Cost Operations Manager (Fixed-Term) — Lead & Automate Processes

Legal & General Group; Cardiff; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Pension

Healthcare

Job summary

Legal & General Group in Cardiff is seeking a Cost Operations Manager on a fixed-term contract until Q1 2028 to lead cost accounting services across multiple business areas. This role combines people leadership with strong finance expertise to improve efficiency, automation and control in Finance Operations.

You will build a high-performing team, partner with key stakeholders, oversee month-end close and balance sheet reconciliations, and drive process improvements from planning through to

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant or equivalent relevant experience.
• Experience of leading, motivating and developing teams.
• Strong knowledge of cost management activities, including cost allocation, planning, forecasting, financial approvals, expenditure reporting and cross-charging.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead, motivate and develop a high-performing team with clear direction.
• Build collaborative relationships with business partners and stakeholders to support decision-making.
• Maintain robust financial controls, ensuring cost postings and reconciliations are accurate.
• Oversee day-to-day operational delivery and ensure outputs meet high standards of quality and timeliness.
• Act as subject-matter expert for cost month-end close and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Identify and implement opportunities to automate and simplify processes to reduce risk.
• Lead change initiatives across systems and processes from planning to embedding change.

Skills

People leadership

Stakeholder management

Cost accounting

Process improvement

Automation

Month-end close

Balance sheet reconciliations

Financial analysis

Education

Qualified accountant or equivalent experience

Job description

Legal & General Group in Cardiff is seeking a Cost Operations Manager on a fixed-term contract until Q1 2028 to lead cost accounting services across multiple business areas. This role combines people leadership with strong finance expertise to improve efficiency, automation and control in Finance Operations.

You will build a high-performing team, partner with key stakeholders, oversee month-end close and balance sheet reconciliations, and drive process improvements from planning through to