Financial Services Operations Manager

The Business

Northern Powergrid is responsible for the electricity distribution network that supplies power to 8 million customers in 3.9 million homes and businesses across the Northeast, Yorkshire, and northern Lincolnshire. With a workforce of more than 3,000 people, Northern Powergrid operates over 63,000 substations and approximately 60,000 miles of overhead power lines and underground cables, covering an area of 9,650 square miles.

The organisation plays a key role in powering people’s lives and supporting economic growth within the communities it serves. Investing daily to safely manage, maintain, and improve its network. Northern Powergrid is taking action today to prepare for the energy demands of tomorrow. This includes building a diverse and skilled workforce ready to manage future energy systems that integrate increasing levels of smart and low‑carbon technologies.

Ground‑breaking innovation projects are enabling the business to explore new technologies and support its transition toward more sustainable energy in line with net‑zero emissions targets.

Nigel Wright is working in partnership with Northern Powergrid to appoint a Finance Services Operations Manager into a business‑critical role. This is a exciting and rare opportunity for an experienced operational finance leader to take ownership of large‑scale finance operations at a time of transformation, system change and increased performance focus. Reporting into senior finance leadership, the Finance Services Operations Manager will lead a large team of approximately 35 colleagues across Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable, including billing, cashiering and debt collection.

This role goes well beyond day‑to‑day management as this position will play a central role in shaping future‑state processes, embedding automation and ensuring the organisation realises the benefits of that investment.

You will be responsible for:

• Leading day‑to‑day AP and AR operations, ensuring accuracy, timeliness and service quality
• Supporting teams to deliver against agreed service levels and regulatory expectations
• Developing people capability, engagement and performance through visible, supportive leadership
• Working with stakeholders across Finance, Customer Services, Procurement and the wider business
• Contributing to the ongoing development of processes and systems to make work easier, clearer and more effective for teams
• Ensuring strong governance, controls and audit readiness

This is a hands‑on leadership role where visibility, pragmatism and credibility with operational teams are essential.

This role will suit someone who enjoys leading large operational teams and creating an environment where people can do their best work. This is a predominantly office‑based role, split between Sunderland and Shiremoor. Regular on‑site presence is an important part of the leadership expectation.

You are likely to bring:

• Experience managing AP, AR or shared finance services teams
• A people‑focused leadership style, with the ability to engage, support and develop others
• A track record of process improvement and systems‑led change
• Exposure to ERP implementations or major finance system upgrades
• Confidence working in a structured, regulated or customer‑focused environment
• Strong communication skills and the ability to build trust with teams and stakeholders

Please do apply for further information about this exciting opportunity.