Head Of Group Transactional Finance

Group Head of Transactional Finance
Location: Coventry

The Role
We are seeking an experienced and commercially minded Group Head of Transactional Finance to lead the Group's Transactional Finance function across Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable and Finance Operations.

Based in the Coventry office and reporting directly to the Group CFO, the role will provide strategic leadership and operational oversight across the Group's transactional finance activities. You will lead and develop a team of senior Finance Managers, ensuring consistent, well-controlled and efficient processes are embedded across the organisation.

The successful candidate will balance strategic thinking with strong operational oversight, driving improvements in performance, controls, scalability and service delivery while supporting the Group's continued growth and integration of new businesses.

Main Responsibilities
Group Transactional Finance Leadership
Hold overall accountability for the accurate, timely and well-controlled delivery of Group Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable and Finance Operations.
Lead the Group Transactional Finance strategy, operating model and continuous improvement roadmap.
Ensure processes are scalable, efficient and consistent across the Group, while recognising appropriate local-market requirements.
Drive standardisation, best practice and operational efficiency across Transactional Finance.
Support the successful integration of newly acquired businesses into Group Finance processes and ways of working.
Provide senior oversight of transactional finance projects, escalations and business-critical initiatives.

People Leadership & Development
Lead and develop the Group Receivables, Financial Services and Finance Operations Managers.
Set clear objectives, performance expectations and measures of success across the leadership team.
Establish a strong culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement and professional development.
Lead workforce and succession planning across Transactional Finance.
Oversee organisational design, resource planning, recruitment and capability development.
Support the development of talent through appropriate training, apprenticeships and career development opportunities.
Ensure effective management cover and business continuity arrangements are in place.

Performance & Service Delivery
Establish and monitor a robust KPI and service-performance framework across Transactional Finance.
Oversee key performance measures covering cash collection, receivables, billing, payment performance, query resolution and month-end delivery.
Work closely with Treasury and Divisional Finance leadership to optimise cash-flow performance against Group targets and budgets.
Provide clear performance reporting to senior Finance leadership and escalate material risks or areas of underperformance.
Drive improvements in service delivery, operational efficiency and customer experience across Finance.

Financial Control & Governance
Maintain strong oversight of the Transactional Finance control environment.
Ensure appropriate financial controls, approval processes and segregation of duties are embedded and consistently applied.
Oversee customer and supplier data governance and the accuracy and integrity of financial information.
Ensure appropriate process documentation, policies and procedures are maintained.
Identify control weaknesses and ensure appropriate remediation and improvement plans are implemented.
Ensure month-end transactional finance activities, reconciliations and control accounts are completed accurately and within Group reporting deadlines.
Oversee the resolution of material financial discrepancies and control issues.

Risk, Compliance & Audit
Coordinate Transactional Finance support for internal and external audit activity.
Ensure Finance processes comply with relevant legal, regulatory, tax and local-market requirements.
Work closely with specialist Finance, Tax, Legal and other functions where required.
Provide senior oversight of credit risk and debt management across the Group.
Monitor aged debt, bad debt exposure, collection forecasts and wider customer credit risks.
Act as the senior escalation point for significant customer, debt and cash-flow matters.

Accounts Payable & Finance Operations
Provide strategic oversight of Accounts Payable, expenses, payment processes and wider purchase-to-pay activities.
Ensure appropriate controls, policies and processes are maintained across the Group.
Work collaboratively with Treasury, Operations and Divisional Finance teams to ensure transactional activity supports wider Group cash-flow objectives.
Provide oversight of complex supplier, payment and operational matters.
Ensure transactional processes remain efficient, controlled and aligned with the wider Finance strategy.

Systems, Data & Process Improvement
Provide strategic oversight of the systems, data and technology supporting Transactional Finance.
Lead and sponsor process improvement, automation and systems-related initiatives in partnership with relevant teams.
Ensure data integrity, reporting capability and system controls support effective decision-making.
Identify opportunities to simplify, automate and improve transactional processes.
Support the implementation and integration of new processes and technologies where appropriate.

Stakeholder Management
Act as a senior point of escalation for complex customer, supplier, contractual and operational matters.
Build strong relationships across Finance and the wider business.
Work collaboratively with senior stakeholders to resolve complex financial and operational issues.
Translate Transactional Finance requirements into clear and practical guidance for Finance and non-Finance stakeholders.
Support the development of training and communication to improve compliance, understanding and service delivery.
Manage the effective delegation of transactional finance activities associated with acquisitions and ensure successful transition into the rele