Interim Senior Operational Finance Manager

Interim Senior Operational Finance Manager

Location:

Edinburgh (Hybrid) Contract Type:
Interim Contract Duration:
Initial 6 Months (potential for extension) Salary:
Competitive THE ORGANISATION An exciting opportunity has arisen to join a highly successful, fast-paced organisation operating within a technology-led and customer-focused environment. With a strong focus on continuous improvement, innovation, and operational excellence, the business is currently seeking an experienced Interim Senior Operational Finance Manager to lead a critical area of the finance function during a key period of transformation.

Established and growing organisation with a complex, high-volume transactional environment. Strong focus on technology, process improvement, and automation. Collaborative culture with significant investment in finance transformation. Fast-paced business with a diverse stakeholder landscape. Opportunity to influence processes and drive meaningful operational improvements.

THE ROLE Reporting into senior finance leadership, you will take ownership of the operational finance function, overseeing Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Finance Systems, and Cashbook operations. This is a hands-on leadership role that combines team management, financial control, process improvement, and stakeholder engagement. You will be responsible for ensuring robust financial processes, driving working capital performance, supporting system optimisation, and delivering continuous improvements across the finance operation.

Key Responsibilities Lead, mentor and develop a multi-disciplinary operational finance team across Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Finance Systems, and Cashbook. Oversee day-to-day transactional finance operations, ensuring invoices, payments, collections, and reconciliations are processed accurately and efficiently. Drive improvements in working capital performance through proactive management of aged debt, debtor days, and key operational finance metrics. Monitor and report on AP and AR performance, providing meaningful insight and recommendations to senior finance leadership.

Manage bank reconciliations and cash processes across multiple entities and currencies, ensuring strong controls and governance are maintained. Act as the business owner for core finance systems, ensuring effective utilisation, governance, training, and continuous enhancement. Lead the operational finance contribution to month-end activities, ensuring accuracy and timely delivery. Support internal and external audit requirements and maintain a strong control environment.

Identify and implement process improvements, automation opportunities, and efficiencies across operational finance activities. Collaborate with finance, technology, and business stakeholders to support wider transformation initiatives and deliver operational excellence. Manage service expectations and maintain effective relationships with internal stakeholders across the organisation. THE IDEAL CANDIDATE We are looking for an experienced operational finance leader who can quickly establish credibility, bring structure to complex environments, and deliver tangible improvements.

You will possess strong leadership skills, excellent stakeholder management capability, and a proven track record of leading operational finance functions within a fast-moving commercial organisation. Mandatory Significant experience managing operational finance teams, including Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, and Cashbook functions. Proven leadership experience, with a track record of developing and motivating high-performing teams. Strong understanding of financial controls, reconciliations, working capital management, and governance processes.

Experience operating within ERP environments, ideally Microsoft Dynamics 365 or a comparable platform. Demonstrable success delivering process improvements, automation initiatives, and operational efficiencies. Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build relationships across finance, technology, and wider business functions. Experience supporting month-end close and audit processes. Available at short notice and comfortable operating within an interim assignment.

Preferred Experience leading finance teams through change and transformation programmes. Exposure to finance systems ownership and optimisation. Experience working in large-scale, high-volume transactional environments. Strong analytical and reporting…