Head of Application Support - Finance

First Rail; England; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK rail operator is seeking a Head of Application Support - Finance to lead and manage the Finance Applications team. The successful candidate will provide support and development for finance applications, act as a trusted advisor, and ensure compliance with security and audit requirements. The role requires strong leadership, problem-solving skills, and team management experience within a finance environment. Offering a full-time position, this is an excellent opportunity to make an impactful contribution.

Qualifications

• Experience in a busy Finance environment.
• Knowledge of peripheral applications such as payroll and payments.
• Understanding of server and networking architecture is an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Finance Applications team.
• Provide finance application support to business units.
• Act as a trusted technical advisor to senior stakeholders.
• Manage supplier delivery to SLAs and contracts.
• Implement governance framework to review issues.

Skills

Leadership

Robust problem-solving

Team management

Finance systems knowledge

Applications development

Ability to work under pressure

Education

Relevant IT qualifications

Tools

SAP

Job description

Head of Application Support - Finance

Head of Application Support - Finance role at First Rail.

First Rail, part of FirstGroup, is one of the leading rail operators and the largest bus operator in the UK.

About the job

Lead and manage the Finance Applications team. Provide finance application support and development to business units within FirstGroup. Act as a trusted technical advisor to senior business stakeholders. Manage suppliers to support delivery of Finance applications.

Responsibilities

• Recruit, develop and manage a team on an ongoing basis. Set performance objectives and support development plans. Manage workload through a helpdesk ticketing tool.
• Manage first-line response support desk in line with SLAs.
• Work on projects and programmes as SME.
• Work with suppliers and internal teams to manage system changes compliantly.
• Manage finance applications through product lifecycle, ensuring compliance with security and audit requirements.
• Support improved business practices through an effective governance framework.
• Support senior stakeholders in developing strategy and improvement plans.
• Implement governance framework to review issues and implement best practice solutions.
• Work with other IT teams to advise on changes and deliver improvements.
• Manage supplier delivery to SLAs and contracts, build relationships and review service regularly.

Qualifications

• Leadership.
• Robust problem‑solving and analytical skills.
• Team management experience.
• Self‑starter, results‑driven with high motivation and initiative.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Work independently and as part of a team.
• Finance systems and processes knowledge.
• Experience working in a busy Finance environment.
• Applications development and management.
• Experience in IT Applications, preferably SAP.
• Background in a Finance environment.
• Knowledge of peripheral applications (payroll, revenue, engineering, payments).
• Understanding of server and networking architecture (advantage).
• Appropriate IT qualifications and experience.

Seniority level

Director

Employment type

Full‑time

Job function

Information Technology

Industries

Rail Transportation

Equal Employment Opportunity

We all belong at First Rail. FirstGroup’s vision is to provide an inclusive environment for all colleagues, across its group of businesses, ensuring all candidates have an equal opportunity to access meaningful employment.

We value our differences such as age, gender, LGBTQIA+, ethnicity, religion, and disability. We maintain a zero tolerance towards any form of prejudice towards our colleagues, customers, and future talent.

We celebrate and encourage diversity of thought, progressive ways of working and seeing all our colleagues grow and thrive.

We review all roles and job descriptions to ensure they are accessible and, where possible, we support and provide flexible working options; we recommend that you refer to each vacancy description for further details.

If you require additional support to complete your application due to a disability or neurodivergent condition, for example, dyslexia, dyspraxia, or autism, please follow the links below. We encourage you to share any additional needs you may require so we can provide a fair and equal process for all who apply.

https://www.healthassured.org/blog/neurodiversity/