Head of Accounting Services

Co-op; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 95,000 - 116,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car allowance £6,000

Private healthcare

Pension contributions up to 10%

Onsite gym

Job summary

Co-op is seeking a Head of Accounting Services in Manchester to optimise working capital, focusing on cash flow and debtors. You will lead reconciliations, billing, collections, cash application, and reporting, shaping both strategy and day-to-day operations within the Finance Services leadership team.

You will oversee the StC process, drive end-to-end process improvements across ERP systems, and guide a prominent team while collaborating with CBS leadership to implement the CBS strategy.

Qualifications

• ACA, CIMA or CCAB qualification.
• Experience with SAP ERP and outsourcing providers.
• Led large teams in a Shared Business Services or similar delivery environment.
• Financial and change expertise in end-to-end commercial, sales and credit/collection processes.
• Strong leadership, with ability to engage, inspire and motivate large teams.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the full StC process with strategic direction, KPIs, controls and budget.
• Lead ERP process optimisation and interfacing systems improvements.
• Ensure quality in billing and collections and related reconciliations with Record to Report.
• Collaborate with senior leaders on working capital matters.
• Lead and develop a talented CBS leadership team.
• Contribute to CBS strategy implementation with peers.

Skills

ACA/CIMA/CCAB

Leadership

Analytical skills

Risk management

Communication

Stakeholder engagement

Education

ACA/CIMA/CCAB qualification

Tools

SAP

Job description

Head of Accounting Services
Circa £105,000 plus great benefits including a £6,000 car allowance, up to 10% matched pension contributions, private healthcare and more (Work Level 4)
Manchester City Centre, in this role you'll need to come into the office a minimum of twice a week (find out more at jobs.coop.co.uk/hybrid-working-policy).

Why this job matters

You'll be responsible for optimising how we manage our working capital, focusing particularly on cash flow and trade debtors. You'll lead the effort to drive consistency across areas like balance sheet reconciliations, billing and collections, cash application and reporting, as well as leading the full StC process, guiding both the strategy and day-to-day operations. This is a fast-paced area of the business, and a great opportunity for you to optimise new systems and processes within our wider Finance Services leadership team, while promoting a culture of learning, open communication, and collaboration.

What you'll do

• Oversee the full StC process, providing strategic direction and leadership for related initiatives whilst managing against SLAs, KPIs, controls, quality standards and budget
• Lead on the optimisation of processes and ways of working across ERP and wider interfacing systems, driving end to end optimisation and control improvements
• Ensure consistency and quality in key areas, such as c.£1bn of billing and collections, and a significant volume of related sub-ledger and balance sheet reconciliations in collaboration and alignment with our Record to Report Service team
• Work alongside senior business leaders on working capital-related matters
• Lead and manage a talented team, supporting them in their learning and development
• Join our CBS leadership team and collaborate with peers to ensure the successful implementation of our CBS strategy

What you'll bring

We're committed to making our roles as accessible as possible, so we only ask for the minimum criteria. To thrive here, you'll need to bring:

• An ACA, CIMA, or CCAB qualification
• Experience using ERP System SAP and liaising with third-party outsource providers
• Experience of leading significant teams in a Shared Business Services or similar delivery environment
• Financial and change expertise in end-to-end commercial, sales and credit/ collection processes
• Proven leadership experience, with the ability to engage, inspire, and motivate large teams
• Strong analytical and risk management skills
• Good communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to influence and challenge people inclusively

Why Co-op?

At Co-op, we're owned by our members. And because we're owned by you, we can do right by you. So when you join us, you're not just taking a job, you're joining a movement. We've an organisation that puts people and communities first, and we're powered by purpose. We want this to be a place where you can thrive, so you'll also receive:

• An annual bonus (based on personal and business performance)
• 28 days holiday (rising to 32 with service) plus bank holidays
• A pension with up to 10% employer contributions
• Private healthcare
• Access to a subsidised onsite gym (at our Manchester HQ)
• 30% discount on Co-op products and 10% off other brands
• Stream - early access to a percentage of your pay as you earn it
• Virtual healthcare including GP appointments, mental health support, nutrition and fitness advice
• 24/7 colleague support service
• Training and support for your development and career progression
• Cycle-to-work scheme

A place you'll belong

We're building diverse and inclusive teams that reflect the communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone and are committed to creating a workplace where colleagues can feel like they belong, supported by our inclusive policies and the way we work.

We're proud to be part of the Disability Confident scheme and offer interviews to disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria for a job. If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process, we'll support you.

Learn more about our recruitment process at jobs.coop.co.uk/apply-process and our inclusion commitments at job.coop.co.uk/diversity-inclusion