Head of Finance Operations – 4 Month FTC

The Crown Estate; Greater London; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

The Crown Estate is seeking a strategic Head of Finance Operations to lead end-to-end finance services across accounts receivable, payable, service charges and client accounting. You will drive performance, controls and continuous improvement while partnering with Transformation, Digital teams and external providers.

You will develop leaders, manage priorities and ensure timely, accurate reporting and robust governance across a diverse property portfolio.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end delivery of Finance Operations including accounts receivable, accounts payable, service charge accounting and client accounting.
• Maintain robust financial controls, governance standards and service levels across operations.
• Provide leadership across Finance Operations, balancing service quality with change and competing priorities.
• Develop managers and teams to build capability, accountability and succession.
• Drive process standardisation, automation and continuous improvement to enhance performance and outcomes.
• Collaborate with Finance Transformation and Digital teams to test, implement, and realise benefits of new systems and processes.
• Use data and insights to identify risks, improve efficiency and strengthen service delivery.
• Maintain a strong control environment covering fraud prevention, reconciliations, and audit readiness.
• Oversee billing, collections, supplier payments, expenses, client money stewardship and service charge reporting.
• Manage relationships with outsourced providers and managing agents to ensure performance and compliance.
• Build partnerships across Finance, Procurement, business units and external stakeholders to deliver operational excellence.

Job description

Purpose of Role:

At The Crown Estate, our purpose is to create lasting and shared value for the country. As Head of Finance Operations, you will lead the delivery, performance and continuous improvement of Finance Operations, ensuring efficient, well-controlled and customer-focused financial services that support one of the UK's most diverse property portfolios.

Advert Close date: 10/11/2026

Purpose of Role:

At The Crown Estate, our purpose is to create lasting and shared value for the country. As Head of Finance Operations, you will lead the delivery, performance and continuous improvement of Finance Operations, ensuring efficient, well-controlled and customer-focused financial services that support one of the UK's most diverse property portfolios.

Context of opportunity / Main accountabilities:

Reporting into the Finance leadership team, you will be responsible for leading the end-to-end delivery of Finance Operations, ensuring services are accurate, timely, resilient and aligned to business priorities.

• Leading the delivery of accounts receivable, accounts payable, service charge accounting, client accounting and operational close activities.
• Ensuring robust financial controls, governance standards and service levels are consistently achieved.
• Providing leadership and direction across Finance Operations, maintaining high service quality while managing change and competing priorities.
• Leading, coaching and developing managers and colleagues to build capability, accountability and long-term succession plans.
• Driving process standardisation, automation and continuous improvement initiatives to enhance operational performance and customer outcomes.
• Working closely with Finance Transformation and Digital teams to support testing, implementation, adoption and benefits realisation of new systems and processes.
• Using operational data and performance insights to identify risks, improve efficiency and strengthen service delivery.
• Maintaining a strong control environment covering fraud prevention, reconciliations, segregation of duties, audit readiness and business continuity.
• Overseeing billing, collections, supplier payments, expenses, client money stewardship and service charge reporting activities.
• Managing relationships with outsourced providers and managing agents, ensuring performance, compliance and continuous improvement.
• Building effective partnerships across Finance, Procurement, business units and external stakeholders to deliver operational excellence and resolve