Business Unit Lead Contract Support

Job Purpose: Lead the Finance Contract Support Team to effectively deliver the management of the 'lifecycle of a work order' through completion to billing. Oversee and manage the team to ensure work orders are invoiced, closed and billed in line with our commercial and contractual requirements. Responsible for alignment of the business unit through continual improvement to processes, procedures and strong leadership and support for the finance contract support teams.

Accountable for the delivery of month end billing processes and reporting and closely aligned with the Finance Lead / Finance Contract Manager.

Role Summary: Contract

Effectively oversee the management of the 'lifecycle of a work order' process

Demonstrate knowledge of procedures and processes and deliver these to the required standard.

Establishing robust relationships with the senior members of the team.

Conduit between the Business Unit Leader and Contract Support ensuring regular communication to ensure they are fully informed of operational and financial objectives and achievements.

Understand, anticipate and deliver both internal and external customer needs while building effective relationships whilst optimising contract performance.

Support with identification of savings opportunities to ensure customer and GWS financial savings targets are maximised.

Ensure company and contract policies and procedures are adhered to throughout the Business Unit and Contract Support teams.

Continually utilise, update and develop systems, processes and the operational team to maximize efficiency benefits for the customer and GWS.

Attend, offer input and fully engage in daily Team Meetings.

Ad-hoc support including but not limited to reporting as requested by Business Unit or Business/Finance.

Finance

Manage a Finance Contract Support Team and ensure team is effectively utilised, providing the necessary training and development to ensure effective delivery.

Lead the team performance through motivation and commitment to achieve the business unit targets

Hold Finance Contract Support Team Meetings to share business updates and best practice.

Ensure the commercial management and financial performance of every work order is efficient and maximised.

Drive high quality commercial performance through understanding the contractual commitments, better buying and use of preferred suppliers.

Support internal and external audits.

Positively respond to both our internal and external customers (often in a matrix environment) through effective communication and personal accessibility/credibility.

Support the preparation and delivery of monthly Contract and Business Unit Reviews.

Manage the Contract Support Team in the production of billing application, calculating margins, raising invoices and submitting to client.

Creation and review of management reports such as WIP, OPO's & Invoice Pool.

Support in comprehensive spend tracking including the building and maintaining of the committed spend reports for John Lewis Partnership.

Ensuring high focus on influencing the P&L, capturing any places that can be improved the following month.

Support with Ad-hoc reporting as requested by Divisional Finance Director or Business Unit Director/Alliance Director.

Education

Hold academic passes with at least GCSE Maths and English or equivalent

Higher educational qualifications to 'A' level/HNC/D or degree (desirable)

Skills

Intermediate PC based skills with experience in Word and Outlook

Advanced Excel knowledge including understanding of complex formulas (desirable)

IT Skills to achieve key tasks and give the business a sound reporting base (desirable)

Capable of working in a matrix environment

Stakeholder / customer management skills

Organised and open to new ways of working to challenge inefficiencies

Strong communication skills both upwards and downwards including both excellent verbal and presentation skills

PowerPoint and Access experience (desirable)

Formal training in the use of Excel, Word and presentation software packages (desirable)

Knowledge

A comprehensive understanding of business and customer-facing environments

Understands the requirements of operating in a contract environment

Experience

Competent working knowledge and experience of the technical aspects of FM delivery

Working Knowledge of FM assets and delivery workflows

Background in engineering management operations

Team leadership

Ability to work as part a multi-disciplinary and high performing team

Previous experience of a service industry role

Management skills to maximise the performance of staff working directly for them and others

Proven commercial acumen and ability to contribute to decision making

Track record of driving results

Previous experience of a service industry role using operating systems such as Dynamics AX (desirable)

Aptitude

Able to work systematically, proactively manage situations and use own initiative

A commitment to continuous quality improvement

Must demonstrate a strong sense of customer focus with a passion for customer service

Results driven; task orientated

Excellent time management and organisational skills

Reliable

Calm manner, able to work under pressure and against rapidly changing demands and priorities

Being able to promote the RISE values and culture

Effective communication skills enabling the individual to work with clients, suppliers, and staff at all levels

Results orientated, with attention to detail and accuracy

Excellent time management and organisational skills

Self-motivated, ability to prioritise demands and make decisions under pressure

Comprehensive numeracy and computer literacy

Circumstances

The individual must be willing to undertake travel as the role/business requires

Being flexible to work outside core office hours from time to time.

Experience in leading teams (desirable)

Core Competencies

Develop, manage and lead self and others

Collaborates across boundaries

Strong Management & Leadership

Operational Excellence

Integrity

Reliable and committed

Confidential and discrete approach

Customer Service

Attention to detail and accuracy

Desire to improve current procedures

Full understanding of the WIP and P&L(desirable)

Experience in tracking comprehensive spend (desirable)