Financial Processing Manager (FTC)

Financial Processing Manager (FTC)

Salary: £57,090.

Fixed term contract, full time 37.5hrs

Location: Bedford, Hybrid

We are partnering with a well-established organisation seeking an experienced Finance Operations Manager to lead a high-performing transactional finance team. This is an excellent opportunity for a finance professional who enjoys developing people, improving processes, and ensuring the smooth delivery of critical finance functions. You'll play a key role in driving operational excellence, maintaining strong financial controls, and supporting the wider business through accurate reporting and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team responsible for payroll, accounts payable, and accounts receivable activities.
• Set clear objectives, monitor performance, and support colleague development through regular coaching, reviews, and feedback.
• Manage recruitment and succession planning within the finance operations team.
• Review reconciliations and financial records, ensuring accuracy, integrity, and appropriate control measures are maintained.
• Identify, escalate, and help mitigate financial and operational risks.
• Work closely with senior finance leaders to deliver accurate and timely monthly reporting.
• Oversee payroll processing, ensuring salaries, expenses, pensions, deductions, and statutory submissions are completed accurately and on schedule.
• Ensure supplier payments are processed correctly, authorised appropriately, and completed within agreed timescales.
• Oversee customer payment processing, account reconciliation, and debt management activities.
• Act as the key contact for audit-related enquiries across payroll and transactional finance functions.
• Ensure all regulatory returns are completed accurately and submitted within required deadlines.
• Maintain, review, and strengthen financial controls, policies, and business continuity arrangements.
• Drive efficiencies through process, system, and service improvements across the finance function.

About You:

• Previous experience managing and developing finance teams of 15+ within a busy and evolving environment.

• Strong understanding of transactional finance operations, financial controls, reporting, compliance, and audit requirements.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to build relationships and influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Confident using financial systems and Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with a keen eye for detail.
• Commercially aware and able to balance operational priorities with wider business objectives.
• Proactive approach to identifying opportunities for improvement and implementing change.
• High levels of integrity, accountability, and professionalism.
• Public sector experience is desirable.

Additional Information

• Opportunity to lead a well-established finance operations function with visibility across the wider business.
• Collaborative environment where continuous improvement and innovation are encouraged.
• Professional development and career progression opportunities available.
• A recognised accountancy qualification would be advantageous, although candidates with equivalent experience will also be considered.
• Ideal for a finance professional looking to combine people leadership, operational management, and process improvement within a varied and impactful role.

If you are looking for a role where you can make a genuine impact, lead a talented team, and drive meaningful improvements across a finance function, this could be the perfect next step in your career.