Finance Manager - Catalyst : Job Details

Our client is a well know and successful UK leisure operator, highly profitable and with a turnover of c.£500m. It operates a centralised shared service finance function from its North East headquarters and is maximising investment in its development - team members, processes and technology - developing a continuous improvement framework to build a culture of excellence and innovation.Supporting the Head of Finance Shared Services this is a fantastic opportunity to work closely with the Finance Leadership Team, managing a team of 30 through six direct reports, encouraging a culture of high performance, professionalism and respect, driving improvements in the overall finance service and culture.

Your main responsibilities as Finance Manager will include:

• Supporting the Head of Finance Shared Services with leadership of the Finance Shared Service function as it continues to evolve to a proactive, highly skilled, engaged and cohesive team providing strong financial support to the business and delivers a first class service through accurate and timely transactional processing
• Ensuring a robust system of financial controls that will allow effective and efficient management of team performance and delivery
• Developing a continuous improvement framework to maximise the benefit of investment in technology to drive efficiencies in our processes
• Working collaboratively with the team to build a culture that strives for service and process improvement.
• Leading continuous improvement team workshops that proactively identify system improvements in relation to efficiency and ease of use for operators, automating manual processes and improving the quality of financial information
• Escalating system issues and working with IT to prioritise issues and ensure timely resolution
• Reviewing and developing current and adhoc reporting to ensure quality informative reports are produced that provide value to the user.
• Developing the KPI dashboard, including monitoring service level agreements and providing insight into transactional volumes processed along with service failures and proposed improvements to ensure success.
• Developing risk registers ensuring all risks are identified and documented with appropriate mitigation and controls
• Embedding the root cause analysis process - monthly team review/learning sessions, new risks identification, register updating and process/service improvements added to the continuous improvement plan
• Leading all design review projects requiring team involvement, supported by subject matter experts, to ensure all new products, product developments and system developments have the required financial processes and controls and operate efficiently
• Producing fortnightly Project updates to include status and early indicators of potential risks or needs for delivery improvement

• Maintaining your technical knowledge
• Ensuring quality, compliance, Health & Safety and safeguarding standards across the Department/location

As Finance Manager you’ll need:

• Strong experience in a managerial level or lead finance role such as Financial Controller, Head of Finance or Finance Manager, preferably a Shared Services team or managing large transactional finance teams
• Qualified Accountant ACA, ACCA, CIMA (or overseas equivalent)
• Excellent organisational, interpersonal, presentation and communication skills
• Experience as a finance project lead with regards to new systems implementations, improving process or integration work.
• Passionate and committed to delivering 1st class customer service
• Advanced in the use of Excel and Microsoft Office
• Highly numerate and analytical with excellent attention to detail
• Flexibility to work occasional weekends

Rewards and Benefits:

• Salary £75,000 to £80,000 + pension + excellent benefits including attractive 50% staff discounts and 25% for friends and family
• To secure maximum pay/rewards, you must possess all outlined experience, skills, knowledge and qualifications
• Excellent career progression opportunities
• Hybrid working (3 office days per week)
• Free parking
• Sustainability focus

Please note: High levels of interest mean we will only contact you if your application is shortlisted and this will happen within five working days. You must also be eligible to work in the UK.

Finance Manager - Central Finance Services, Newcastle upon Tyne