Finance Operations Manager

National Farmers'​ Union

Hours
35 hours per week

About the Organisation

National Farmers’ Union (NFU) is the biggest farming organisation in the UK. We're proud to make a difference for all our members by shaping attitudes towards British farming and leading the charge on a range of major issues, from climate change and food standards to rural crime and broadband rollout. Every day, we're the voice of around 44,000 British farmers and growers who produce food, making sure their concerns are heard at the heart of government both online and locally.

This means developing strong relationships with everyone from NFU colleagues to government ministers. So, as well as having a high profile in both the media and Westminster, we work with and support local members through a network of regional and county offices across England and Wales. 

About the role

We are seeking a highly skilled Finance Operations Manager to lead the day-to-day finance operations within the NFU. This pivotal role will ensure the smooth running of accounts payable, accounts receivable, and cashbook functions, while supporting the delivery of management accounts for NFU subsidiaries and group consolidation. You will also act as the budget lead for allocated departmental budget holders.

Responsibilities

Finance Operations Management:

• Oversee Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
• Oversee cashbook functions, ensuring the bank accounts are reconciled daily and monthly
• Manage invoice processing, payments, and collections.
• Prepare payroll journals and reconciliations, including payment of all relevant taxes
• Preparation of P11d’s

Financial Reporting:

• Compile Monthly management accounts to include TB, balance sheet, P&L, aged debtors, aged creditors from the group subsidiaries, including variance analysis and commentary
• Review and challenge balance sheet reconciliations of the group subsidiaries.
• Assist the group head of finance in preparing consolidated accounts.
• Business partner with departmental budget holders, ensuring that they are kept up to date
• Assist the group head of finance with any reforecasting that may be required
• Ensure intercompany reconciliations are performed and monitored.
• Preparation for year-end to include review of provisions.
• Preparation of recharges to associated entities
• Ensure accuracy of financial reporting through effective review of own and team’s work.

Compliance & Controls:

• Develop and maintain financial procedures and manuals.
• 1st point of contact for the bank
• Maintain bank mandates across the NFU and its subsidiaries.
• Support with documenting processes and implementing controls.

Audit:

• Support the Group Head of Finance in coordinating external audits and statutory accounts, including supporting the subsidiaries with annual statutory accounts

Team Leadership:

• Supervise and mentor finance staff.
• Foster a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.

Skills, Competencies, Experience & Attributes

Knowledge & Expertise:

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in finance operations or financial management
• Proficiency in Financial software and CRM systems
• Strong understanding of financial reporting and budgeting
• Experience of leading and managing a team.

Communication:

• Excellent communication skills and ability to translate financial data for non-financial stakeholders.
• Effective team member.
• Ability to engage with stakeholders at all levels.

Practical Skills:

• Attention to detail and ability to process information accurately.
• Advanced user of Word, Outlook, and Excel, including financial spreadsheets.

Decision Making & Problem Solving:

• Able to plan, organise and monitor own workload to ensure tasks are completed to appropriate standards and deadlines.
• Takes responsibility, using initiative as appropriate.
• Ability to interpret data, summarise complex information, identify its relevance to the NFU and communicate to appropriate stakeholders.

Responsibility:

• To maintain confidentiality of information and sensitive data at all times.
• Responsible for providing information that is used to make decisions that affect the organisation.

Personality:

• Effective working in a team.
• Efficient and organised with experience of dealing with both routine and detailed tasks.
• Ability to work effectively to strict deadlines.
• Some flexibility required, e.g., occasional extra hours.
• Self-motivated with a willingness to take on new challenges.
• Able to maintain high levels of concentration, pay attention to detail, and cope with interruptions.
• Has a positive attitude and is approachable.

Desirable:

• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Strategic mindset

Required Qualifications

• Professional qualification (ACCA, CIMA or equivalent)

Compensation & Benefits

• Generous holiday allowance (starting at 25 days a year pro rata + Bank Holidays, rising to 30 days pro rata with length of service), plus 1 annual Christmas company day 
• Option to buy and sell up to 5 days annual leave
• Company-funded health Cashplan 
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and shared parental leave
• Performance-related pay
• Competitive Pension and Life assurance
• Access to interest-free loans for cars, bikes, season tickets and driving lessons 
• Employee Assistance program to help you deal with life’s challenges
• Discounts on a range of vehicles, holiday rentals, wellbeing and lifestyle, and many more
• Attractive, modern office, with on-site restaurant and free parking

Working locations

• Stoneleigh, Warwickshire, United Kingdom

How to apply

• Apply on our website

Policies

We're committed to recruiting a diverse and highly talented workforce. We'll support you with extensive learning and development opportunities and help you build a career that balances your professional ambitions with your personal commitments, including discussions around agile and flexible working options.

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