Team Manager in Leeds

First American Financial Corporation (FAFC) is a leading global provider of title insurance and settlement services for residential and commercial real estate transactions. FAFC has offices throughout the globe and is the world’s largest insurer of title. First Title Group is the UK division of FAFC and is made up of several core companies including enact, the largest direct conveyancer in the UK. Our conveyancing experts handle 1 in 4 remortgage transactions in England and Wales. The majority of our work comes direct from the end client rather than estate agents and brokers. We foster relationships of mutual respect with the referrers we do work with. We are passionate about providing exceptional service and are proud of our dedicated team of conveyancers, who focus on providing our customers with a friendly, personal service using their expert knowledge and experience to ensure a smooth, efficient transaction from start to finish. We have built a wealth of experience within our teams and this encourages support, constant learning and good relations. The growth and development of our people is paramount to ensure potential is achieved.

The Team Manager is responsible for the day-to-day supervision of the Bank Reconciliation and Money Transfer team, ensuring work is completed accurately, efficiently and in accordance with regulatory and business requirements. The role provides practical support and guidance to team members, resolves escalated issues and promotes a culture of continuous improvement. The postholder will also provide cover for the Senior Finance Manager when required.

Key Responsibilities

• Supervise the day-to-day activities of the Bank Reconciliation and Money Transfer team.
• Provide ongoing guidance, support and coaching to team members.
• Manage all aspects of people management in line with company policies and procedures, including sickness absence, regular one-to-one meetings and annual performance reviews.
• Monitor workloads and priorities to help ensure deadlines and service standards are met.
• Resolve complex or escalated issues that cannot be addressed by more junior team members.
• Promote effective communication, collaboration and high standards of performance across the team.
• Assist senior management with finance testing, system changes and other projects as required.
• Provide cover for the Senior Finance Manager when required.

Financial Controls and Compliance

• Oversee bank reconciliation and money transfer activities, ensuring transactions are processed accurately and promptly.
• Ensure the prompt resolution of banking issues by liaising effectively with banking providers and the IT department.
• Ensure appropriate financial controls and procedures are consistently followed.
• Ensure that complete and accurate records are maintained in accordance with the requirements of the Council for Licensed Conveyancers and other relevant internal or regulatory standards.
• Identify operational risks or control weaknesses and escalate them appropriately.
• Support the investigation and resolution of reconciliation discrepancies and payment-related issues.
• Assist with annual audits, particularly by responding to audit queries and completing sample checks.

Continuous Improvement

• Identify and deliver service-improvement initiatives across the department using innovative and practical approaches.
• Support the delivery of better value and greater efficiency by identifying and eliminating unnecessary complexity within processes.
• Review current ways of working and recommend improvements to systems, controls and procedures.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues to design and implement revised processes.
• Help develop training materials, reports, procedures and system enhancements to support new or improved ways of working.
• Encourage team members to contribute ideas and participate in continuous-improvement activity.

Person Specification

• Experience of working within a finance operations, transactional finance or similar regulated environment.
• Experience of supervising, supporting or coordinating the work of a team.
• Practical knowledge of bank reconciliations and money transfer or payment processes.
• Experience of resolving complex operational or financial issues.
• Understanding of financial controls, accurate record-keeping and regulatory compliance.
• Experience of identifying and implementing process or service improvements.
• Confidence in supporting testing, system changes or operational projects.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong leadership and people-management skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
• Ability to prioritise workloads and meet deadlines in a busy environment.
• Clear and confident written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to build effective working relationships with banking providers, internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to explain procedures and provide effective training or guidance.
• A collaborative approach and the ability to work effectively with colleagues at all levels.
• Confidence in challenging inefficient practices and proposing practical improvements.
• Ability to remain calm and exercise sound judgement when dealing with escalated issues.
• Competence in using finance systems, reporting tools and Microsoft Office applications.

Success in the Role

Success will be demonstrated through accurate and timely financial processing, prompt resolution of banking issues, strong regulatory compliance, effective team support and measurable improvements in service quality, efficiency and ways of working. Above all, to be successful in these fantastic roles you need to show enthusiasm, flexibility and a positive working attitude. For this you will be rewarded with the opportunity for a successful career within an expanding global company.