Head of Processing / Transactional Finance

Head of Processing / Transactional Finance Location: Manchester Salary: £80,000 to £90,000 plus bonus Hybrid: Three days in the office

About the Company

Finspire are proud to be partnering with a leading global real estate advisory business to recruit a Head of Processing within its Central Finance function.

This is a high profile leadership opportunity for an experienced transactional finance or shared services leader who can manage a large operation, improve service delivery and lead a significant programme of systems, process and automation change.

The role has responsibility for central finance processing across UK Property Management, overseeing approximately 30 to 40 colleagues across banking, UK operations, billings and accounts receivable. The wider function manages the end to end order to cash and payments cycle, handling £billions of transactions.

A major priority will be the digital transformation of processes that remain heavily manual. With a system upgrade moving into pilot and implementation, the successful candidate will have a genuine opportunity to shape the future operating model, introduce automation and improve controls, performance and customer service.

This is not simply a processing role. It requires someone who can combine hands on operational leadership with strategic thinking, strong stakeholder management and the ability to turn a transformation roadmap into measurable results.

Job Requirements

Lead the Central Finance processing function across banking, reconciliations and control, payments, billings and accounts receivable

Manage, support and develop a team of approximately 30 to 40 colleagues across the UK

Set and deliver the strategy and roadmap for Central Finance operations, with a clear focus on service excellence, control and continuous improvement

Lead the transition towards more automated and scalable ways of working, reducing reliance on manual processes

Play a key leadership role in the MRI system upgrade, pilot and wider implementation

Identify, prioritise and deliver automation opportunities across transactional finance processes

Manage operational performance, team capacity, resource allocation and service delivery across the function

Set and monitor meaningful measures and KPIs, using performance information to identify and deliver improvements

Own the operating cost base under remit and support improved divisional performance and profitability

Assess and report on risk, compliance, controls, operational performance and management information

Ensure transactions and controls meet statutory requirements, market best practice, RICS client money rules and FCA requirements where applicable

Work closely with Client Accounting, Surveying, Property Management Systems and the wider Finance leadership team

Create and embed a consistent customer service approach for internal clients, external clients and tenants

Review procedures, policies and controls continually, ensuring changes are implemented, understood and followed while building clear training and development pathways for the team

Provide regular updates to senior leadership on performance, cash collections, risks and key transformation activity

Key Person Requirements

Significant leadership experience within transactional finance, finance operations or a shared services environment

Proven experience managing and developing teams of at least 20 people, ideally across multiple processing disciplines

Strong knowledge of order to cash, banking, payments, reconciliations, billing or accounts receivable processes

Clear evidence of leading automation, systems transformation or major process improvement activity

Experience managing change from initial design and stakeholder engagement through to implementation and adoption

Strong accounting and financial control knowledge, whether qualified, part qualified or qualified by experience

Experience operating within a high volume, highly controlled or client money environment would be highly advantageous

A confident and credible leader who can motivate teams, build trust and create a strong culture of accountability

Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the ability to work across finance, operations, systems and senior leadership

Strategic and future focused, while remaining practical, visible and willing to get into the detail

Able to challenge established ways of working and turn ideas into sustainable operational improvements

Resilient, positive and comfortable leading through significant change

This is a rare opportunity to lead a sizeable Central Finance operation with the scale, investment and senior sponsorship to deliver meaningful transformation. You will have the autonomy to modernise processes, strengthen service delivery and build a function that is fit for the future.

If you are an experienced transactional finance or shared services leader who has successfully led large teams and delivered automation or systems change, we would love to hear from you.

Please submit your CV for immediate consideration.

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