Interim Head of Finance Operations

Sewell Wallis are partnering with our client, a large, well-known charity based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, as they look to appoint a Head of Finance Operations on a fixed term contract for 6 months.

The Head of Finance Operations is a key role in the Finance Leadership Team, reporting to the Finance Director. You will lead the Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable and Treasury functions and, on an interim basis, the Management Accounts team.

What will you be doing?

• Lead large-scale finance transformation initiatives, including implementation and optimisation of finance systems, automation tools and process redesign to improve scalability, resilience and user experience.

• Provide visible leadership to a large operational finance team, which will include two very experienced Managers, creating a high-performance, accountable and collaborative culture with strong focus on engagement, capability development and wellbeing.

• Manage, coach and develop direct reports and their wider teams, addressing complex people management matters including performance management, restructures, employee relations issues and succession planning.

• Drive continuous improvement across end-to-end finance operations processes, simplifying ways of working, reducing manual intervention and improving service delivery, efficiency and controls.

• Responsible for ensuring strong operational delivery of Accounts Receivable, including income collection, credit control, debt management, cash allocation and reducing aged debt exposure.

• Responsible for ensuring strong Accounts Payable operations, ensuring timely and accurate supplier payments, strong supplier relationships, effective query resolution and appropriate expenditure controls.

• Ensure effective delivery of Management Accounts activities, including monthly management accounts, month-end coordination, reconciliation review, financial explanations, forecasting and audit support, in line with agreed policies and timetables.

What skills do we need?

• A qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA) with strong technical finance expertise

• Proven experience leading finance operations and supporting teams through change

• A confident, collaborative leadership style with the ability to coach and develop managers

• Someone who can step into a newly formed structure and quickly provide clarity, stability and direction

• Strong communication and stakeholder-management skills

• Experience with finance transformation, process improvement or system upgrades would be a distinct advantage

• Knowledge of SUN Accounting or experience working through a major finance system implementation would be highly desirable

What’s on offer?

• Salary of up to £80,000

• Hybrid working (3 days in the office)

• Flexible working hours to suit

Apply for this role below or contact Sue for more information.

To apply, please send your CV, quoting our reference and specifying which website you saw this position advertised on. Due to the high volume of applications, please accept that if we have not responded to your application within seven days, your application has not been successful. Sewell Wallis is a specialist recruitment company with a vast amount of experience in our industry. We offer permanent, temporary and interim recruitment support for accounting and finance, human resources and business support positions. We recruit at all levels within finance, from Purchase Ledger Administrator and Credit Controller level through to Financial Controller and Director positions. We are well situated to cover all of South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and Manchester. Please visit our website for more information on accountancy and finance jobs and human resources or business support positions