Senior Operations Manager – Finance Services

It’s an exciting time to join UKSBS as we transform our business to be the leading UK public sector business service provider. We aim to become a very different organisation over the next few years as we move to a modern multi‑platform, digitally enabled organisation.

About the role

We are looking for a Senior Operations Manager to join our Finance Services leadership team. This is a pivotal senior management role with responsibility for the Accounts Payable, Order to Cash and Finance Specialist functions, leading large multi‑site teams supporting a broad portfolio of government clients. Reporting to the Head of Finance Services, you will play a critical role in leading operational performance, driving continuous improvement and supporting the delivery of significant change across the service. This fixed‑term role offers an exciting opportunity to influence the future direction of finance shared services at UKSBS.

What it’s like to work in the Finance Services team

We are a well‑established finance shared services team with a supportive and collaborative culture, entering a period of growth and transformation. Our teams deliver high‑quality financial transaction processing and specialist finance support on behalf of government clients, from invoice processing through to audit support. Our team is made up of a variety of professional backgrounds and experience levels. We offer hybrid working with flexibility around full‑time or part‑time hours, and core working hours of 8.00am to 5.00pm, Monday to Friday. Colleagues can be based in Swindon, Newport or Stockton‑on‑Tees, depending on what works best for them and the business.

The duties of the role include, but are not limited to:

• Lead the day‑to‑day operations of the Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable service across multiple clients and ERP platforms.
• Lead, manage and develop teams of approximately 40–50 colleagues across multiple locations ensuring high performance and engagement.
• Align service delivery roadmaps with UKSBS strategic objectives and organisational transformation initiatives.

People and Performance Management

• Provide leadership, coaching and mentoring to team managers to build high‑performing, engaged teams.
• Set clear objectives and oversee effective performance management.
• Embed a culture of accountability, consistency and outstanding customer service.
• Lead talent and succession planning, supporting effective workforce planning and capability development.

Service delivery and continuous improvement

• Ensure finance processes meet regulatory, statutory and contractual requirements.
• Drive continuous improvement activity within your teams and across the wider Finance Service.
• Ensure quality monitoring frameworks are in place to support consistent, high‑quality service delivery.
• Support delivery of the Finance Service change and transformation programme.

Stakeholder engagement and relationship management

• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including clients and third‑party providers.
• Represent Finance Services at client meetings and governance forums.
• Act as a key liaison across operational areas to resolve complex issues and deliver service improvements.

Governance, risk and compliance

• Monitor and report performance against KPIs and SLAs.
• Ensure effective controls and risk mitigation processes are in place.
• Identify, record and proactively manage service risks through appropriate governance channels.

Business transformation and capability

• Support transition to new technologies and automation solutions aligned to UKSBS ERP strategy.
• Drive adoption of best practice and contribute to business‑wide process improvements.

To be considered for this role, you will demonstrate:

• Extensive experience leading finance shared services teams across multiple locations.
• Strong understanding of Accounts Payable and/or Accounts Receivable services.
• Proven ability to influence and manage senior stakeholders.
• Demonstrated success driving performance improvement and managing change.
• Strong problem‑solving and decision‑making capability.
• High digital capability including Microsoft 365 tools.
• Experience delivering services through complex ERP systems such as Oracle, SAP or Workday.
• Excellent communication and customer service skills.
• Demonstrates UKSBS values and behaviours.
• A professional accounting qualification and a formal leadership qualification (e.g. ILM) would be advantageous but are not essential.

For additional information and a confidential discussion please contact our Recruitment Team on recruiting@uksbs.co.uk. We are an inclusive and Disability Confident employer and welcome all applications. Find out more about our equality, diversity and inclusion commitments on our website. Successful candidates may be required to undergo Security Clearance (National Security Vetting) as part of their employment. To meet these standards, applicants must normally have lived in the UK for at least the last five years and be able to satisfy background, identity and criminal record checks. UKSBS does not hold a Home Office Sponsor Licence under the UK Immigration System, therefore candidates are required to have eligibility to live and work in the UK prior to applying. We look forward to hearing from you. We are UKSBS. We are creating a place where people love to work, a culture where we lead, we change, we deliver and we empower our people to be curious, take action and add value.