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- Tasks: Lead finance operations across EMEA, focusing on cash generation and process efficiency.
- Company: Join McLarens, a leader in finance operations with a hybrid work culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for innovation and collaboration across teams.
- Why this job: Make a significant impact on financial processes and drive operational excellence.
- Qualifications: Experience in finance operations and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
Responsibilities
- Working Capital Leadership (EMEA & Specialty)
- Provide end-to-end leadership of working capital operations across EMEA and Specialty business units, with a strong focus on cash generation and process efficiency.
- Oversee billing and invoicing processes for Specialty business units, ensuring accuracy & timeliness.
- Lead Accounts Receivable (AR) operations across all business units, including collections strategy and execution.
- Oversee cash application processes to ensure timely and accurate allocation of receipts.
- Drive improvements in Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) and overall cash conversion performance.
- Partner closely with Operations to resolve billing, dispute, and collection challenges and improve end-to-end processes.
- Establish clear performance metrics and reporting for working capital management.
- Lead and develop a regional team, ensuring strong performance management and capability development.
- Shared Services Oversight & Optimisation
- Provide strategic oversight of finance operations delivered through shared service centre/s (SSC), ensuring efficiency, scalability, and service quality.
- Drive optimisation of shared service delivery models, including identification and migration of transactional activities into SSC environments.
- Manage stakeholder engagement across business units and finance functions to ensure alignment and effective adoption of shared services.
- Partner with SSC leadership to implement automation, workflow improvements, and service delivery enhancements.
- Establish and monitor KPIs to track service performance, efficiency, and process quality.
- Oversee SSC intercompany recharges and cost allocations across group entities.
- Monitor cash flow movements into the SSC, including timely settlement of intercompany balances to meet the centre’s outflow needs.
- Coordinate with SSC’s external accountants on monthly close activities and statutory compliance requirements.
- Global Process Standardisation & Operational Excellence
- Lead global initiatives to drive consistency, standardisation, and efficiency across finance operations (excluding areas owned by Tax, Treasury, Controllership, and FP&A).
- Establish and lead global forums to share best practices and drive continuous improvement across regions.
- Identify and implement opportunities to standardise finance processes across business units and geographies.
- Drive process simplification and automation to reduce manual intervention and improve control.
- Develop scalable operating models to support business growth and geographic expansion.
- Define, document, and maintain finance policies and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
- Finance Systems & Automation
- Lead the optimisation and adoption of finance systems to improve operational efficiency and data visibility.
- Own the finance operations input into ERP and finance systems strategy and enhancements.
- Support implementation of new systems, tools, and automation initiatives across finance operations.
- Partner with IT and transformation teams to deliver system improvements aligned with business needs.
- Drive user adoption and ensure effective utilisation of finance systems across teams.
- Enhance data integrity and reporting capabilities to support operational and management decision-making.
- Finance Transformation & Operational Delivery
- Support and deliver key finance transformation initiatives across the region.
- Play a central role in finance transformation programmes, including process alignment and operating model design.
- Improve visibility of operational finance metrics to support performance management.
- Implement metrics and dashboards to track efficiency, quality, and service delivery across finance operations.
- Ensure finance operations effectively support broader organisational objectives, including growth and scalability.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration & Stakeholder Management
- Act as a key interface between Finance, Operations, and Shared Services.
- Partner with regional leadership, and business stakeholders to align finance operations with business priorities.
- Work closely with Controllership, FP&A, Tax, and Treasury teams to ensure seamless end-to-end finance processes.
- Provide operational insights to support decision-making and performance improvement initiatives.
- Team Leadership & Capability Development
- Build, lead, and develop high-performing finance operations teams across regions and shared service environments.
- Establish clear accountability, performance management, and development frameworks.
- Foster a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and operational excellence.
- Ensure appropriate resourcing and capability to support current operations and future growth.
Key Success Metrics
- Improvement in DSO and overall working capital performance.
- Efficiency and cost-effectiveness of shared service operations.
- Reduction in manual processes and increased automation.
- Finance process standardisation across regions.
- Timeliness and accuracy of transactional finance processes.
- System adoption and effectiveness.
- Quality and scalability of finance operations to support business growth.
Director - Finance Operations (EMEA & Specialty) employer: McLarens
Contact Detail:
McLarens Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Director - Finance Operations (EMEA & Specialty)
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the finance world, especially those who work at McLarens or similar companies. A friendly chat can sometimes lead to insider info about job openings or even a referral.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its operations. Understand their approach to working capital and shared services. This will help you speak their language and show that you're genuinely interested in the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your experience aligns with their needs, especially in cash generation and process efficiency. Tailor your examples to highlight your leadership skills in finance operations.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Director - Finance Operations (EMEA & Specialty)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the job description. Highlight your experience in finance operations, working capital management, and team leadership. We want to see how your skills align with what we're looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for the Director role. Share specific examples of your achievements in finance transformation and process optimisation that relate to our needs.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: As a Director, we need someone who can lead and develop teams. In your application, mention your experience in building high-performing teams and how you've fostered a culture of continuous improvement in previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss any important updates from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at McLarens
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Director of Finance Operations, you'll need to demonstrate your understanding of key financial metrics. Brush up on concepts like Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) and cash conversion performance. Be ready to discuss how you've improved these metrics in past roles.
✨Showcase Leadership Skills
This role involves leading teams and driving performance. Prepare examples of how you've developed high-performing teams and fostered a culture of continuous improvement. Highlight any specific strategies you've used to enhance team capability and accountability.
✨Understand Shared Services
Familiarise yourself with shared service centre operations and optimisation strategies. Be prepared to discuss how you've implemented efficiencies or driven automation in previous positions. This will show that you can effectively manage stakeholder engagement and improve service delivery.
✨Prepare for Cross-Functional Collaboration
Collaboration is key in this role. Think of examples where you've successfully partnered with other departments, such as Operations or IT, to align finance operations with business priorities. This will demonstrate your ability to act as a key interface between various functions.