business. You will lead the modernisation of the finance function across people, processes, and systems, ensuring faster, more accurate financial reporting and enhanced operational effectiveness.

This is a hands-on leadership role requiring strong experience in financial control and proven success in managing sizable teams. The ideal candidate will be able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment while communicating effectively with all stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and develop finance teams, promoting accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement
• Mentor and develop talent, supporting succession planning to strengthen leadership capability
• Redesign the finance operating model to drive efficiency and support business growth
• Establish, monitor, and continually improve SLAs and KPIs across finance operations
• Ensure the team's skills and capacity align with organisational requirements and future growth
• Lead full implementation of finance systems and tools
• Drive automation and digitalisation of transactional processes to improve efficiency and scalability
• Standardise and streamline workflows to increase productivity and reduce operational risk
• Oversee preparation of accurate, timely management accounts and ensure reporting compliance
• Enhance reporting processes to provide actionable insights for senior leadership
• Support annual budgeting and periodic forecasting processes in line with strategic objectives
• Manage end-to-end transaction processing across Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, and Treasury
• Ensure all transactional activities are accurate, timely, and compliant
• Define and track KPIs, including invoice processing times, payment accuracy, and cash application efficiency
• Implement continuous improvement initiatives to optimise costs and service delivery
• Oversee finance-related people systems (e.g., payroll platforms, HR-finance integrations)
• Maintain strong internal controls and regulatory compliance
• Develop and update finance policies and procedures
• Collaborate with senior leadership to ensure finance operations support the broader business strategy

Requirements:

• Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, or equivalent) with a degree or equivalent education
• Extensive experience in finance operations leadership, managing large teams
• Proven track record in systems implementation, process improvement, and automation
• Experience improving structure in complex, manual, or high-volume transactional environments
• Exposure to multi-site operations, shared services, or centralised finance functions
• Experience in PE-backed, transformation, or turnaround environments advantageous but not essential
• Expertise in ERP systems and finance transformation initiatives
• Commercially minded with the ability to align finance activity to business strategy and operational goals
• Strong leadership, communication, stakeholder management, and change management skills
• Ability to develop a high-performing finance culture that adds value across the organisation
• Strategic thinker with strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
• Resilient and adaptable, able to perform under pressure in challenging environments
• Exceptional attention to detail, ensuring reliability and accuracy in all finance and operational processes

If you believe you meet the criteria above, we encourage you to apply. Due to the high volume of applications, we may be unable to respond to unsuccessful candidates.