Head of Finance Operations

Nigel Wright Group; North East; Hybrid; GBP 85,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Excellent bonus

Hybrid work

28 days leave

Pension plan

Life assurance 4x

Family leave

Employee benefits

Job summary

Nigel Wright Group is seeking a Head of Finance Operations to lead a broad transformation across finance operations, payments, and controls. The role requires strategic leadership and hands-on delivery of process improvement, automation and resilience initiatives.

Based in the UK, the post involves shaping the operating model and leveraging Workday to optimise processes, automate where possible, and enhance governance while partnering with technology and change teams to deliver tangible

Qualifications

• Significant senior leadership experience within Finance Operations.
• Strong knowledge of payments, banking systems and associated processes.
• A demonstrable track record of finance transformation, process optimisation and successful systems adoption.
• Experience redesigning and standardising processes to improve efficiency and control.
• Strong understanding of financial controls, governance, month-end close and reconciliations.
• Experience developing systems, processes and controls that support operational resilience.
• Experience using ERP technology and automation to improve finance operations.
• Strong stakeholder management skills and the credibility to lead cross-functional change.
• An analytical, solutions-focused approach combined with strong people leadership skills.
• Experience within Shared Services, Workday, payments/banking solutions or emerging technologies such as AI would be advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Shape and deliver the Finance Operations strategy and future operating model.
• Lead the continued optimisation of processes and functionality within Workday.
• Identify opportunities to automate, simplify and standardise finance processes.
• Develop a scalable, efficient and resilient Finance Operations function.
• Strengthen financial controls, governance, contingency planning and business continuity.
• Oversee key banking supplier relationships and associated operational risk and resilience.
• Partner across Finance, Technology and Change & Transformation to deliver meaningful improvements.
• Ensure Finance Operations works effectively alongside other operational teams.
• Lead, motivate and develop a high-performing team with a strong continuous-improvement culture.

Skills

Senior leadership

Finance operations

Payments & banking

Process optimisation

Workday

Automation

Stakeholder management

Change management

Operational resilience

Data analysis

Tools

Workday

Job description

The Opportunity:

We are delighted to be supporting a highly regarded, purpose-led organisation with the appointment of a Head of Finance Operations. This is a senior leadership opportunity with a broad remit spanning finance operations, payments and banking, financial controls, operational resilience and transformation.

The organisation has recently implemented Workday and is now moving into the next stage of its finance transformation journey. The successful individual will have significant scope to shape the future operating model, optimise technology, simplify and automate processes and explore how emerging technologies, including AI, can further improve the effectiveness of Finance Operations.

Working across Finance, Technology and Change & Transformation, this is a highly visible role combining strategic leadership with hands-on transformation and continuous improvement. It would particularly suit someone who enjoys leading people through change and wants the opportunity to genuinely influence how a major finance function operates.

Main Duties/Responsibilities:

• Shape and deliver the Finance Operations strategy and future operating model.
• Lead the continued optimisation of processes and functionality within Workday.
• Identify opportunities to automate, simplify and standardise finance processes.
• Develop a scalable, efficient and resilient Finance Operations function.
• Strengthen financial controls, governance, contingency planning and business continuity.
• Oversee key banking supplier relationships and associated operational risk and resilience.
• Partner across Finance, Technology and Change & Transformation to deliver meaningful improvements.
• Ensure Finance Operations works effectively alongside other operational teams.
• Lead, motivate and develop a high-performing team with a strong continuous-improvement culture.

You Will Be/Have:

• Significant senior leadership experience within Finance Operations.
• Strong knowledge of payments, banking systems and associated processes.
• A demonstrable track record of finance transformation, process optimisation and successful systems adoption.
• Experience redesigning and standardising processes to improve efficiency and control.
• Strong understanding of financial controls, governance, month-end close and reconciliations.
• Experience developing systems, processes and controls that support operational resilience.
• Experience using ERP technology and automation to improve finance operations.
• Strong stakeholder management skills and the credibility to lead cross-functional change.
• An analytical, solutions-focused approach combined with strong people leadership skills.
• Experience within Shared Services, Workday, payments/banking solutions or emerging technologies such as AI would be advantageous.

Benefits:

• £85k - £115k salary, depending on experience
• Excellent bonus
• Hybrid and flexible working
• 28 days' annual leave plus bank holidays
• Defined Benefit pension
• 4x life assurance
• Excellent family leave
• Excellent wider employee benefits