Head of Business Unit - Operations and Finance

LSL PROPERTY SERVICES; West Midlands Combined Authority; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK estate agency service provider seeks a Head of Business Unit – Operations & Finance to drive national franchise operations in Chorley. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in banking operations and transactional services, with proven success in managing sales and purchase ledger teams. This high-impact role offers significant exposure to senior leadership and operational strategies while promoting a diverse and inclusive workplace.

Qualifications

• Strong background in transactional services, especially in banking operations.
• Experience in leading large-scale sales and purchase ledger teams.
• Proven success in managing shared service centers.

Responsibilities

• Lead high-volume transactional operations and processes.
• Oversee financial controls, planning, reporting, and compliance.
• Monitor key performance indicators and provide insights to stakeholders.

Skills

Strategic planning

Financial analysis

Leadership

Operational efficiency

Risk management

Transformation and automation

Education

Professionally qualified accountant (ACCA, ACA, CIMA or equivalent)

Tools

Advanced Excel

Job description

LSL Franchising is one of the UK’s largest providers of estate agency franchise services. The Division’s principal business is the provision of franchising services, such as brand marketing and commercial and IT support, to a network of 62 franchisees which operate over 310 territories across the UK. These territories are independently managed and operated by the franchisees under various brands, including Your Move and Reeds Rains, as well as several local brands.

We are looking to recruit a commercially-minded and strategically-driven Head of Business Unit – Operations & Finance to support our national franchise network. Based within our Client Accounts office in Chorley. This is a high-impact role for a seasoned professional with a strong background in transactional services, ideally with experience in banking operations. The ideal candidate will have led large-scale sales and purchase ledger teams and successfully managed a shared service centre

Key Responsibilities will include:

• Lead and scale high-volume transactional operations, including end-to-end sales and purchase ledger processes
• Championing transformation and automation initiatives to streamline financial processes and implement digital solutions
• Oversee financial controls, planning, reporting, and compliance, particularly in relation to client money
• Monitor key performance indicators and provide insight-led recommendations to senior stakeholders
• Collaborate closely with divisional and group-level leadership on strategic planning and transformation projects

About You:

• Professionally qualified accountant (ACCA, ACA, CIMA or equivalent) with a strong financial and operational background
• Proven leadership in high-volume transactional environments
• Experience running end-to-end sales and purchase ledger operations
• Demonstrated success in managing and scaling shared service centres
• Transformation and automation expertise, especially in streamlining financial processes and implementing digital solutions
• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to interpret and communicate data-driven insights
• Strong working knowledge of risk management, compliance, and process optimisation
• Advanced Excel and reporting capabilities; confident producing executive-level presentations
• Proven experience engaging with senior management and contributing to strategic planning

Desirable Experience:

• Exposure to treasury, banking, or franchising environments
• Experience within large or corporate organisations
• Strong financial modelling and forecasting skills
• Background in client accounting or contact centre operations

This is an exciting opportunity to make a meaningful impact in a commercially critical role, with significant exposure to senior leadership and influence over operational and financial strategy.

LSL is an equal opportunity and Disability Confident employer, dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from people of all abilities and backgrounds, and we do not discriminate based on disability or individual needs. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know.