Head Of Finance Operations

Head Of Finance Operations

Final date to receive applications: 6 September 2026

Department: Finance

Employment Type: Fixed Term Contract

Location: London

Reporting To: Mike Tsang

Compensation: £87,000 / year

Salary: £87,000

Bonus: Discretionary

Location: Kings Cross, London (Tuesdays-Thursdays - 3 days in our office, Monday + Friday - anywhere)

Employment Type: Fixed Term Contract - 12 Month Maternity leave cover full time

Closing Date: Sunday 6 September 23.59

ARIA is a new R&D funding agency built to unlock technological breakthroughs that benefit everyone. We fund scientists and engineers to pursue research at the edge of the possible.

From climate change to AI, society faces enormous challenges and opportunities that can be uniquely addressed by science and technology. ARIA was created to activate the UK’s world-class R&D in new ways, so we can meet these head on.

Our success is shaped by one question: how will ARIA transform the lives of the UK’s future generations? Whether that’s a life-changing new technology or a burgeoning new industry, it should be obvious that ARIA played a catalytic role.

If you want to help make breakthroughs like these possible, come and build ARIA with us.

Learn more here.

Reporting to the Director of Finance, you will direct ARIA's Finance Operations function during this period of maternity leave cover, ensuring that our financial control environment, statutory reporting and operational finance continues to support an aspiring and rapidly evolving organisation. In addition to this, you will play a key role in modernising how Finance operates.

You will work closely with the adjacent Programme Finance team and the wider organisation to embed automation and AI into finance processes, strengthen financial stewardship as ARIA's funding portfolio grows towards £1bn, and ensure that our financial systems, controls and governance continue to meet the expectations of Managing Public Money and the National Audit Office.

Working with a team of two direct reports, you will balance operational excellence with continuous improvement, helping build finance capabilities that can scale alongside ARIA's ambitions.

• Lead ARIA's Finance Operations function, ensuring the effective delivery of financial operations and control including procure-to-pay, month end close, cash management, tax and financial controls.
• Lead, support and develop the Finance Operations team (two direct reports), with line management responsibility for setting clear objectives and priorities, managing performance and capacity, and supporting their development and wellbeing.
• Promote an open and encouraging team culture where colleagues can raise concerns, question constructively, receive feedback and develop.
• Ensure high quality financial support and advice within the Finance Operations remit to colleagues across ARIA through efficient and proportionate processes.
• Oversee the continued development of financial policies, controls and procedures, ensuring risks are effectively managed whilst enabling organisational agility.

• Own the delivery of ARIA's Annual Report and Accounts which includes owning technical accounting judgements, coordination of organisation wide inputs and governance approvals.
• Manage and direct the external audit process, acting as the principal contact for the NAO throughout the audit cycle.
• Escalate material or contentious matters to the Director of Finance and CFO when appropriate.
• Ensure robust financial reporting, accounting and control processes that supports Executive decision making and meet all statutory and government reporting requirements.
• Maintain an effective financial control…