Head of Finance Shared Services

Head of Finance Shared Services

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Head of Finance Shared Services to join Speedy Hire and lead our transactional finance and Shared Services operation.

Location:

Haydock / Hybrid

Function:
Finance

This is a senior leadership role with responsibility for Accounts Receivable, Credit Management, Accounts Payable, Payroll and Cash & Banking, ensuring these critical services operate effectively, efficiently and with strong financial control.

You’ll lead and develop a high-performing Shared Services team while driving a programme of standardisation, simplification, automation and continuous improvement.

With a significant focus on cash generation, working capital and service excellence, you’ll work closely with senior Finance, Commercial and Operational stakeholders to improve performance, strengthen controls and ensure Shared Services continues to meet the evolving needs of the business.

• Lead, develop and retain a high-performing Finance Shared Services team, creating a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Develop and implement a Shared Services strategy that delivers scalable, efficient and customer-focused services across the Group.
• Take overall leadership responsibility for Accounts Receivable, Credit Management, Accounts Payable, Payroll and Cash & Banking.
• Establish clear KPIs and SLAs across Shared Services, using performance insight to drive improvements in service, efficiency and financial outcomes.
• Lead the Accounts Receivable and Credit Control functions, driving cash collection, reducing aged debt and improving working capital performance.
• Partner with Sales and Operational leadership to challenge debt exposure, remove collection barriers and resolve customer disputes.
• Oversee customer credit risk, including credit limits, risk assessments and bad debt mitigation.
• Ensure supplier invoices and payments are processed accurately and efficiently while supporting effective working capital management.
• Ensure the accurate and timely delivery of payroll, maintaining strong controls, governance and statutory compliance.
• Oversee cash and banking activities, including bank reconciliations and the timely resolution of outstanding items.
• Maintain a robust financial control environment, proactively identifying and mitigating operational, financial and compliance risks.
• Drive the standardisation, simplification and automation of end-to-end transactional finance processes.
• Champion digital transformation and identify opportunities to use technology to improve efficiency, controls and colleague experience.
• Ensure transactional finance activity supports accurate and timely month-end and year-end reporting.
• Manage relationships with auditors and relevant external bodies, supporting the effective completion of audits and reviews.
• Provide senior management with clear insight into performance, risks, opportunities and improvement initiatives.
• Support the delivery of Velocity, helping colleagues and customers successfully adopt new processes and ways of working.

We’re looking for an established Shared Services or senior transactional finance leader who can combine strong financial control with commercial thinking, transformation capability and inspirational people leadership.

You’ll ideally bring:

• Significant experience within Finance Shared Services, Transactional Finance or a comparable senior finance operations environment.
• Strong leadership experience across multiple transactional finance disciplines.
• Detailed knowledge of Accounts Receivable, Credit Management and Accounts Payable, with a strong understanding of Payroll and Cash & Banking operations.
• A proven track record of improving cash collection, aged debt, DSO and working capital performance.
• Strong understanding of financial controls, governance, risk and compliance.
• Experience establishing and managing KPIs, SLAs and performance frameworks within a Shared Services environment.
• Demonstrable experience of process improvement, standardisation and automation.
• Experience leading teams through business and digital transformation.
• Strong ERP and financial systems knowledge,…