Finance Operations Leader - 483605

Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park; Balloch; On-site; GBP 39,000 - 47,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous pension scheme

Wellbeing services

Flexible & remote working

Job summary

Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park is seeking a Finance Operations Leader in Balloch to lead transactional finance, controls, and system processes. You will drive efficiency, supervise a small team, and ensure timely year-end reporting and statutory accounts.

You will oversee accounts payable/receivable, payroll support, VAT, and month-end close, while supporting a new finance system and continuous improvement across processes. This role is hybrid with flexible working.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience in financial processing including AP/AR, VAT, reconciliations.
• Experience leading and developing a small team within finance.
• Strong working knowledge of nominal ledger structures and coding frameworks.
• Experience with implementing improvements and automation in finance processes.

Responsibilities

• Delivery of financial operations including accounts payable/receivable, cashflow management, and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Line manage Finance Advisers, providing guidance and covering during holidays.
• Support payroll processing and quarterly VAT return submissions.
• Oversee month-end and year-end close, ensuring timely and accurate management accounts.
• Support year-end statutory accounts preparation and liaison with auditors.
• Maintain robust financial controls and up-to-date policies and procedures.
• Collaborate with Finance Manager and partners to deliver budgets, forecasts, and statutory accounts.
• Drive continuous improvement across finance processes and reporting.
• Provide training and guidance on financial operations and the finance system.

Skills

Accounts payable

Accounts receivable

Bank reconciliations

VAT

Balance sheet

Line management

Financial systems

Process improvement

Automation

Team leadership

Education

Part Qualified/Qualified by Experience

Tools

Finance systems

Job description

Here. Now. All of us. Be part of the team championing bold action for climate, nature, and people in Scotland's first National Park. Join us and be part of the change.

Job Title: Finance Operations Leader

Salary: £39,130 - £46,856 (Band D) per annum

Working Hours: 35 hours per week - happy to discuss flexible working

Contract: Permanent

Location: Balloch, with hybrid working model

The Role:

As Finance Operations Leader, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring the effective day-to-day running of the Authority's finance function. You will lead and develop a high-performing team responsible for transactional finance, financial control, and system processes, supporting the organisation to deliver its strategic priorities.

You will be responsible for maintaining robust financial systems, controls, and procedures, ensuring compliance with public sector regulations and best practice. Working closely with the wider Finance team and budget holders across the organisation, you will provide expert advice and support to enable informed decision-making.

This is a hands-on management role where you will drive continuous improvement across finance operations, championing efficiency, innovation, and digital transformation. You will also play a key role in the delivery of year-end accounts, audit processes, and financial reporting requirements.

Responsibilities:

• Delivery of financial operations, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, cashflow management, and balance sheet reconciliations. Ensure all financial transactions are appropriately authorised, accurately recorded, reported, and securely filed. Responsible for the review and completion of the bi-weekly supplier payment run.
• Line manage Finance Advisers, providing clear guidance, support, and direction to ensure effective service delivery. Provide operational cover for transaction processing during periods of staff absence, including holidays.
• Support payroll processing and take responsibility for the preparation and submission of the quarterly VAT return, while providing ongoing support for VAT reporting and compliance.
• Oversee and deliver month-end and year-end close processes, ensuring they are completed in a timely and controlled manner. Support the production of accurate management accounts, with all reconciliations completed and reviewed.
• Support the preparation of year-end statutory accounts, contributing to the development of the year-end timetable and ensuring timely ledger closure. Ensure the accurate identification of accruals, completion of balance sheet reconciliations, and provision of supporting documentation for external audit.
• Maintain a robust financial control environment, ensuring effective controls are in place, and that financial policies and procedures are current, appropriate, and consistently applied.
• Collaborate closely with the Finance Manager, Finance and Procurement Manager, and Finance Business Partners to support the delivery of management accounts, budgets, forecasts, and year-end statutory accounts.
• Drive continuous improvement across finance processes, identifying and implementing efficiencies to enhance accuracy, control, and service delivery.
• Provide training, guidance, and support to budget holders and staff on financial operations, processes, and the finance system.
• Act as a key liaison with the finance system provider, managing queries, system issues, and enhancement requests on behalf of the Finance team.
• Support the implementation of a new finance system, including the development of coding structures to enable improved reporting across income, expenditure, and capital.
• Provide financial advice, guidance, and support across the organisation to meet operational and strategic business needs.
• Prepare and maintain financial policies, procedures, and control documentation, ensuring they are clear, up to date, and effectively implemented.
• Contribute to a user-focused and effective finance and management information service, supporting the team in delivering both departmental and wider organisational objectives.
• Undertake any other duties appropriate to the grade as required.

Who we are looking for:

Your skills, abilities and experience should include:

• Demonstrable hands-on experience in financial processing, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, bank reconciliations, VAT, and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Proven experience of line management, with the ability to lead, support, and develop team members effectively.
• Strong working knowledge of financial systems, with a solid understanding of nominal ledger structures and coding frameworks.
• Experience in process improvement and automation, with the ability to identify efficiencies and implement practical solutions.
• Proactive self-starter, with the drive to work both independently and collaboratively, demonstrating flexibility in approach.
• Practical approach to process improvements.
• Proven ability to motivate, support, and develop staff, fostering a positive and productive team environment.
• Strong organisational and prioritisation skills, with the ability to manage competing demands and meet deadlines effectively.
• Part Qualified Accountant/ Qualified by Experience

Ideally, but not essentially, you'll also have:

• Experience of working with budget holders to manage spend;
• Experience of working within a finance unit in a public sector environment;
• Experience of VAT returns and payroll processing; payroll month end and year end and dealing with external bodies on payroll;
• Experience of implementation of new finance systems;
• Experience of assisting with end of year statutory accounts, liaising with internal and external auditors;
• Experience of working in a small finance team;
• Ability to analyse reports/systems/working practices to identify errors and potential improvements

Who we are and our values:

We offer flexible and remote working, with a generous pension scheme and annual leave allowance. Staff have access to wellbeing services and there is a strong focus on wellbeing throughout the organisation.

Being part of Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park Authority means being passionate about what you do, working hard to inspire and lead the way for others. We care about each other and are accessible and friendly treating each other with respect and understanding, we think about our planet with each decision we make. Together, we are the difference.

Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park Authority are proud to celebrate difference. Diversity of experience is vital in our success we want our business to be representative to the communities we work alongside.As an equal opportunity employer, we actively encourage applicants from a wide range of individuals, irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, gender identity and expression, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.