Head of Finance Shared Services

Speedy Hire Plc; Newton-le-Willows; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Speedy Hire Plc in Haydock is seeking an experienced Head of Finance Shared Services to lead our transactional finance and Shared Services operation. You will oversee Accounts Receivable, Credit Management, Accounts Payable, Payroll and Cash & Banking, drive standardisation and automation, and partner with senior leaders to improve cash flow, controls and service quality across the group.

This is a senior leadership role focused on cash generation, working capital management and continuous

Qualifications

• Significant experience within Finance Shared Services, Transactional Finance or a comparable senior finance operations environment.
• Strong leadership experience across multiple transactional finance disciplines.
• Detailed knowledge of Accounts Receivable, Credit Management and Accounts Payable, with Payroll and Cash & Banking operations.
• Proven track record of improving cash collection, aged debt, DSO and working capital performance.
• Strong understanding of financial controls, governance, risk and compliance.
• Experience establishing and managing KPIs, SLAs and performance frameworks within a Shared Services environment.
• Demonstrable experience of process improvement, standardisation and automation.
• Experience leading teams through business and digital transformation.
• Strong ERP and financial systems knowledge, with experience of automation tools advantageous.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving capability, with the ability to turn data into clear actions and decisions.
• Strong commercial awareness and an understanding of how Shared Services performance impacts the wider organisation.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to influence and challenge senior Finance, Commercial and Operational leaders.
• A strong coaching and development style, with experience building engaged, high-performing teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead, develop and retain a high-performing Finance Shared Services team, creating a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Develop and implement a Shared Services strategy that delivers scalable, efficient and customer-focused services across the Group.
• Take overall leadership responsibility for Accounts Receivable, Credit Management, Accounts Payable, Payroll and Cash & Banking.
• Establish clear KPIs and SLAs across Shared Services, using performance insight to drive improvements in service, efficiency and financial outcomes.
• Lead the Accounts Receivable and Credit Control functions, driving cash collection, reducing aged debt and improving working capital performance.
• Partner with Sales and Operational leadership to challenge debt exposure, remove collection barriers and resolve customer disputes.
• Oversee customer credit risk, including credit limits, risk assessments and bad debt mitigation.
• Ensure supplier invoices and payments are processed accurately and efficiently while supporting effective working capital management.
• Ensure the accurate and timely delivery of payroll, maintaining strong controls, governance and statutory compliance.
• Oversee cash and banking activities, including bank reconciliations and the timely resolution of outstanding items.
• Maintain a robust financial control environment, proactively identifying and mitigating operational, financial and compliance risks.
• Drive the standardisation, simplification and automation of end-to-end transactional finance processes.
• Champion digital transformation and identify opportunities to use technology to improve efficiency, controls and colleague experience.
• Ensure transactional finance activity supports accurate and timely month-end and year-end reporting.
• Manage relationships with auditors and relevant external bodies, supporting the effective completion of audits and reviews.
• Provide senior management with clear insight into performance, risks, opportunities and improvement initiatives.
• Support the delivery of Velocity, helping colleagues and customers successfully adopt new processes and ways of working.

Skills

Financial control

Leadership

Transformation capability

People leadership

KPIs & SLAs

Process improvement

Automation

Digital transformation

ERP systems

Stakeholder management

Data analysis

Education

Finance/Accounting/Business Administration degree

Tools

ERP systems

Automation tools

Job description

Head of Finance Shared Services

Location: Haydock / Hybrid
Function: Finance

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Head of Finance Shared Services to join Speedy Hire and lead our transactional finance and Shared Services operation.

This is a senior leadership role with responsibility for Accounts Receivable, Credit Management, Accounts Payable, Payroll and Cash & Banking, ensuring these critical services operate effectively, efficiently and with strong financial control.

You’ll lead and develop a high-performing Shared Services team while driving a programme of standardisation, simplification, automation and continuous improvement.

With a significant focus on cash generation, working capital and service excellence, you’ll work closely with senior Finance, Commercial and Operational stakeholders to improve performance, strengthen controls and ensure Shared Services continues to meet the evolving needs of the business.

What You’ll Be Doing

As Head of Finance Shared Services, you will:

• Lead, develop and retain a high-performing Finance Shared Services team, creating a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Develop and implement a Shared Services strategy that delivers scalable, efficient and customer-focused services across the Group.
• Take overall leadership responsibility for Accounts Receivable, Credit Management, Accounts Payable, Payroll and Cash & Banking.
• Establish clear KPIs and SLAs across Shared Services, using performance insight to drive improvements in service, efficiency and financial outcomes.
• Lead the Accounts Receivable and Credit Control functions, driving cash collection, reducing aged debt and improving working capital performance.
• Partner with Sales and Operational leadership to challenge debt exposure, remove collection barriers and resolve customer disputes.
• Oversee customer credit risk, including credit limits, risk assessments and bad debt mitigation.
• Ensure supplier invoices and payments are processed accurately and efficiently while supporting effective working capital management.
• Ensure the accurate and timely delivery of payroll, maintaining strong controls, governance and statutory compliance.
• Oversee cash and banking activities, including bank reconciliations and the timely resolution of outstanding items.
• Maintain a robust financial control environment, proactively identifying and mitigating operational, financial and compliance risks.
• Drive the standardisation, simplification and automation of end-to-end transactional finance processes.
• Champion digital transformation and identify opportunities to use technology to improve efficiency, controls and colleague experience.
• Ensure transactional finance activity supports accurate and timely month‑end and year‑end reporting.
• Manage relationships with auditors and relevant external bodies, supporting the effective completion of audits and reviews.
• Provide senior management with clear insight into performance, risks, opportunities and improvement initiatives.
• Support the delivery of Velocity, helping colleagues and customers successfully adopt new processes and ways of working.

About You

We’re looking for an established Shared Services or senior transactional finance leader who can combine strong financial control with commercial thinking, transformation capability and inspirational people leadership.

You’ll ideally bring:

• Significant experience within Finance Shared Services, Transactional Finance or a comparable senior finance operations environment.
• Strong leadership experience across multiple transactional finance disciplines.
• Detailed knowledge of Accounts Receivable, Credit Management and Accounts Payable, with a strong understanding of Payroll and Cash & Banking operations.
• A proven track record of improving cash collection, aged debt, DSO and working capital performance.
• Strong understanding of financial controls, governance, risk and compliance.
• Experience establishing and managing KPIs, SLAs and performance frameworks within a Shared Services environment.
• Demonstrable experience of process improvement, standardisation and automation.
• Experience leading teams through business and digital transformation.
• Strong ERP and financial systems knowledge, with experience of automation tools advantageous.
• Excellent analytical and problem‑solving capability, with the ability to turn data into clear actions and decisions.
• Strong commercial awareness and an understanding of how Shared Services performance impacts the wider organisation.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to influence and challenge senior Finance, Commercial and Operational leaders.
• A strong coaching and development style, with experience building engaged, high‑performing teams.

A degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration or a related discipline would be advantageous, as would a relevant professional qualification.

The Leadership Style We’re Looking For

This role needs someone who can lead from the front, win hearts and minds and bring people with them through change.

You’ll be passionate about developing people and creating an inclusive, high‑performing environment where colleagues understand what great performance looks like and feel empowered to deliver it.

You’ll balance that people focus with strong commercial discipline—setting clear expectations, managing risk, challenging performance and continually looking for better, simpler and more efficient ways of working.

Why Speedy Hire?

This is an opportunity to lead a business‑critical function at an exciting point in Speedy Hire’s transformation.

You’ll have the scope to shape our Shared Services strategy, strengthen our financial operations and lead meaningful improvements across cash performance, customer and supplier experience, financial controls, technology and ways of working.

If you’re an experienced Shared Services leader who is passionate about people, performance and transformation, we’d love to hear from you.