Senior Operational Finance Manager – 6 Month Fixed Term Contract

Senior Operational Finance Manager – 6 Month Fixed Term Contract

Temporary 56700 - 69300 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
T

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead a dynamic finance team, driving operational excellence and continuous improvement.
  • Company: Join Trainline, Europe's leading independent rail platform for greener travel.
  • Benefits: Enjoy private healthcare, generous work-from-abroad policy, and excellent career growth opportunities.
  • Other info: Hybrid working model with a focus on diversity and inclusion.
  • Why this job: Make a positive impact on travel while supercharging your finance career.
  • Qualifications: Experience in operational finance and strong leadership skills required.

The predicted salary is between 56700 - 69300 £ per year.

About us

At Trainline, our purpose is to empower greener travel choices, connecting people and places.

Trainline enables millions of travellers to find and book the best value tickets across carriers, fares, and journey options through our highly rated mobile app, website, and B2B partner channels.

Great journeys start with Trainline

We’re Europe’s leading independent rail platform, helping millions of travellers find and book the best-value rail and coach journeys across our app, website and partner channels.

Our job is to make the green travel choice the best choice.

By building a better train travel experience, we help more people choose rail - creating a positive impact for customers, our business and the planet.

We’re a team of more than 1,000 Trainliners from over 50 nationalities, working across London, Paris, Barcelona, Milan, Edinburgh and Madrid.

Now is a brilliant time to join us and help shape the future of travel.

Introducing the Trainline Finance Team

At Trainline, our Finance team is the backbone of how we manage, govern, and grow the business responsibly.

From transactional processing to financial controls and systems ownership, the team works across a broad range of disciplines to ensure Trainline operates with accuracy, integrity, and commercial rigour.

This is a pivotal interim appointment within our operational finance function, sitting within a high‑performing team and reporting directly to the Group Financial Controller.

As Interim Senior Operational Finance Manager, you will lead the teams responsible for Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Finance Systems, and our Cashbook function, driving operational excellence and embedding a continuous improvement mindset across the function.

You will work closely with Finance leadership and Technology colleagues to strengthen controls, streamline processes, and maintain delivery momentum throughout a six‑month fixed‑term engagement, with a clear and structured handover at its close.

  • In this role as the Interim Senior Operational Finance Manager, you will
  • Lead and develop a multi‑disciplinary operational finance team across Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Finance Systems, and Cashbook, setting clear objectives, managing team capacity, and actively supporting the professional growth of every team member.
  • Own the day‑to‑day management of the AP and AR functions, ensuring invoices, payments, collections, and reconciliations are processed accurately, on time, and in line with strong governance and compliance standards.
  • Drive working capital performance by monitoring AP and AR KPIs, proactively managing aged debt and debtor days, and delivering regular reporting and insight to the Group Financial Controller.
  • Oversee bank and cash reconciliation across all entities and currencies, maintaining robust controls over cash processes including payment authorisation, segregation of duties, and reconciliation review.
  • Act as business owner for Trainline's core finance systems, ensuring platforms are scalable, secure, and well‑governed, and that teams are empowered to use them effectively through training and change management.
  • Own the operational finance contribution to month‑end close, ensuring ledgers are closed accurately and on time, and serve as a key point of contact throughout internal and external audit processes.
  • Identify and deliver process improvements with a focus on automation, efficiency, and scalability, coordinating with the Senior Finance Manager – Transformation to ensure changes are aligned with the broader Finance transformation roadmap.
  • Build trusted relationships across Finance, Technology, and the wider business, acting as the senior point of contact for operational finance and managing SLAs with internal stakeholders.
  • We'd love to hear from you if you have
  • Substantial experience managing operational finance functions, ideally spanning Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, and finance systems in a fast‑paced commercial environment.
  • A strong track record of leading and developing high‑performing finance teams, with the ability to set direction, manage performance, and support the professional growth of team members.
  • Solid expertise across AP/AR processes, credit control, working capital management, and financial controls, with a high standard of attention to detail and data governance.
  • Experience working within an ERP environment, ideally Microsoft Dynamics 365 or a comparable platform, with a confident grasp of transactional finance processes end‑to‑end.
  • A process improvement mindset, with demonstrated success delivering automation and efficiency gains across operational finance functions.
  • Strong communication skills and the ability to build effective working relationships with stakeholders across Finance, Technology, and senior business leadership.
  • Confidence managing SLAs and service expectations with internal stakeholders, alongside the resilience to operate effectively in a fast‑paced and evolving environment.
  • Availability at short notice and comfort operating in an interim capacity, with the drive to take ownership quickly, deliver impact within a defined timeframe, and lead a clear and structured handover.

More information fantastic perks like private healthcare & dental insurance, a generous work from abroad policy, 2-for-1 share purchase plans, an EV Scheme to further reduce carbon emissions, extra festive time off, and excellent family‑friendly benefits.

We prioritise career growth with clear career paths, transparent pay bands, personal learning budgets, and regular learning days.

Jump on board and supercharge your career from day one!

We're operating a hybrid model and ask that Trainliners work from the office a minimum of 60% of their time over a 12‑week period. We also have a 28‑day Work from Abroad policy.

Our values represent the things that matter most to us and what we live and breathe everyday, in everything we do:

  • Think Big - We're building the future of rail
  • Own It - We focus on every customer, partner and journey
  • Travel Together - We're one team
  • Do Good - We make a positive impact

We know that having a diverse team makes us better and helps us succeed.

And we mean all forms of diversity - gender, ethnicity, sexuality, disability, nationality and diversity of thought.

That's why we're committed to creating inclusive places to work, where everyone belongs and differences are valued and celebrated.

Interested in finding out more about what it's like to work at Trainline? Why not check us out on Linked In, Instagram and Glassdoor!

#J-18808-Ljbffr

Senior Operational Finance Manager – 6 Month Fixed Term Contract employer: Trainline

Trainline is an exceptional employer, dedicated to fostering a culture of innovation and sustainability in the travel industry. With a strong emphasis on employee growth, we offer clear career paths, personal learning budgets, and a supportive environment for mentorship and collaboration. Our hybrid work model, generous benefits, and commitment to diversity make Trainline a rewarding place to build a meaningful career while contributing to a greener future.

T

Contact Details:

Trainline Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Senior Operational Finance Manager – 6 Month Fixed Term Contract

Join Financial Networking Events

Jump into local finance meetups and conferences — they’re a goldmine for temporary roles in banking and financial services. You can chat with industry professionals and even get leads on upcoming opportunities that might not be posted online yet.

Utilise Temp Agencies Specialised in Finance

Reach out to temp agencies that focus on the banking sector. They often have strong ties with various firms and can help you secure short-term gigs that can help beef up your CV and get your foot in the door at firms like Trainline.

Connect with Alumni from Your Uni

Don't underestimate the power of your university’s alumni network. Many former students are working in banking and can help you find temporary roles or even offer mentorship. Reach out directly or attend alumni events to broaden your circle.

Stay Active on Job Boards and Company Websites

Keep your eyes peeled on job boards specifically for finance roles. Companies like Trainline might post temporary positions directly on their sites, so make sure to apply there too. Set alerts to catch those roles the moment they go live!

We think you need these skills to ace Senior Operational Finance Manager – 6 Month Fixed Term Contract

Operational Finance Management
Accounts Payable (AP)
Accounts Receivable (AR)
Finance Systems Management
Cashbook Management
Team Leadership
Performance Management

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Off Your Academic Achievements:In banking and financial services, your academic record can really make you stand out. List relevant grades, certifications, or coursework on your CV, especially if you've taken finance-related modules. This is particularly important for a temporary role where qualifications can help you shine even brighter!

Highlight Relevant Experience:If you’ve done any internships, part-time roles, or even coursework that aligns with banking or finance, make sure you include those! Showcase specific tasks where you used quantitative skills or analytical thinking, as this is what the hiring managers at Trainline will be keen to see in your application.

Tailor Your Cover Letter Purposefully:When writing your cover letter, focus on why you’re interested in a temporary position at Trainline. Let them know how you can quickly adapt to the team's needs and how eager you are to learn the ropes of the banking sector during this short stint. Your motivation and enthusiasm could really set you apart!

Be Prepared with References:For temporary roles, references can play a crucial role in your application. Make sure you’ve got a couple of references lined up who can vouch for your skills and work ethic. This helps to give Trainline confidence in your short-term commitment to the role.

How to prepare for a job interview at Trainline

Brush Up on Financial Regulations

Since this is a role in banking and financial services, be ready to discuss key regulations like MiFID, Basel III, or GDPR. These are hot topics, and your awareness of how they impact daily operations can give you a significant edge during your interview with Trainline.

Showcase Your Analytical Skills

Prepare for interview questions that assess your analytical abilities. You might need to tackle hypothetical scenarios involving risk assessment or financial forecasting. Bringing examples of relevant projects or coursework can emphasise your practical understanding of these concepts.

Highlight Flexibility and Adaptability

For a temporary role, showing that you can quickly pick up new processes and tools is crucial. Be ready to discuss previous experiences where you had to adapt to changing requirements or tight deadlines, as this will reassure Trainline that you’re a reliable team player.

Demonstrate a Willingness to Learn

In a temporary position, leaning into your eagerness to learn can really set you apart. Be prepared to share how you’re staying updated on industry trends or any additional training you've pursued. Employers appreciate candidates who are proactive about their development—even for short-term roles.