Head of Finance Operations

At Smart, our mission is to transform retirement, savings and financial wellbeing, across all generations, around the world.

THE ROLE

12 Month Fixed Term Contract

The Head of Finance Operations is a highly hands‑on finance leader responsible for owning core finance operations and reporting while driving continued process improvements and cross‑functional finance projects. This role provides strong leadership to the finance team and ensures effective operational controls, accurate and timely financial reporting, and the smooth running of payroll and accounts payable are maintained. This is a delivery‑focused role requiring deep attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple workstreams simultaneously.

Key Responsibilities

• Finance Operations & Controls
  • Oversee day‑to‑day finance operations including payroll, accounts payable, and general ledger
  • Ensure timely and accurate processing of payroll, vendor payments, and employee expenses
  • Review balance sheet reconciliations and ensure integrity of financial data
  • Identify operational risks and implement corrective actions
  • Identify and remediate process and control inefficiencies, driving automation where appropriate
• Financial Reporting
  • Oversee the monthly close process, ensuring accuracy and timeliness
  • Support preparation and review of management accounts, financial statements, and supporting schedules
  • Oversee Group and statutory audits
  • Ensure compliance with accounting standards, internal policies and other external reporting requirements
• Accounts Payable & Payroll Oversight
  • Oversee AP processes including invoice processing, payment runs, vendor reconciliations, and controls
  • Continue to embed the recently implemented P2P system, Omnea, into AP and the business
  • Ensure payroll accuracy, timeliness, and compliance in partnership with HR and external providers
  • Manage payroll reconciliations and post‑payroll reporting
  • Continuously improve AP and payroll processes for efficiency and control
• Team Leadership
  • Lead, coach, and develop finance operations and reporting team members
  • Set clear expectations and ensure accountability for deliverables
  • Act as a hands‑on leader who can step in when needed to ensure deadlines are met

Who We Are Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or related discipline
• Professional accounting qualification (CA, CPA, ACCA, CIMA, or equivalent) preferred
• 8–12+ years of finance experience with significant hands‑on operational responsibility
• Strong background in finance operations, payroll, accounts payable, and financial reporting
• Proven experience building or strengthening operational and financial control environments
• Track record of successfully delivering finance transformation or improvement projects
• Experience managing and developing finance teams
• Detail‑oriented with a strong sense of ownership and accountability
• Excellent problem‑solving and project management skills
• Comfortable operating at both transactional and managerial levels
• Strong communication skills with the ability to work cross‑functionally
• Advanced Excel skills; experience with ERP and payroll systems (e.g. SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, Workday, ADP)

Who We Are

We work in partnerships with governments and financial institutions in the UK and internationally. Our cloud‑native digital platform is revolutionising how people around the world think about, and save for, their retirement. At heart, we’re a financial technology business. What we do is all about innovation, and using the power of digital change to put the customer first. Our Engineers will tell you that working at Smart gives you the opportunity to play your part in developing world‑class technological solutions, working with – and learning from – like‑minded people. You’ll also find that, across our business, our colleagues love Smart’s culture, and how what we do means better financial outcomes for savers. That feels worthwhile, and it means that what we do, collectively, goes way beyond the nine to five of a typical working day.

Benefits

• 25 days’ holiday per year, increasing with length of service.
• £500 annual training budget to spend on your professional development
• Extensive private healthcare, including dental, eyecare and EAP
• Enhanced sick leave (three months’ pay per year)
• Enhanced maternity and paternity (maternity – 6 months fully paid/paternity – 3 weeks fully paid)
• Death in service insurance cover
• Fully‑paid five‑week sabbatical after five years of employment
• In office wellbeing, such as manicures, massages and barbers.
• Smart employees also enjoy a 50% discount on orders from our sister company Arena Flowers.

At Smart, we are committed to creating an inclusive and equitable workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to do their best work. We believe that diverse perspectives help us lead the way in transforming retirement, savings and financial wellbeing. We welcome differences in background, experience, thinking, and identity, and we recognise that innovation is strongest when it is built on inclusion and fairness. We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences and do not discriminate on the basis of any protected characteristic. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process or in the workplace, we encourage you to let us know – we are committed to supporting you.

We think Smart is an awesome place to work. If it sounds like somewhere you’d like to work, too, and if you’re ready to play your part in our continued success in the future, then naturally we’d love to meet you.