Group Cost Director

The Group Cost Director is a key member of the Finance senior leadership team, accountable for driving cost efficiency and value optimisation across the organisation. This role will lead vendor and supplier management, insurance, accounts payable and cost accounting and business partnering activities within Nucleus. Through these functions they will deliver robust decision support and implement effective sourcing strategies that provides optimal value in line with company’s strategic objectives.

Given the importance of the cost agenda to the company’s strategic objectives this role will have regular interaction, and require effective influence, with Exco members.

Key accountabilities include:

• Lead and develop high performing teams covering vendor and supplier management, cost accounting and business partnering and accounts payable activities
• Actively support CFO in driving and delivering an ambitious and stretching cost efficiency agenda in support of the company’s strategic ambitions
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance cost efficiency and financial performance
• Provide high-quality analysis, insight, and challenge to support cost-effective decision-making
• Participating in external cost insight/benchmarking exercises to further identify cost efficiency opportunities
• Partner with senior leadership team to identify and deliver cost saving opportunities.
• Lead the management of accounts payable processes, ensuring timely and accurate payments to suppliers in compliance with external requirements. Ensure the efficient use of banking systems for payment execution and cash management.
• Oversee procurement controls, particularly through effective use of systems like Concur, ensuring compliance with corporate policies and regulatory requirements.
• Lead strategic sourcing efforts, identifying opportunities for cost savings, and ensuring vendor selection aligns with the company's long-term objectives.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to assess vendor performance and conduct regular vendor reviews to ensure contract compliance
• Continuously review contracts to improve terms, reduce costs, and enhance vendor performance.
• Implement robust supplier performance management frameworks and risk assessments

In addition the role holder will:

• Maintain strong financial controls and governance over all cost-related activities, ensuring compliance with internal policies and regulatory standards.
• Take responsibility in everything you do to deliver good outcomes for our customers
• Positively demonstrate the Nucleus Smart, Heart and Courage values and behaviours
• Ensure compliance with Code of Conduct at all times

About you

You will have:

• Extensive experience in finance operations, vendor management, procurement, and sourcing within a regulated financial services environment.
• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, or CIMA) with substantial post-qualification experience in commercial finance/business partnering
• Strong understanding of FCA and PRA regulations, particularly as they apply to pensions, SIPP, Wrap, and Life businesses.
• Strong influencing, negotiation and conflict resolution skills with experience in negotiating and managing vendor contracts and relationships.
• Strong understanding of procurement systems such as Concur and banking systems.
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills, with the ability to proactively identify issues and drive solutions.
• Well-developed ability to communicate complex matters to a range of audiences including senior executives, board members and shareholders.
• Presentation skills and the ability to brief teams, guide and influence senior decision makers and wider stakeholders
• Ability to lead, motivate, inspire and coach leaders and teams and to contribute fully to the wider leadership of the Finance Function and the wider Nucleus Group.

A little about us

We’re the Nucleus Financial Platforms group and we help make retirement more rewarding.

People come first - whether it’s our colleagues, or the advisers and customers we support, we know that working in partnership and collaboration leads to the best outcomes. Together, we’ve shaped the platform to how it is today. We work hard,…