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- Tasks: Lead financial oversight of a ÂŁ900m operational cost base and partner with senior leaders.
- Company: Join a FTSE 100 aviation business with a dynamic and impactful role.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, car allowance, bonus, and comprehensive benefits package.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a critical leadership role within a safety-focused environment.
- Qualifications: ACA, ACCA or CIMA qualified with 8+ years of relevant experience.
- Other info: Opportunity to mentor a team and drive operational transformation.
The predicted salary is between 86000 - 93000 ÂŁ per year.
We are partnering with a FTSE 100 aviation business to appoint a Senior Finance Manager – Operations, a critical leadership role with ownership of a £900m operational cost base. This position sits at the interface between Finance and Operations and is designed for a senior finance leader who excels at operational business partnering—working shoulder‑to‑shoulder with operational leaders to influence decisions, drive cost discipline, and improve performance in a complex, safety‑critical environment. The role offers high visibility across the organisation, with regular interaction with the CFO, CEO and Executive Committee, and plays a key role in ensuring operational decisions are financially robust, commercially grounded and aligned to Group strategy.
Role Purpose
The Senior Finance Manager – Operations will act as the lead finance partner to Group Operations, providing insight, challenge and decision support across a large, complex and asset‑intensive cost base. Rather than a pure FP&A role, this position is focused on front‑line operational engagement—understanding cost drivers, operational constraints and trade‑offs, and helping leaders make better decisions around productivity, efficiency, resilience and service delivery. You will ensure that financial control, forecasting and performance management support operational priorities while maintaining a strong grip on cost, risk and value creation.
Key Responsibilities
- Own and manage financial oversight of a ÂŁ900m operational cost base, ensuring robust control, transparency and accountability.
- Act as the primary finance business partner to senior operational leaders, influencing decisions across capacity, productivity, efficiency and operational resilience.
- Provide clear, commercially grounded insight to the Executive Committee and Board on operational performance, cost pressures, risks and opportunities.
- Translate operational activity and constraints into meaningful financial implications, supporting trade‑off decisions in a safety‑critical, regulated environment.
- Lead operational budgeting, forecasting and cost management processes, ensuring plans are realistic, integrated and aligned to strategic objectives.
- Support delivery of operational transformation and efficiency programmes, including financial tracking of benefits and risks.
- Work closely with central finance and analytics teams to enhance the quality of operational reporting, insight and decision support.
- Lead, develop and mentor a team of four finance professionals embedded in operational business partnering roles.
- Provide ad‑hoc financial support for operational initiatives, investment cases and major change programmes (e.g. fleet, infrastructure, resilience, productivity).
Candidate Profile
- ACA, ACCA or CIMA qualified with 8+ years’ post‑qualification experience.
- Strong background in operational finance / commercial finance / business partnering, ideally within aviation, transport, infrastructure, manufacturing or other asset‑intensive environments.
- Demonstrable experience owning or influencing large operational cost bases (ÂŁ500m+).
- Proven ability to partner and challenge senior operational stakeholders, including ExCo‑level leaders.
- Experience balancing cost control with operational performance, safety, service and resilience considerations.
- Strong forecasting, cost analysis and financial modelling capability, applied in an operational context.
- Experience leading and developing finance teams in complex, fast‑moving organisations.
Personal Attributes
- Commercial, pragmatic and operationally minded.
- Comfortable working in ambiguous, high‑pressure environments where trade‑offs are constant.
- Confident influencer with the gravitas to challenge senior leaders constructively.
- Hands‑on, proactive and solutions‑focused.
- Collaborative leader who builds trust across finance and operations.
Senior Finance Manager employer: JSS Search
Contact Detail:
JSS Search Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Finance Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to connections in the aviation and finance sectors. Attend industry events or webinars, and don’t be shy about introducing yourself. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by researching the company and its operations. Understand their financial challenges and think about how your experience can help them tackle these issues. Tailor your responses to show you’re not just a finance whiz but also a strategic partner ready to drive performance.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! You want to convey your experience in operational finance clearly and confidently. Highlight your achievements in managing large cost bases and how you've influenced decision-making in previous roles. This is your chance to shine!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’ve got loads of resources to help you stand out. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team. Let’s get you that Senior Finance Manager role!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Finance Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of Senior Finance Manager. Highlight your experience in operational finance and any relevant achievements that showcase your ability to manage large cost bases and partner with senior leaders.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this role. Mention specific examples of how you've influenced decisions in previous roles and how you can bring that expertise to our team.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: Since this role involves leading a team, make sure to highlight your leadership experience. Talk about how you've developed and mentored finance professionals in the past and how you plan to do the same at StudySmarter.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at JSS Search
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Senior Finance Manager, you'll need to demonstrate your grasp of financial metrics. Brush up on key figures related to operational costs, forecasting, and performance management. Be ready to discuss how you've influenced financial decisions in previous roles.
✨Understand the Business
Familiarise yourself with the aviation industry and the specific challenges it faces. Research the company’s operational strategies and be prepared to discuss how you can contribute to their goals. Showing that you understand their business will set you apart.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that assess your ability to handle complex, safety-critical environments. Think of examples where you've successfully navigated trade-offs between cost control and operational performance. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
This role involves leading a team and influencing senior stakeholders. Be ready to share your experiences in mentoring finance professionals and collaborating with operational leaders. Highlight your ability to build trust and drive results in a fast-paced environment.
