Finance Operations Lead (Assistant Finance Manager)

The Finance Operations Lead is responsible for overseeing day-to-day financial processes and ensuring the efficient delivery of core finance operations, including accounts payable, service charge management, and operational finance activities. The role supports the Finance Operations Manager in maintaining strong financial controls, process compliance, and continuous improvement initiatives across the finance function. This position also provides leadership and support to the finance operations team, acting as a key point of contact for operational finance queries.

Job Requirements

• This role manages and resolves day-to-day operational issues, escalating significant risks, trends, or decisions to the Finance Operations Manager as needed.
• They act as a support layer, dealing with the detail and execution, while aligning with the Finance Operations Manager on broader strategy, priorities, and complex challenges.

Key Responsibilities

• Supervise and coordinate daily finance operations.
• Carry out regular reconciliations and reporting tasks, proactively identifying and posting adjustments throughout the year to ensure accuracy and enable a smooth handover of all supporting workings to the reporting team.
• Draft journals for staff expenses, including intercompany elements.
• Review journals created by the Finance Operations team.
• Support with cover for annual leave with supervision covering invoicing, payments, reconciliations, and service charge activities.
• Act as a lead for CIS Return submissions and a liaison for all HMRC related queries for CIS, PSA Settlements and PAYE/NIC payments.
• Manage the delivery of accurate and timely service charge transactions and support the annual reconciliation process.
• Ensure compliance with financial controls, internal policies, and relevant regulatory standards.
• Act as the first point of escalation for finance operations queries and transactional issues.
• Support the Finance Operations Manager in delivering operational reporting, performance tracking, and compliance-related tasks.
• Identify opportunities for process improvement, automation, and increased efficiency within finance operations.
• Collaborate with other departments such as Procurement, Property Management, and Commercial teams to resolve cross-functional finance issues.
• Provide support, guidance, and mentoring to junior members of the finance operations team.

Key Skills & Experience

• Proven experience in a management role within finance (over 5 years is desirable) with a strong focus on Accounts Payable or Service Charge Accounting.
• Proven experience in People management.
• In-depth knowledge of financial systems, monthly/period end close activities, processes, and internal control environments.
• Experience with ERP systems and advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
• Strong attention to detail and excellent organisational skills.
• Effective communication and stakeholder management capabilities.
• Ability to manage workload independently while supporting team and departmental objectives.
• You must have completed AAT Level 4 qualified and be part qualified (or Finalist) ACCA/ACA/CIMA.
• Experience in property, real estate, or facilities management (Desirable).

Additional Information

• Hybrid Working (a minimum of 3 days in the office).
• Competitive Remuneration.
• Share Incentive Plan.
• Supportive Annual Leave Policies.
• Enhanced Parental Leave and Pay.
• Private Medical Insurance.

At GPE, we are committed to diversity and inclusion. We believe that diversity gives us strength. Collecting diversity data allows us to measure the effectiveness of our efforts and ensure our hiring procedures are fair and equitable for all. Providing this information is voluntary and remains confidential. This data is anonymised and only used to assess the diversity of our applicant pool. It will not influence hiring decisions in any way. As a Disability Confident employer, we will ensure that a fair and proportionate number of disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria for this position will be offered an interview. Moreover, we will ensure that reasonable adjustments are made for applicants during the recruiting process. We encourage candidates to confirm any requirements that we can reasonably fulfil to make the application process a positive experience for all candidates.