At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead operational projects and improve client onboarding processes in a fast-growing accounting firm.
- Company: Join Gravita, a tech-enabled accounting firm supporting ambitious businesses.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, professional development, and a supportive team environment.
- Other info: Dynamic, hybrid work environment with opportunities for personal growth and career progression.
- Why this job: Shape the future of accounting while making a real impact on client experiences.
- Qualifications: Experience in operational change and project delivery; analytical mindset required.
The predicted salary is between 37800 - 46200 £ per year.
We’re Gravita: the accountants fuelling ambitious businesses. We’re a full service, tech-enabled firm, working with entrepreneurs and businesses to help them achieve their goals, and make an impact in the world. Our mission is to become the UK’s leading tech-enabled accounting firm for SMEs. We have ambitious goals and our high-calibre team work hard to achieve them. We are one team with one agenda, working collaboratively in a respectful environment to deliver a great service to our clients.
The Role
Gravita is going through a period of significant growth and change, with a number of important operational projects underway across the business. This role is an opportunity to play a central part in shaping how the firm works, starting with one of our key priorities: improving our onboarding processes and systems.
The role will bring operational leadership to the review, selection and implementation of new onboarding system(s), alongside the processes, ownership, controls and ways of working needed to make them successful. It will also support other ExCo priorities where additional delivery support is needed.
Working across Operations, Quality Risk Management, Technology and the service lines, this role will help put in place processes that:
- Enables consistent, high-quality client onboarding processes and a better experience for both teams and clients
- Build compliance requirements into day-to-day operational processes
- Create capacity to fix historic issues and support integration or consolidation work
- Make it clear who owns each process, decision and handover point
- Support growth, acquisitions and future technology change
This is an individual contributor role with no direct line management responsibility but will be part of project teams. Success will be measured through delivery of agreed priorities, improved process performance, stronger control and governance, and effective handover of ownership into business-as-usual teams.
This role will suit someone who enjoys turning ambiguity into action. They will need to be comfortable working with partners and functional leaders, able to ask the right questions and challenge constructively and be willing to get into the detail when needed. This is not a role for someone looking only to provide project oversight; it requires someone who can help shape practical solutions and then support delivery.
Key Responsibilities:
- System selection and process review: Lead the review, selection and implementation of new onboarding system(s), working with Technology and business owners to ensure the systems support clear processes, controls, reporting and handover into BAU.
- Client Operations structure and ways of working: Define and implement a clearer Client Operations model, including how teams and individuals will work with the new systems, processes, roles, responsibilities and handover points across Operations, Compliance, Places and the service lines.
- Client onboarding and related operational processes: Standardise key operational processes, including onboarding, changes in client status, internal requests, compliance touchpoints and handover between teams.
- Embed compliance into operations: Work with the Quality Risk Management (QRM) team to translate AML, KYC, conflicts, client acceptance and Letter of Engagement requirements into practical operational processes, with clear ownership, decision points and escalation routes.
- Broader operational projects: Support other priority operational and transformation projects where agreed with ExCo, particularly where there is a need to complete, embed or standardise ways of working across teams.
- Remediation and clean-up: Define and deliver a practical plan to address historic compliance gaps, operational inefficiencies and control weaknesses.
- KPIs, metrics and reporting: Define and agree KPIs across team performance, onboarding, compliance activity and operational delivery; implement reporting that provides visibility of performance, risk and bottlenecks and supports data-driven decision making.
- Handover to BAU ownership: Ensure all processes, controls, tooling and reporting are fully documented, embedded and transitioned to appropriate long-term owners.
How you’ll work:
- Responsible for agreed operational projects from diagnosis through to implementation and handover.
- Define how teams and individuals will work with new systems and processes, including roles, responsibilities, decision points and escalation routes.
- Lead the review, selection and implementation of new onboarding system(s), working closely with Technology, QRM and business owners.
- Work with Quality Risk Management (QRM) to make sure regulatory requirements are translated into practical operational steps.
- Put in place simple reporting on progress, risks, delays and decisions needed.
- Support adoption through clear communication, documentation, training and follow-through.
- Ensure changes are transitioned to appropriate long-term owners.
Qualifications, Knowledge & Experience:
- Experience supporting operational change, process improvement and standardisation in a project or multi-stakeholder environment.
- Strong project delivery skills, with the ability to bring structure to unclear requirements, coordinate stakeholders and keep work moving through to implementation.
- Experience working closely with QRM or Risk functions, ideally in professional services, a regulated environment or a partnership-style business.
- Analytical mindset, with the ability to define simple metrics, interpret data and drive action.
- Experience reviewing, selecting and implementing operational systems and tooling.
- Clear, organised and delivery-focused, with good follow-through.
What success looks like after 12 months:
- New onboarding system(s) selected, implemented and embedded into day-to-day working.
- A clearer and more consistently embedded Client Operations and Compliance model, including how teams work with the new systems and processes.
- More standardised, efficient and compliant onboarding and operational processes.
- Improved visibility and control through KPIs, reporting and governance.
- Reduced risk through remediation of historic issues.
- Clear ownership of processes, controls and reporting transitioned to BAU teams.
Your Career with Gravita:
When you join Gravita, we’ll support you on your own growth journey. We want to be the place you learn, grow and unlock your true potential. We’ll work with you to build a progression plan to outline how you’ll grow at our company and everything we’ll do to help you get there. We’re also passionate about learning and development, to help you focus on your future.
The Key Details:
- Our standard working week is a 37.5-hour week on a hybrid basis.
- Core working hours are 10am - 4pm Monday to Friday.
- Flexible working and happy employees are at the top of our list here at Gravita.
- Your development won’t be forgotten, our development support is extraordinary for a firm of our size.
- It's a busy, fast-paced environment here at Gravita.
Operations Manager - 12 month FTC in London employer: Gravita
Gravita is an excellent employer that fosters a collaborative and fast-paced work culture, offering hybrid working arrangements to support work-life balance. With a strong commitment to employee growth, we provide continuous professional development opportunities and training to ensure you remain at the forefront of payroll regulations. Join us in a tech-enabled environment where your contributions are valued and rewarded.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Operations Manager - 12 month FTC in London
✨Tap into Consulting Networks
Get active in local management consulting networks and organisations. Attend meetups, workshops, or webinars specific to consulting where you can connect with professionals who may know of temporary roles opening up at places like Gravita. Don’t underestimate word-of-mouth – it’s massive in our field!
✨Show Off Your Skills in Real-Time
As a temporary hire, you need to demonstrate your value quickly. Consider creating a mini-case study or analysis relevant to the industry and share it on platforms like LinkedIn or even during networking events. This can be an impressive way to showcase your analytical skills and problem-solving prowess – just what consulting firms are looking for!
✨Check for Temporary Roles on Niche Job Boards
Look for temporary roles on specialised job boards for consulting gigs rather than just generic platforms. Websites like Consultancy.uk or even the Careers pages of major firms could have short-term projects or roles that are perfect for you to jump in at Gravita.
✨Leverage University and Alumni Resources
If you’re fresh out of uni or connected with a local institution, take advantage of their career services and alumni networks. Many universities have exclusive connections to consulting firms seeking temporary help. Plus, it’s a great way to meet other aspiring consultants who might share leads about opportunities at Gravita.
We think you need these skills to ace Operations Manager - 12 month FTC in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Analytical Skills:In management consulting, employers love to see your problem-solving abilities right from the get-go. Be sure to highlight any relevant analytical projects you've worked on, particularly those that show how you tackled complex problems. If you’ve done any case studies or analysis during your studies, throw those in your CV!
Tailor Your Experience for the Role:Since this is a temporary position, your application should reflect your adaptability and relevant experience quite clearly. Focus on showcasing experiences that demonstrate your ability to hit the ground running, like previous projects, internships, or freelance gigs in consulting or project management.
Craft a Targeted Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to sparkle! Use it to explain why you're interested in this temporary role at Gravita and how your skills suit the specific project needs. Remember to mention how you can provide immediate value based on your past experiences.
Include Certifications or Relevant Training:If you've got any certifications like PMP, Six Sigma, or even coursework that’s super relevant, make sure to list those in your application. Management consulting can be competitive, and these extra qualifications can help you stand out in the recruitment process.
How to prepare for a job interview at Gravita
✨Prepare for Case Studies
In management consulting, case study interviews are a big deal. Expect to tackle real-world business problems on the spot. We should practise structuring our thoughts, developing hypotheses, and presenting our solutions clearly, as this is what firms like Gravita will want to see.
✨Show Off Your Problem-Solving Skills
You’ll need to demonstrate strong analytical skills and logical reasoning. Brush up on frameworks like SWOT or Porter's Five Forces, as these can come in handy. Think of instances from your experience where you tackled a complex issue—this could set you apart when speaking to Gravita.
✨Highlight Your Adaptability
Since this is a temporary role, it's crucial we showcase our ability to hit the ground running. Have examples ready that illustrate how we've adapted quickly in past positions or projects. This shows that we can contribute effectively from day one at Gravita.
✨Be Ready to Discuss Cultural Fit
Temporary roles often come with a focus on team dynamics. Prepare to discuss how we align with the values and culture at Gravita. We want to highlight our teamwork experiences and how we can mesh with their consulting teams, making it clear that we're not just looking to fill a spot but to add value.
