Job Description

Citadel Source are delighted to be exclusively supporting a leading regional PLC in the search for a newly created Head of Finance Operations to report directly to the CFO. This is a rare opportunity for a high-performing, highly experienced operational finance leader with vast experience within a change/transformation environment.

About you

As the Head of Finance Operations, you will play a pivotal part in the business over the next 12-24 months. You will be an experienced SSC leader with exposure to change/transformation environments previously.

We’re seeking a commercially astute finance leader with a strong track record in operational delivery and strategic oversight within complex, matrixed organisations. The ideal candidate will bring deep experience in managing large-scale finance operations, including outsourced shared service models, and will be confident in navigating multimillion-pound third-party contracts. You’ll be someone who thrives on driving performance, shaping service excellence, and leading transformation across global finance functions. A background in service delivery, stakeholder engagement, and continuous improvement is essential—alongside the ability to influence outcomes at scale and align operational execution with broader business strategy.

The role

The business is undergoing a strategic transformation by outsourcing its finance shared service operations to a third-party provider. This shift is designed to streamline core processes such as invoicing, payments, and payroll - while enhancing efficiency, compliance, and scalability across the organisation. The Head of Finance Operations will lead this transition, managing the commercial and contractual aspects of the partnership, resolving service challenges, and embedding a culture of continuous improvement. The move reflects a broader ambition to modernise finance delivery, reduce internal complexity, and align operational performance with long-term strategic goals.

As the Head of Finance Operations, your role will include, but not be limited to:

• Responsibility for leading the interface between internal teams and third-party partners delivering core finance services (e.g. P2P, O2C, Payroll), ensuring operational accuracy, compliance, and efficiency
• Oversight of day-to-day finance operations, with accountability for resolving service issues and removing barriers to performance
• Responsibility for ensuring timely and accurate execution of key transactional processes, including invoicing, payments, and reconciliations
• Acts as the senior point of contact for finance and business stakeholders, ensuring service delivery aligns with strategic priorities
• Ownership of high-value third-party contracts, applying commercial insight to optimise service outcomes and cost efficiency
• Oversight of contract governance and change control processes, working closely with Procurement and Legal functions
• Responsibility for leading and developing internal teams and external delivery partners across multiple geographies
• Oversight of performance metrics, including KPIs, SLAs, and customer satisfaction indicators to drive continuous improvement
• Regular engagement with regional and divisional teams to assess service performance and identify improvement opportunities
• Responsibility for leading process transformation initiatives, leveraging internal process excellence capabilities
• Drives simplification, standardisation, and automation to enhance service delivery and operational efficiency
• Champions a culture of continuous improvement, proactively identifying and implementing change
• Builds trusted relationships with senior stakeholders to ensure services evolve in line with business needs
• Line management of internal process improvement leads and indirect oversight of third-party equivalents
• Accountability for delivering sustained performance improvement across all aspects of finance operations

What we're looking for

• Proven ability to lead and optimise end-to-end finance operations with a strong focus on service delivery
• Commercially astute, with experience managing multimillion-pound third-party contracts and outsourced service models
• Skilled in driving process transformation through simplification, standardisation, and automation
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with a track record of aligning service delivery to evolving business needs
• Experienced in setting and managing KPIs, SLAs, and customer satisfaction metrics to monitor and improve performance
• Effective team leader with experience managing direct and matrix teams across multiple locations
• Comfortable operating in complex environments with a proactive, hands-on approach to issue resolution
• Strategic thinker with the ability to apply external insight to shape future-state service models and operational strategy

What the client has to offer

• Salary benchmarked at circa £100-150k
• Car allowance
• 30% bonus potential
• Excellent benefits
• 3 days office / 2 days from home

Sound like a good fit?

For more information on this exciting opportunity, please apply or reach out to Oliver Price at oliver@citadelsource.com