Walker's Shortbread - Finance Operations Manager

Since 1898, Walker's Shortbread has been baking exceptional products from the heart of Speyside. Still family-owned after five generations, its products are enjoyed in more than 100 countries worldwide and, in 2024, revenue exceeded £200m for the first time in the Company's history. Whilst Walker's reach is global, its roots remain firmly in Speyside. With six production sites, Head Office based at historic Aberlour House and more than 1,000 permanent colleagues, Walker's is proud to be one of Moray's largest employers and a business that plays an important role in the local community.

As Walker's continues to grow and evolve, it remains committed to the values that have defined the organisation for more than 125 years, whilst continuing to strengthen its brand, capabilities and ways of working to support future success.

The Finance Operations Manager owns the end‑to‑end delivery of core finance operations, ensuring reliable reporting, appropriate financial control and compliance, and progressively strengthening processes across the function. The role leads key operational areas (including accounts payable), supports the development of balance sheet integrity and month-end discipline, and acts as a central point of coordination between transactional finance and the wider business.

• Management Reporting
• Lead monthly management reporting
• Partner with budget holders and FP&A
• Oversee monthly balance sheet reconciliations

• Oversee end-to-end accounts payable process
• Ensure accurate processing, payments and reconciliation
• Maintain supplier relationships and controls

• Manage compliance (HMRC, tax, statutory requirements)
• Develop and maintain financial control procedures and record keeping
• Manage the Trade Investment reporting
• Support year-end audit process

• Support continuous improvement initiatives
• Deliver finance-related projects
• Payroll
• Support payroll processing and reporting
• Ensure compliance with PAYE, NIC and pension requirements

• Line manage the accounts payable team (x3)
• Communicate financial information clearly to stakeholders

• Strong ERP and Excel capability
• Ability to translate financial data into insight
• Proactive and solutions-focused approach
• Strong stakeholder management skills
• Ability to manage competing deadlines
• Pragmatic and solutions-focused, with the ability to maintain operational delivery whilst improving processes, systems and controls

• Fully qualified accountant (ICAS, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent)
• Post-qualification experience
• Line management
• Business partnering with non-financial stakeholders
• Engagement with HMRC, auditors or regulators
• Understanding of payroll processes and compliance

• Salary commensurate with skills and experience
• 25 days holiday plus 10 public holidays
• Private healthcare
• 6x salary life assurance cover

Our client is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status or pregnancy and maternity.