At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the Order to Cash process, optimising billing and collections in a dynamic real estate environment.
- Company: Knight Frank, a top independent real estate consultancy with a global presence.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career development, and a chance to lead a high-performing team.
- Other info: Join a fast-paced environment with opportunities for growth and transformation.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on financial processes while working in a collaborative and innovative culture.
- Qualifications: 5 years in O2C management and a recognised credit management qualification required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.
About Knight Frank
Founded in 1896, Knight Frank is one of the world's leading independent real estate consultancies. We work responsibly in partnership to enhance people's lives and environments in over 50 markets, 600+ offices, and a global network.
About the Role
Knight Frank is seeking an Order to Cash (O2C) Process Lead to join their Head Office. The Order to Cash (O2C) Process Lead will drive operational process excellence across our end‑to‑end revenue cycle for the UK business within a large, complex commercial real estate environment. They will manage and develop a small team, execute day‑to‑day process transactions, and be accountable for optimising billing, collections, cash application, and credit management processes across a diverse portfolio of customers.
This role works closely across Finance and broader business teams to build strong working relationships that enhance cash flow, strengthen controls, and deliver best‑in‑class service to both internal and external stakeholders. The role acts as a single point of accountability for O2C, driving end‑to‑end revenue cycle governance, efficiency, and reporting performance.
Key Responsibilities
- Own and continuously improve the end‑to‑end O2C process (lease billing, service charge recovery, debtor management, cash application, dispute resolution).
- Identify and implement process improvements, automation opportunities, and standardisation across regions and asset classes.
- Establish KPIs and dashboards to monitor performance and own process efficiency opportunities.
- Lead system enhancements and transformation initiatives to aspire to best‑in‑class processing.
- Drive improvements in cash collection, debtor days (DSO), and cash forecasting accuracy.
- Oversee credit control strategies and ensure effective escalation of aged debt.
- Partner with business leads to improve client payment performance.
- Proactively manage, control and reduce unallocated debt.
- Manage timely processing of sales invoices and credit notes through to cash allocation when required.
Leadership of the Accounting Function
- Lead, develop and motivate a high‑performing team.
- Provide clear direction, coaching, and performance management to direct reports.
- Build a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and technical excellence.
- Act as a key advisor to senior finance leadership on O2C matters.
Stakeholder Management
- Act as the primary O2C partner to senior stakeholders across Finance and the broader business.
- Collaborate with business teams to ensure billing accuracy and dispute resolution.
- Influence key decision‑makers on process improvements and policy adherence.
Controls & Governance
- Ensure strong financial controls, compliance, and audit readiness across O2C processes.
- Maintain adherence to accounting standards, contractual obligations, and update key internal policies such as credit control and revenue recognition.
- Support internal and external audits as required, remediating queries as required.
Skills & Experience
Core Requirements
- Significant experience in Order to Cash / Accounts Receivable leadership roles.
- Background in commercial real estate, property management, or complex multi‑entity environments is desirable.
- Strong understanding of billing cycles, service charges, cash application, debt recovery, account reconciliations, and customer onboarding/CDD processes.
- Proven track record of driving process improvement and transformation, reducing aged debt, and establishing firm credit policies without damaging external relationships.
- Background in shared services or global business services environment is desirable.
Leadership & Behavioural Skills
- Strategic thinker: able to connect operational processes to wider business outcomes and cash performance.
- Influential leader: strong ability to engage, challenge, and align senior stakeholders.
- People leadership: experience managing, coaching, and developing high‑performing teams.
- Change agent: comfortable leading transformation in complex, matrixed organisations.
- Commercial mindset: understands the link between O2C performance and business profitability.
- Analytical & data‑driven: uses insights to identify risks, opportunities, and drive decisions.
- Resilient & adaptable: thrives in a fast‑paced environment with competing priorities.
Qualifications
- Essential: 5 years Order to Cash management experience.
- Essential: recognised credit management (CICM) or recognised accounting qualification.
Systems and IT Competence
- SAP (general and sales ledger) essential.
- Good intermediary level of Excel knowledge for handling and analysing large data.
- Banking portals including Bankline, HSBC.net, Barclays.net desirable.
Dimensions
- Managing a team of 5.
- UK landscape / Turnover £450M.
- Number of active customer accounts: c. 3,700.
Competitive salary reflects industry standards and your expertise in the O2C domain.
Order-To-Cash Process Lead employer: ENGINEERINGUK
Knight Frank is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment at its prestigious Head Office in London. With a strong focus on employee development and a culture of continuous improvement, the company provides ample opportunities for growth within the commercial real estate sector. Employees benefit from competitive salaries, a collaborative atmosphere, and the chance to make a meaningful impact on the revenue cycle processes that drive the business forward.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Order-To-Cash Process Lead
✨Get Involved in Local Property Events
Dive into local property expos and networking events! Real estate thrives on connections, so attending these events helps us meet potential employers and industry leaders, plus it's a chance to show off your enthusiasm for the field.
✨Connect with Local Agents on Social Media
Follow and engage with local real estate agents and firms on platforms like Instagram and LinkedIn. Sharing their posts and commenting with your insights can put you on their radar and might even lead to job opportunities at companies like ENGINEERINGUK.
✨Don’t Underestimate the Power of Cold Outreach
Got your eye on a specific company like ENGINEERINGUK? Don't hesitate to send a direct message or an email expressing your interest. Personalise your approach, maybe mentioning a recent listing or project of theirs, and it could set you apart from other candidates.
✨Utilise Property Management Platforms
Check out property management platforms and job boards tailored for the real estate sector. They often have exclusive listings, especially for full-time roles. Don't forget to visit ENGINEERINGUK's careers page directly; we love seeing passionate candidates applying through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Order-To-Cash Process Lead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Real-Estate Savvy:When crafting your CV and cover letter, make sure to highlight any relevant experience in the real estate sector. If you've done internships, assistant roles, or even relevant coursework, lay it out clearly. We want to see your familiarity with market trends, property management, or any sales experience you've got under your belt!
Quantify Your Achievements:In real estate, numbers speak volumes! When detailing your past roles, use concrete figures to demonstrate your achievements. For example, mention how many properties you sold, the percentage increase in client satisfaction, or any successful negotiations. These metrics can give your application that extra punch it needs!
Tailor Your Documents for the Job:Every application should feel personal. When applying for the Order-To-Cash Process Lead role at ENGINEERINGUK, tweak your CV to focus on aspects that are important to them. If they value client relationships, emphasise your interpersonal skills. We want to see you aligning your experiences with what they're looking for!
Keep It Professional Yet Approachable:While we want you to show off your expertise, don't forget to let your personality shine through in your cover letter. A touch of friendliness can set you apart, especially in real estate where client interaction is key. Show that you're ready not just to work with the property but also with people!
How to prepare for a job interview at ENGINEERINGUK
✨Know Your Market Trends
In real estate, it’s all about staying ahead of the curve. Make sure we brush up on the latest market trends in the area where ENGINEERINGUK operates. Being able to discuss local property values, demand, and upcoming developments will show that we’re not just interested in the job, but genuinely invested in the industry.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect some scenario-based questions during the interview. We might get asked how we’d handle different client situations or property evaluations. Preparing our responses for common real estate scenarios not only demonstrates our problem-solving skills but also shows that we can think on our feet in a client-facing role.
✨Showcase Your Connections
In full-time real estate, networking is key! Let’s think about our connections in the industry and what we can bring to ENGINEERINGUK. Whether it’s insights on prospective clients or relationships with local contractors, talking about these experiences can set us apart from other candidates.
✨Demonstrate Technical Savvy
Familiarity with different real estate software tools is a big plus. We should be ready to discuss any platforms we've used, whether it's for property management, CRM, or data analysis. Being comfortable with technology not only makes us more efficient, but also shows that we’re adaptable to the tools used at ENGINEERINGUK.
