Head of Finance Operations

The Finance team’s vision is to partner with the Group in driving profitable growth, through finance excellence. We support our businesses to make effective commercial and operational decisions; provide information and analysis to management and the Board to support strategic decisions; manage working capital to quickly convert profit into cash; develop and maintain a strong control environment to comply with legal, statutory and tax legislation in all territories we operate in. 

With a global finance team of over 100 professionals across London, New York, Hong Kong, China and Gurugram, our Gurugram office serves as the largest finance hub supporting our international operations.

The Business:

• an iconic brand with a history dating back 183 years
• a truly global business with customers in over 150 countries
• a unique combination of B2B and B2C Businesses

The Finance Team:

• Undergoing a period of transformation addressing the tools we use and the processes we operate balancing delivering BAU and driving change
• Works closely with finance and business colleagues from around the globe
• Provides ability to influence in an organisation of 1,600 people

The role

We're seeking a highly experienced Finance Operations professional who has managed end-to-end finance operations receivable, credit control, and other operational processes including billing, accounts payable and banking in teams for 20+ people. In addition to consistently delivering BAU the role will work closely with project and systems finance teams to drive process improvements and system enhancements whilst leading a global team supporting EMEA, US, and Asia. The role is key in ensuring strong financial controls, efficient processes, insightful reporting, and effective collaboration with commercial and finance stakeholders.

In Group Finance we are at the start of a Finance Transformation journey, designed to revolutionise how we operate and empower our finance team and financial systems. Crucially, we're undertaking a discovery project to look at how we can transform our existing processes and ERP into a modern, scalable solution. Having a deep understanding of operational processes and what good likes like as well as hands-on experience of systems implementation and finance transformation projects will be invaluable in this role.

Key Accountabilities:

• Build a high-performing team with clear accountability for billing accuracy, receivables ageing, cash collection metrics, payments accuracy
• Establish clear performance KPI’s and SLA’s and ensure strong ownership and delivery of the same.
• Lead, coach, and develop the finance operations team and ensure strong collaboration across the wider finance function.
• Act as a key liaison between finance operations and commercial teams ensuring strong communications and clear accountabilities.
• Identify and lead process improvement initiatives aligned with finance transformation projects across billing, AR, and finance operations.
• Key member of the finance transformation project
• Drive automation and process and systems improvements utilising AI and other tools in collaboration with Finance Systems and Projects teams.
• Own ERP master data management relating to customers and billing structures and also ensure data quality in the financial systems.
• Oversee third-party service providers where applicable.
• Ensure strong adherence to finance policies, internal controls, and audit requirements, driving improvements where needed.

Experience, skills and professional attributes

Education and training

- Strong academics

- Professional qualification in Finance and Accounting

• Previous work experience 

• Proven experience in leading finance operational teams and stakeholder management across geographies.
• Has been part of process and system transformation delivering tangible benefits.
• Well-versed with industry standards for billing, cash collection, payments and cash management
• Team management and development

Technology

- MS Office, Advanced Excel

- Credit Management system and Billing systems

- ERP (PeopleSoft (preferred))

- AI

• Key skills 

- Understanding businesses and objectives

- Managing teams

- Good communicator both verbally and in writing

- Developing relationships with internal and external contacts

- Motivating colleagues

Personal attributes

- Robustness and sensitivity in interactions with people

- Hands-on approach

- Pro-active and responsive

- Consultative

- Making appropriate judgments

Interpersonal skills

- Clear communicator of views and opinions

- Ability to build networks and work with stakeholders and in teams

- Assertion

Performance Measures

- Ability of the team to achieve target

- Application on policy and procedures

- Relationships with key internal and external stakeholders

- Process efficiency improvements

- Team engagement and retention

The Economist Group values diversity. We are committed to equal opportunities and creating an inclusive environment for all our employees. We welcome applicants regardless of ethnic origin, national origin, gender, gender identity, race, colour, religious beliefs, disability, sexual orientation , age or marital status.

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