Group Financial Operations Manager

Cedar; Greater London; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work pattern

Job summary

Cedar in London is seeking an experienced Group Finance Operations Manager to lead the Group's transactional finance functions, including Sales Ledger, Purchase Ledger and Payroll. The role combines hands-on financial management with team leadership in a multi-entity environment.

You will drive process improvements, ensure robust controls, and develop high-performing teams while supporting management reporting, budgeting and forecasting.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant with experience in managing transactional finance functions within a large or complex organisation.
• Strong Excel skills and ability to analyse and manipulate large volumes of financial data.

Responsibilities

• Lead Sales Ledger, Purchase Ledger and Payroll teams to ensure high-quality performance and service delivery.
• Ensure ledgers are accurate, timely and fully reconciled with regular reviews of aged debtors and creditors.
• Oversee end-to-end payroll process, ensuring HMRC compliance, pension requirements and statutory payments.
• Manage day-to-day cashflow and rolling cashflow forecasts.
• Identify opportunities to improve transactional finance processes, systems and team structures.

Skills

Leadership

Financial analysis

Stakeholder management

Change management

Education

CIMA/ACCA qualification

Tools

Excel

Job description

Group Finance Operations Manager

Location: London
Salary: £50,000 – £55,000 per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working Pattern: Hybrid

About the role

We are looking for an experienced and qualified Group Finance Operations Manager to join the finance team of a leading organisation within the charity sector.

This is a key role responsible for the effective leadership and development of the Group’s transactional finance functions, including Sales Ledger, Purchase Ledger and Payroll. You will play an important role in ensuring the accuracy, efficiency and effectiveness of financial transactions across the Group, while also identifying opportunities to improve processes, systems and ways of working.

The role would suit a qualified accountant who enjoys combining hands-on financial management, team leadership and continuous improvement, and who is comfortable working in a complex, multi-entity environment.

Key responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Group’s Sales Ledger, Purchase Ledger and Payroll teams, ensuring high-quality performance and excellent service delivery.
• Ensure Sales and Purchase Ledgers are accurate, timely and fully reconciled, including regular review of aged debtors and creditors.
• Lead the end-to-end payroll process, ensuring compliance with HMRC, pension requirements and statutory payments.
• Oversee payroll year-end activities, including P60s, P11Ds and reconciliations.
• Manage the Group’s day-to-day cashflow, ensuring timely receipts from funders and payments to suppliers and staff.
• Lead the production and review of rolling cashflow forecasts.
• Review and improve transactional finance processes, systems and team structures to ensure they remain efficient and fit for the future.
• Ensure robust financial controls and policies are maintained across the transactional finance functions.
• Resolve complex financial queries and discrepancies, providing expert advice where required.
• Develop and coach team members, creating high-performing teams with a proactive, customer-focused approach.
• Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including suppliers, customers, funders and operational teams.
• Support the preparation of statutory accounts for five subsidiaries and consolidated Group accounts in accordance with Charities SORP (FRS 102).
• Provide accurate and timely financial information to support management reporting, budgeting and forecasting.
• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement and lead change across the transactional finance functions.

Essential experience

You will be a qualified accountant (CIMA or ACCA) with experience of managing transactional finance functions within a large or complex organisation.

You will ideally have:

• Experience of leading a team covering transactional finance, including Sales Ledger, Purchase Ledger and Payroll.
• Strong experience of managing a payroll function within a large organisation.
• Experience of complex cashflow management, reconciliations and financial reporting.
• A track record of improving processes, systems and team structures.
• Experience of managing change and developing high-performing teams.
• Strong Excel skills and the ability to analyse and manipulate large volumes of financial data.
• Strong knowledge of financial controls and transactional processes.
• Excellent communication, organisational and stakeholder management skills.
• A proactive, solutions-focused approach with a commitment to continuous improvement.