Head of Finance Shared Services

Head of Finance Shared Services Salary: £120,000 - £140,000 + bonus Location: Manchester

Keywords: finance transformation, shared service centre, operational excellence, process improvement, leadership, collaborative culture, hybrid working, strategic direction, inclusive workplace

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an accomplished finance leader to take on the pivotal role of Head of Finance Shared Services, based in Manchester with flexible hybrid working arrangements. This is a high-profile position at the heart of a renowned organisation, offering you the chance to shape and elevate a modern, agile shared services function that underpins business success across the UK and internationally.

As Head of Finance Shared Services, you will be entrusted with leading a talented team responsible for Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Record to Report, and Payroll, driving best-in-class financial services and championing large-scale transformation. You will play a crucial part in setting strategic direction, delivering operational excellence, and fostering a collaborative, values-driven culture where every colleague is empowered to thrive. With a competitive senior-level package including bonus potential, this role offers significant scope for impact, visibility across the Group, and the opportunity to influence key business decisions while enjoying flexibility and autonomy in your work environment.

• Lead a high-impact transformation journey within a respected organisation experiencing strong momentum and ambitious growth plans both in the UK and internationally; your expertise will directly influence revenue, profit, risk management, and stakeholder relationships.
• Enjoy a hybrid working model based in Manchester (three days per week onsite), providing you with flexibility and autonomy while collaborating with cross-functional teams in a supportive and inclusive environment.
• Benefit from exposure to senior leadership, generous rewards including bonus potential, and the chance to shape the future of financial business services as part of a values-led company committed to continuous improvement and authentic inclusion.

What you'll do:

In this Head of Finance Shared Services role based in Manchester, you will be instrumental in shaping the future of financial operations within a thriving organisation. Your day-to-day responsibilities will revolve around providing strategic leadership to a dynamic shared service centre encompassing Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Record to Report, and Payroll. You will drive forward transformation projects aimed at modernising systems and processes while maintaining rigorous standards of compliance and governance. By building strong partnerships across multiple business functions - including finance teams, commercial units, IT specialists, and auditors - you will ensure that financial services are delivered seamlessly to both internal stakeholders and external partners. Success in this role requires not only technical expertise but also an ability to inspire teams towards continuous improvement. You will set ambitious targets for service quality through well-defined KPIs and SLAs while championing innovation in process design. Your influence will extend beyond operational delivery as you help shape organisational culture - fostering inclusivity, supporting professional development among your team members, and acting as a visible advocate for positive change throughout the business.

• Set the strategic direction for the finance shared services function, ensuring alignment with organisational goals and driving delivery across Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Record to Report, and Payroll.
• Champion finance transformation initiatives by modernising systems, enhancing controls, streamlining processes, and maximising efficiency throughout all service areas.
• Oversee risk management, compliance frameworks, and governance standards across all shared services activities to safeguard business integrity.
• Build strong cross-functional relationships with stakeholders in finance, commercial operations, IT, audit, and other departments to ensure seamless collaboration and service delivery.
• Lead and inspire a large multi-disciplinary team by developing talent pipelines, creating robust succession plans, nurturing professional growth, and fostering a high-performance culture built on trust and support.
• Establish clear KPIs and SLAs for all shared service functions; monitor performance rigorously while implementing continuous improvement plans to exceed stakeholder expectations.
• Drive process excellence by identifying opportunities for automation or optimisation within core finance areas such as AP/AR processing, reporting cycles, commercial spend management, fixed assets tracking, and capital expenditure control.
• Act as an ambassador for change by communicating vision effectively across all levels of the organisation; encourage buy-in for new initiatives while supporting colleagues through periods of transition.
• Ensure that all financial services are delivered efficiently and accurately within agreed timelines; proactively address any issues or bottlenecks that may arise during daily operations.

What you bring:

To excel as Head of Finance Shared Services you will bring substantial experience from senior finance roles where you have overseen complex shared service centres or led large-scale teams through periods of transformation. Your background as a qualified accountant (CIMA/ACCA/ACA) ensures you possess deep technical proficiency alongside commercial insight - allowing you to navigate both regulatory requirements & broader business objectives confidently. You are known for your ability to foster collaborative cultures where individuals feel valued & supported regardless of their background or career stage. Your interpersonal strengths enable you not only to communicate clearly but also build lasting relationships founded on mutual respect & trust - whether engaging peers within finance or liaising with colleagues from IT/audit/commercial functions. A natural mentor & coach - you invest time in developing others’ potential while remaining open-minded about new ideas or ways-of-working that could enhance team performance further still. Your comfort operating at both strategic & operational levels means you can see how each process fits into wider organisational goals without losing sight of critical details along the way.

• Qualified Accountant (CIMA/ACCA/ACA) with comprehensive technical knowledge coupled with strong commercial acumen gained from senior roles within large-scale finance functions.
• Demonstrated experience leading or operating at senior level within a shared service centre environment—ideally managing multi-disciplinary teams responsible for end-to-end finance processes such as AP/AR/R2R/Payroll.
• Deep understanding of core finance disciplines including accounts payable/receivable management; financial control; statutory reporting; commercial spend analysis; fixed asset accounting; capital expenditure oversight.
• Advanced systems expertise with hands-on experience using SAP or similar enterprise resource planning platforms - capable of leveraging technology to drive process improvements.
• Proven people leadership skills: adept at developing talent pipelines; creating succession plans; nurturing high-performing teams through coaching/mentoring approaches rooted in empathy & collaboration.
• Exceptional communication abilities - able to build trust quickly across diverse stakeholder groups while influencing outcomes positively at both strategic & operational levels.
• Comfortable balancing big-picture thinking with attention-to-detail when required - demonstrating agility in adapting priorities according to evolving business needs or challenges.
• Commercially astute mindset combined with analytical problem-solving skills - enabling effective decision-making even under pressure or within fast-changing environments.

What sets this company apart:

This organisation stands out as a leading business and has ambitious plans to triple revenues in the next 5 years. Employees benefit from being part of an inclusive workplace. The company’s commitment extends beyond words - it actively promotes equitable opportunities for all current & future colleagues so that every voice is heard & respected equally. Hybrid working arrangements offer flexibility without compromising on connection - with three days per week spent onsite in Manchester balanced by remote options designed around your needs. Senior leaders remain accessible/involved throughout your journey - ensuring that those who join feel empowered not just to contribute but also shape what comes next for this ambitious business.

Robert Walters Operations Limited is an employment business and employment agency and welcomes applications from all candidates