Financial Operations Manager in London

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Management Accountant or Finance Manager to step up into a Financial Operations Manager role and join a fast-growing international retail and e-commerce business based in North West London. This is a key role within a fast-paced, multi-entity environment, responsible for leading and improving finance operations across UK and US entities.

Please note that we will only accept candidates with strong management accounting capability and a solid grounding in transactional finance operations. Ideally, that would include ownership of areas such as AP, AR, payroll, VAT reporting and process improvement, alongside month-end and management reporting experience.

The Finance Operations Manager will oversee the day-to-day finance operations of the business, including Management Accounts, AP, AR, payroll, expenses, cash management, month-end processes and financial controls. Working closely with senior finance leadership, operational teams and IT, the role will focus on improving processes, reducing manual activity, enhancing system integrations and maintaining accurate financial information as the business continues to scale. You will also supervise and provide cover for an AP/AR Assistant.

Key Responsibilities

• Support month-end close through bank, balance sheet, AP, AR, payroll and corporate card reconciliations, as well as accruals, prepayments and reporting requirements.
• Lead and continuously improve the end-to-end Accounts Payable function, including supplier invoice processing, payment runs, supplier records, aged creditors, query resolution and payment controls.
• Manage and improve the Accounts Receivable and order-to-cash cycle, including customer onboarding, credit checks, aged debt, collections, invoicing, statements and customer query resolution.
• Oversee weekly UK and US payment runs, ensuring invoices are accurately coded, approved and paid on time.
• Coordinate monthly UK payroll and fortnightly US payroll, working with HR and external providers to ensure accurate payroll calculations, payments, journals and reconciliations.
• Manage employee expenses and corporate card programmes, including expense approvals, card reconciliations, spending controls and policy compliance.
• Identify, design and implement finance process improvements, including workflow automation, system integrations, approval controls and improved reporting.
• Lead the testing, implementation and rollout of new finance tools and system enhancements, ensuring processes are documented, controls are maintained and users are effectively supported.
• Review finance processes regularly to identify bottlenecks, control gaps and opportunities to improve efficiency, accuracy and scalability.
• Support UK and US compliance requirements, including VAT, PAYE, pensions, P11D, PSA, corporation tax payments, sales tax and payroll tax filings.

Skills & Experience

• Qualified Accountant: ACA, ACCA or CIMA.
• 3+ years’ experience in finance operations, finance management or management accounting.
• Strong experience across AP, AR, payroll, reconciliations, month-end and financial controls.
• Proven experience improving finance processes, implementing systems enhancements and driving automation.
• Experience working with finance systems and integrations; Xero experience is highly desirable.
• Strong Excel, analytical and stakeholder-management skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Retail, fashion, e-commerce or consumer-brand experience.