At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead finance operations, shape processes, and analyse costs for impactful decision-making.
- Company: Fast-growing Health Tech scale-up disrupting the dental care industry.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, growth-based bonuses, career acceleration, and fun team socials.
- Other info: Join a passionate team and enjoy opportunities for rapid career growth.
- Why this job: Be a pioneer in finance, making real impact in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Qualified accountant with experience in operations or supply chain.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 66000 £ per year.
Launched in 2020, Zima is a global market-leading Health Tech scale-up and one of the fastest-growing companies in the UK. We are aggressively disrupting a stagnant multibillion pound global industry by merging cutting edge product innovation with world class performance marketing. Our hero product, the Dental Pod, has fundamentally redefined oral appliance care for over a million customers across 40+ countries. We foster a dynamic, ambitious culture, and we're looking for a passionate individual ready to fast track their career as Finance Lead, Operations.
Why This Opportunity is Exciting:
- Build, Don't Inherit: You'll be one of the first hires in a new in-house finance function, shaping how operations finance works at Zima from the ground up.
- Real Commercial Impact: You'll own the numbers behind our biggest profit levers: landed cost, logistics, returns and sourcing.
- ERP at the Ground Floor: You'll help implement our new ERP, building automated, controlled processes rather than patching legacy ones.
- Global Supply Chain Exposure: You'll work across a supply chain that runs from manufacturing in Asia through 3PLs to customers in 40+ countries.
Role Overview:
As Finance Lead, Operations - you will be the finance partner to our Operations and Supply Chain teams. You'll own inventory accounting, landed cost and COGS, and the analysis that protects gross margin as we scale. Reporting to the Finance Director, you'll build the controls and processes required as the business scales, support the implementation of our new ERP, and bring financial rigour to supply chain decisions, from sourcing and freight to 3PL contracts and demand planning. This is a hands-on role for a finance professional who wants to build rather than maintain.
Key Responsibilities:
- Inventory & COGS Accounting: Own inventory accounting end-to-end: landed cost by SKU and warehouse, stock provisions, and monthly reconciliation of COGS to the P&L and balance sheet.
- Gross Margin Analysis: Deliver gross-margin variance analysis covering purchase price variance, freight and duty true-ups, and logistics costs, so the business has a trusted view of unit economics.
- Financial Controls: Design and run our operational finance controls: PO processes, 3-way matching, GRNI, delegated authority and segregation of duties.
- ERP Implementation: Support the ERP implementation across inventory, landed cost and procurement, including process design, testing, data migration and automated COGS posting with a full audit trail.
- S&OP & Demand Planning: Own the finance input to our S&OP process, connecting the demand plan through supply and inventory to landed cost and cash.
- Capex & Procurement Business Cases: Build business cases for capital expenditure and procurement decisions, and lead the finance side of 3PL tenders and supplier cost control.
- Returns & Refunds Analysis: Provide the financial analysis behind our returns-reduction programme, one of the biggest profit levers in the business.
- FX & Tariff Modelling: Model the impact of currency movements and tariffs on landed cost to inform sourcing, pricing and supply chain decisions.
- Critical Projects: Support governance and deliver critical projects across operations and supply chain as the function scales.
About You:
You are a finance professional who:
- Understands operations and supply chain: you know what happens between a purchase order and a delivered unit, and where the cost hides.
- Would rather design a process than inherit one.
- Combines strong technical accounting with commercial judgement.
- Is rigorous about controls and data accuracy, and keeps them proportionate.
- Communicates clearly with non-finance colleagues across operations, supply chain and leadership.
Required Skills and Experience:
- Industry experience in an operations, supply chain or inventory-led business is critical: you understand inventory, COGS and landed cost in practice.
- Qualified accountant (ACA / ACCA / CIMA or equivalent), ideally with 2–4 years post-qualification experience. We are open to different backgrounds with the right experience.
- Strong analytical and financial modelling skills, with the ability to turn operational data into insight the business can act on.
- Experience designing or improving financial controls and processes.
- A track record of managing projects and working with operations, supply chain and commercial teams.
Additional Preferred Skills:
- Experience of an ERP implementation or system migration.
- Background in e-commerce, consumer goods or manufacturing.
- Exposure to international supply chains: freight, duty and multi-currency sourcing.
- Comfort working with data tools (e.g. SQL / BigQuery) and BI dashboards.
Location: In-office (London) or Hybrid.
Salary: Competitive salary and growth-based bonus scheme.
This is Zima: The oral appliance industry is rapidly expanding, yet it's still dominated by large, slow moving conglomerates. At Zima, we've seized the opportunity to innovate and leverage modern marketing and distribution channels to become industry leaders. With our ambitious product development roadmap and market leading products, we're not just following the future of dental care - we're actively shaping it.
Ready to Elevate Your Career? We are eager to welcome new team members who are passionate about making a significant impact and accelerating their career growth. If this sounds like you, we'd love to hear from you!
Finance Lead, Operations employer: Zima Dental
Zima Dental is an exceptional employer that prioritises employee growth and development, offering rapid career progression and significant ownership from day one. With a collaborative work culture that encourages innovation and problem-solving, you'll gain invaluable experience across the entire supply chain while working closely with senior leadership in a fast-paced environment. Located in a dynamic industry, Zima Dental provides a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact on projects that drive the business forward.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Finance Lead, Operations
✨Tap into Campus Networks
If you're still in uni, don’t forget to engage with your campus's career services and attend finance-related events. Banks often do presentations and recruitment drives on campus, so put yourself out there and make use of these opportunities to show off your passion for the field.
✨Get Certified
Consider pursuing relevant certifications like the CFA or ACCA while you’re job hunting. They not only beef up your CV but also connect you with professional bodies which can lead to networking opportunities and even job openings in banking and financial services.
✨Connect on Professional Platforms
Join finance-focused groups on platforms like LinkedIn and engage in discussions. This can really help you stand out from the crowd, allowing potential employers to see your knowledge and interest in industry trends. Plus, you might stumble upon job postings shared exclusively within the group.
✨Apply Directly and Be Proactive
Don’t shy away from reaching out directly to firms like Zima Dental. Use their websites and apply through them, but also consider following up with a polite email to express your enthusiasm. Being proactive can make a huge difference in getting noticed in the competitive financial services sector.
We think you need these skills to ace Finance Lead, Operations
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Numbers!:In the banking and financial services world, quantifiable achievements are key. Make sure your CV highlights your grades in relevant subjects, any financial certifications you hold, and specific projects where you've delivered measurable results. Employers love to see how your skills translate into real-world success.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Role:When applying for a full-time position, your cover letter should make a direct connection between your experience and the job description. Don't just state your enthusiasm for finance—dive into how your background in banking or financial analysis sets you apart. Let your passion shine through while being specific about what you can bring to Zima Dental.
Include Relevant Financial Software Experience:If you've worked with financial modelling tools or software like Excel, SAP, or specific analytical tools during your studies or internships, bring that up! Highlighting your proficiency can really make your application pop and show you're ready to hit the ground running in a full-time role.
Research and Reflect:Before hitting that 'apply' button on Zima Dental's website, do a little digging. Look up their recent projects, values, and culture. Reflecting their ethos in your application can make a huge difference and show you’re genuinely interested in being part of the team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Zima Dental
✨Brush Up on Financial Analysis Skills
Make sure you're well-versed in financial concepts and analytical techniques relevant to banking and financial services. Get comfortable with tools like Excel for modelling or financial forecasting, as technical questions in this area are common during interviews with Zima Dental.
✨Prepare for Case Studies
Expect to tackle case studies that demonstrate your problem-solving skills in real-world banking scenarios. Familiarise yourself with the types of problems you might face—think risk assessments or investment evaluations—and be ready to articulate your thought process clearly.
✨Show Your Passion for Finance
Since this is a full-time position, employers at Zima Dental will be keen to see your genuine interest in finance. Be prepared to discuss recent industry trends or news articles that excite you, showcasing your enthusiasm and engagement with the field.
✨Network with Industry Professionals
Before your interview, reach out to current or former Zima Dental employees on platforms like LinkedIn. They'll offer unique insights into the company's culture and the interview process, which can give us a delightful edge in showcasing a good fit for the team.
