Finance Director - dnata Travel UK

dnata Travel Group; Preston; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

dnata Travel Group seeks a Finance Director to shape financial strategy and performance for Gold Medal Travel, based on-site in Leyland, Lancashire. You will partner with the MD and leadership to drive growth, governance, and robust financial control across a large, global matrix organisation.

You will lead budgeting, forecasting, EBITDA and cash flow targets, and oversee reports, audits, and tax/compliance efforts while developing a high-performing finance team.

Qualifications

• Professional accounting qualification required (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, or equivalent).
• Significant post-qualified experience in a senior finance leadership role.
• Experience leading multi-functional finance teams.
• Strong background in financial control, reporting, FP&A, and cash management.
• Experience operating at board level with senior leadership exposure.
• Experience in a large, complex global matrix organisation with shared services.
• Strong commercial acumen with ability to translate financial data into insights.
• Proven stakeholder management and influencing capability.

Responsibilities

• Act as strategic and commercial partner to the Managing Director and leadership team, influencing investments, growth strategy and business priorities.
• Lead end-to-end financial planning including budgets, forecasts, and long-range plans.
• Own delivery of EBITDA, PAT, and cash flow targets with insightful analysis of performance drivers, risks and opportunities.
• Oversee monthly management accounts, forecasts, variance analysis, KPIs, cash flow reporting, and quarterly balance sheet reporting.
• Ensure strong financial control environment in line with Group Policy, supporting audits and timely statutory reporting.
• Interface with Group Finance, auditors, and regulatory bodies, including SAO sign-off and ATOL/CAA requirements.
• Maintain balance sheet integrity and regulatory, legal, tax, and HMRC compliance.
• Lead treasury, cash flow forecasting, liquidity management, working capital optimisation and banking relationships.
• Identify and mitigate financial risks including liquidity, credit, and FX exposure.
• Lead end-to-end O2C and P2P processes.
• Drive standardisation, automation and continuous improvement across finance operations and systems.
• Own the Finance systems strategy, ERP governance and reporting tools.
• Lead finance input into wider business transformation initiatives.
• Set objectives, develop talent and build a high-performance, accountable finance culture.

Skills

Commercial acumen

Stakeholder management

Financial planning

FP&A

Cash management

ERP systems

Leadership

Governance

Education

Professional accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, or equivalent)

Tools

ERP systems

Reporting tools

Job description

dnata is more than a global air and travel services provider. We connect people with possibilities and opportunities across 130+ airports in 34 countries through ground handling, cargo, travel, and catering & retail services. Our purpose is clear: to deliver on the promises our customers make. We are powered by a bold vision to be the world’s most admired air and travel services provider, which guides our strategy, culture, and every role across our teams. Our core values fuel everything we do: we are safe, we play to win, we respect everyone and work together as a team, and we are future thinking. At dnata, we foster diversity, nurture ambition, and celebrate achievement. If you're inspired by purpose and motivated to be part of a global team shaping the future of aviation and travel, we’d love to have you onboard.

As Finance Director within dnata Travel, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the financial strategy and performance of Gold Medal Travel based in Leyland, Lancashire. Reporting to the Managing Director, with a dotted line to the VP Business Finance, you will act as a trusted strategic partner to the leadership team, providing commercial insight, robust financial control, and clear governance. You will lead and develop a high‑performing finance function, ensuring strong cash stewardship, accurate financial reporting, and compliance with group, regulatory, and statutory requirements, while supporting sustainable and profitable business growth. Please note that this position is based on‑site at the Gold Medal Travel office in Leyland, Lancashire. Applicants are encouraged to carefully consider the location and commuting requirements before submitting an application.

In This Role, You Will

• Act as a strategic and commercial partner to the Managing Director and leadership team, influencing investment decisions, growth strategy, and business priorities.
• Lead the end‑to‑end financial planning cycle, including budgets, forecasts, and long‑range plans, aligned to business objectives.
• Own delivery of EBITDA, PAT, and cash flow targets, providing insightful analysis of performance drivers, risks, and opportunities.
• Oversee accurate, timely, and insightful management reporting, including monthly management accounts, forecasts, variance analysis, KPIs, cash flow reporting, and quarterly balance sheet reporting.
• Ensure a strong financial control environment in line with Group Policy, supporting clean internal and external audits and timely statutory reporting.
• Act as the primary interface with Group Finance, internal and external auditors, and regulatory bodies, including ownership of the CAA relationship and ATOL licence requirements.
• Maintain balance sheet integrity, regulatory, legal, tax, and HMRC compliance, including Senior Accounting Officer (SAO) sign‑off responsibilities.
• Lead treasury, cash flow forecasting, liquidity management, working capital optimisation, and banking relationships.
• Identify and mitigate financial risks, including liquidity, credit, and foreign exchange exposure.
• Lead delivery of an efficient Finance function, overseeing end‑to‑end Order‑to‑Cash (O2C) and Procure‑to‑Pay (P2P) processes.
• Drive standardisation, automation, and continuous improvement across finance operations and systems.
• Own the Finance systems strategy, ensuring effective use, development, and governance of ERP and reporting tools.
• Lead Finance input into wider business transformation initiatives.
• Set clear objectives, develop talent, and build a high‑performance, accountable, and collaborative finance culture.

Qualification

• Professional accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, or equivalent).
• Significant post‑qualified experience, including proven success in a senior Finance leadership role.
• Demonstrated experience leading multi‑functional Finance teams.
• Strong background in financial control, reporting, FP&A, and cash management.
• Experience operating at senior leadership level, with exposure to board‑level engagement.
• Experience working within a large, complex, global matrix organisation and shared services environment.
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to translate financial data into clear business insight.
• Proven stakeholder management and influencing capability across senior leaders and corporate teams.

You’ll Have An Edge If You Have

• Experience within the travel, aviation, or broader services sector.
• Prior responsibility for regulatory engagement and statutory licensing environments.
• Experience leading finance transformation, automation, or ERP enhancement programmes.
• A track record of improving profit‑to‑cash conversion and capital efficiency.

At dnata Travel, we’re committed to providing our employees with opportunities to grow and develop in their careers. So if you’re looking for a challenging and rewarding opportunity, join our team!

Salary & benefits

Join our growing team and enjoy a competitive remuneration package. Find out more about working with us in our website www.emirates.com/careers.