Head Of Group Transactional Finance

SF Partners; Coventry; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

SF Partners in Coventry seeks an experienced Group Head of Transactional Finance to lead Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable and Finance Operations across the group. Based in Coventry, you will provide strategic leadership and ensure well-controlled, scalable processes.

You will manage senior Finance Managers, drive continuous improvement, oversee controls, data integrity and timely month-end reporting, and partner with Treasury and Group CFO to support growth and integration of new businesses.

Qualifications

• Substantial experience leading large, high-volume Transactional Finance teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead Group Transactional Finance Leadership across AR, AP and Finance Operations.
• Define and oversee the strategy, operating model and continuous improvement roadmap.
• Ensure processes are scalable, efficient and compliant with group policies.
• Provide senior oversight of critical transactional finance projects and integrations.
• Develop talent: managers, succession planning and capability development.

Job description

Group Head of Transactional Finance
Location: Coventry

The Role

We are seeking an experienced and commercially minded Group Head of Transactional Finance to lead the Group's Transactional Finance function across Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable and Finance Operations.
Based in the Coventry office and reporting directly to the Group CFO, the role will provide strategic leadership and operational oversight across the Group's transactional finance activities. You will lead and develop a team of senior Finance Managers, ensuring consistent, well-controlled and efficient processes are embedded across the organisation.
The successful candidate will balance strategic thinking with strong operational oversight, driving improvements in performance, controls, scalability and service delivery while supporting the Group's continued growth and integration of new businesses.

Main Responsibilities

Group Transactional Finance Leadership
Hold overall accountability for the accurate, timely and well-controlled delivery of Group Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable and Finance Operations.
Lead the Group Transactional Finance strategy, operating model and continuous improvement roadmap.
Ensure processes are scalable, efficient and consistent across the Group, while recognising appropriate local-market requirements.
Drive standardisation, best practice and operational efficiency across Transactional Finance.
Support the successful integration of newly acquired businesses into Group Finance processes and ways of working.
Provide senior oversight of transactional finance projects, escalations and business-critical initiatives.

People Leadership & Development

Lead and develop the Group Receivables, Financial Services and Finance Operations Managers.
Set clear objectives, performance expectations and measures of success across the leadership team.
Establish a strong culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement and professional development.
Lead workforce and succession planning across Transactional Finance.
Oversee organisational design, resource planning, recruitment and capability development.
Support the development of talent through appropriate training, apprenticeships and career development opportunities.
Ensure effective management cover and business continuity arrangements are in place.

Performance & Service Delivery

Establish and monitor a robust KPI and service-performance framework across Transactional Finance.
Oversee key performance measures covering cash collection, receivables, billing, payment performance, query resolution and month-end delivery.
Work closely with Treasury and Divisional Finance leadership to optimise cash-flow performance against Group targets and budgets.
Provide clear performance reporting to senior Finance leadership and escalating material risks or areas of underperformance.
Drive improvements in service delivery, operational efficiency and customer experience across Finance.

Financial Control & Governance

Maintain strong oversight of the Transactional Finance control environment.
Ensure appropriate financial controls, approval processes and segregation of duties are embedded and consistently applied.
Oversee customer and supplier data governance and the accuracy and integrity of financial information.
Ensure appropriate process documentation, policies and procedures are maintained.
Identify control weaknesses and ensure appropriate remediation and improvement plans are implemented.
Ensure month-end transactional finance activities, reconciliations and control accounts are completed accurately and within Group reporting deadlines.
Oversee the resolution of material financial discrepancies and control issues.

Risk, Compliance & Audit

Coordinate Transactional Finance support for internal and external audit activity.
Ensure Finance processes comply with relevant legal, regulatory, tax and local-market requirements.
Work closely with specialist Finance, Tax, Legal and other functions where required.
Provide senior oversight of credit risk and debt management across the Group.
Monitor aged debt, bad debt exposure, collection forecasts and wider customer credit risks.
Act as the senior escalation point for significant customer, debt and cash-flow matters.

Accounts Payable & Finance Operations

Provide strategic oversight of Accounts Payable, expenses, payment processes and wider purchase-to-pay activities.
Ensure appropriate controls, policies and processes are maintained across the Group.
Work collaboratively with Treasury, Operations and Divisional Finance teams to ensure transactional activity supports wider Group cash-flow objectives.
Provide oversight of complex supplier, payment and operational matters.
Ensure transactional processes remain efficient, controlled and aligned with the wider Finance strategy.

Systems, Data & Process Improvement

Provide strategic oversight of the systems, data and technology supporting Transactional Finance.
Lead and sponsor process improvement, automation and systems-related initiatives in partnership with relevant teams.
Ensure data integrity, reporting capability and system controls support effective decision-making.
Identify opportunities to simplify, automate and improve transactional processes.
Support the implementation and integration of new processes and technologies where appropriate.

Stakeholder Management

Act as a senior point of escalation for complex customer, supplier, contractual and operational matters.
Build strong relationships across Finance and the wider business.
Work collaboratively with senior stakeholders to resolve complex financial and operational issues.
Translate Transactional Finance requirements into clear and practical guidance for Finance and non-Finance stakeholders.
Support the development of training and communication to improve compliance, understanding and service delivery.
Manage the effective delegation of transactional finance activities associated with acquisitions and ensure successful transition into the relevant teams.

Skills & Experience

The successful candidate will demonstrate:
Substantial experience leading large, high-volume and multi-functional Transactional Finance teams across Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable and Finance Operations.
Strong practical knowledge of order-to-cash, purchase-to-pay, cash management, month-end reporting, reconciliations and financial controls.
Proven experience developing and implementing strategy within a complex Finance environment.
A strong track record of delivering process improvement, automation, systems change and/or acquisition integration.
Significant people leadership experience, including performance management, organisational design, succession planning and team development.
Strong commercial awareness and an understanding of the relationship between transactional finance, cash flow and wider business performance.
Excellent senior stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to influence, challenge and resolve complex issues.
Strong analytical and problem-solving capability, with good data literacy and advanced Excel skills.
Experience working across multiple entities, locations or countries would be advantageous.
Experience of audit, financial transformation, systems implementation or business integration would be desirable.
Excellent communication skills, with the ability to present complex Finance matters clearly to both Finance and non-Finance audiences.

Key Competencies

Strategic Leadership

Sets clear direction and establishes a strong operating model while maintaining appropriate oversight of operational performance, financial risk and controls.

Judgement & Accountability

Makes balanced and commercially sound decisions that protect financial control, cash flow and stakeholder relationships.

Prioritisation & Adaptability

Effectively manages competing priorities, reallocates resources and responds positively to a fast-paced, deadline-driven and changing environment.

Solution Focused

Takes a practical, outcome-focused approach to challenges, identifying root causes and engaging with operational detail where risk or complexity requires it.

Collaboration & Influence

Builds trusted relationships across Transactional Finance, the wider Finance function and the business, influencing stakeholders to achieve shared objectives.

Integrity & Continuous Improvement

Promotes high standards, personal accountability and a culture of continuous improvement, always looking for better ways of working and stronger outcomes.

Qualifications & Experience

A relevant finance, accounting, business or management qualification would be advantageous, although substantial equivalent experience will be considered.
Proven track record of improving performance, controls and service delivery within a complex, high-volume Transactional Finance environment.
Experience operating at a senior management or Group level.
Experience of multi-country or multi-entity operations is desirable.
Experience supporting acquisitions, integrations or significant business change is desirable.
Experience of audit, transformation or systems/process implementation would be advantageous.