Finance Operations Risk & Reporting Manager

Premier Foods; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Annual bonus

25 days holiday

Pension contribution

Employee discounts

Learning & development

Volunteering days

Sharesave scheme

Electric vehicle scheme

Job summary

Premier Foods is seeking an Operations Risk & Reporting Manager in Manchester to strengthen governance, manage operational and financial risk, and deliver insightful reporting across Financial Operations. The role leads a specialist team overseeing risk, governance, reporting and credit management, in a growing shared services environment.

You’ll partner with Finance, Commercial and PBS leaders to drive performance, continuous improvement and robust controls across AR and AP, ensuring compliance

Qualifications

• Significant experience within Financial Operations, Shared Services, Accounts Receivable/Payable, or related risk and audit environments.
• Proven leadership of high-performing teams in a complex operating setting.
• Strong understanding of financial controls and governance frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Lead risk, governance and reporting agenda across Financial Operations.
• Define and enhance risk, governance and control frameworks for AR/AP.
• Oversee financial controls and compliance with policies and audit requirements.
• Own onboarding and credit risk processes with due diligence and policy adherence.
• Drive proactive risk management with actionable mitigation actions.
• Lead internal/external audits and manage remediation plans.
• Develop reporting on cash collection, debt, working capital, and risk metrics.
• Translate data insights into actionable business recommendations.
• Partner with Finance, Commercial and PBS leadership to drive performance improvements.
• Support business and finance transformation initiatives with governance embedded.

Skills

Financial operations

Risk management

Governance

Audit

Tools

SAP

Job description

Based - Manchester City Centre, M2 6DN (Hybrid)

Permanent, Full Time

Operations Risk & Reporting Manager

At Premier Foods, we've redesigned our Finance organisation to create a stronger, more specialised and future-focused operating model within Premier Business Services (PBS).

As part of this transformation, we're creating exciting opportunities for talented professionals to develop their expertise, broaden their experience and help shape the future of Financial Operations.

Help shape the future of Financial Operations at Premier Foods

At Premier Foods, we're investing heavily in the future of our Premier Business Services (PBS) operation. As our business continues to grow, we're strengthening our shared services capability, enhancing processes, developing talent and creating new opportunities for people who want to make a real impact.

We're looking for an Operations Risk & Reporting Manager to play a pivotal role in strengthening governance, managing operational and financial risk, and delivering the insight that supports effective decision making across Financial Operations.

This is a highly visible leadership role where you'll act as the control tower for Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable, helping to ensure that robust controls, compliance frameworks and risk management practices are embedded across the function.

You'll lead a specialist team responsible for governance, risk, reporting and credit management activities, while partnering closely with Finance, Commercial and PBS leaders to drive performance and continuous improvement.

As part of our ongoing transformation, you'll have the opportunity to shape how risk, controls and operational reporting evolve within a growing shared services environment, helping to create a best-in-class Financial Operations function that supports the long-term success of the business.

What you'll be doing

As Operations Risk & Reporting Manager, you'll provide leadership across the risk, governance and reporting agenda for Financial Operations, ensuring robust controls, transparency of performance and effective management of operational and financial risk.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading and developing a specialist team responsible for risk management, governance, reporting and operational insight.
• Defining, implementing and continuously enhancing risk, governance and control frameworks across Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable.
• Acting as a key point of leadership for financial controls, ensuring compliance with internal policies, external regulations and audit requirements.
• Owning customer onboarding and credit risk processes, ensuring robust due diligence, appropriate risk assessment and adherence to company policy.
• Driving a proactive approach to risk management, identifying emerging risks, recommending mitigation actions and supporting informed decision making.
• Leading internal and external audit activities, managing remediation plans and ensuring actions are embedded effectively and sustainably.
• Developing and delivering meaningful reporting and insight across cash collection, debt, working capital, credit risk and operational performance measures.
• Using data and analytics to identify trends, opportunities and areas for improvement, translating complex information into actionable recommendations.
• Partnering with Finance, Commercial and PBS leadership teams to influence business decisions and support performance improvements.
• Supporting business and finance transformation initiatives, ensuring governance, control and risk considerations are embedded throughout the change lifecycle.
• Driving a culture of continuous improvement, accountability and operational excellence across Financial Operations.

What we're looking for

You'll be a confident and credible leader who combines strong commercial awareness with deep expertise in risk, governance and operational controls. You'll enjoy working collaboratively across functions, using insight and influence to drive positive business outcomes.

You'll bring:

• Significant experience within Financial Operations, Shared Services, Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, Order-to-Cash, Procure-to-Pay, Risk, Controls or Audit environments.
• Proven experience leading and developing high-performing teams within a complex operational environment.
• Strong understanding of financial controls, governance frameworks, regulatory compliance and audit requirements.
• Experience of credit risk management, customer onboarding and risk-based decision making.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex data and generate meaningful business insights.
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the confidence to engage and challenge at senior levels.
• A proactive and continuous improvement mindset, with the ability to identify opportunities to strengthen processes, controls and performance.
• Strong organisational skills, attention to detail and the ability to prioritise effectively in a fast-paced environment.

Experience of SAP, sanctions compliance, finance transformation programmes or FMCG environments would be advantageous.

What we offer in return

When you join us, you'll be part of a collaborative team where your ideas are valued, your development is supported, and your impact can be seen across the business.

Alongside the opportunity to grow your career within our expanding PBS function, you'll enjoy a great range of benefits including:

• Competitive salary
• Annual bonus scheme
• 25 days holiday plus bank holiday
• Holiday Purchase Scheme
• Paid day volunteering
• Up to 7.5 % employer pension contribution
• Sharesave Scheme
• Electric Vehicle Scheme
• Extensive online and in-house learning and development
• Employee discounts with hundreds of leading retailers

At Premier foods we believe in inclusion, authenticity and individuality. We aim to ensure all existing and future colleagues are given equitable opportunities and are respected, valued and encouraged to bring their true authentic selves to work no matter who they are, what they look like, who they love or what they believe in. Our culture is one where everyone is welcome.

We're proud to be a Disability Smart employer and are committed to supporting disability inclusion throughout our recruitment process. If you experience any access issues or require reasonable adjustments at any stage, please let us know so we can ensure you have the support you need.