Finance Operations Manager

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Job Description

The Finance Operations Manager is responsible for overseeing the entire Accounts Payable function, ensuring efficient, accurate, and timely processing of all payables.

This role leads the Contract Costing team and the Payments team, drives high-quality standards, ensures strong internal controls, and supports commercial and operational teams with clear financial information.

The Finance Operations Manager plays a key role in maintaining supplier relationships, ensuring impact of contract costing is understood, continuous process improvement, and ensuring compliance across the business.

This role reports into the Finance Director of Farrans and has a team of 3 direct reports, each of whom have their own teams between 3-5 direct reports.

Responsibilities

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, support, and motivate the team to deliver high-quality and timely work.
• Provide hands-on coaching, mentoring, and continuous development.
• Set clear expectations and lead by example in professionalism, accuracy, and work ethic.
• Conduct regular 1:1s, performance reviews, and development plans.
• Build a collaborative, supportive, and accountable team culture.

Finance Operations

• Oversee the end-to-end accounts payable process, ensuring all invoices are processed and paid accurately and on time.
• Manage invoice matching, approval workflows, and query resolution.
• Ensure correct coding to contracts, cost centres, and GL accounts.
• Resolve escalated invoice issues quickly and effectively.
• Maintain accurate supplier accounts and aged creditor reports.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, contracts, and financial controls.
• Own the regular and ad-hoc payment runs, ensuring accuracy, appropriate approvals and compliance with delegated authority limits.
• Ensure all payments comply with tax and regulatory requirements (CIS, RCT, VAT, BIK recoveries where applicable).
• Monitor and mitigate fraud risk, including validation of supplier bank detail changes and payment file controls.

Process Improvement & Systems

• Continually review AP processes to identify inefficiencies and improvement opportunities.
• Implement best practices, automation, and workflow enhancements.
• Maintain accurate procedures, guidance notes, and training materials.
• Support ERP or finance system improvements and upgrades.

Supplier Relationship Management

• Manage relationships with suppliers, ensuring queries are resolved quickly and professionally.
• Monitor supplier statements and ensure reconciliations are completed regularly.
• Escalate or negotiate where required to maintain strong supplier relationships.
• Ensure disputes or discrepancies are actioned promptly to avoid delays.

Reporting & Controls

• Produce regular reports on AP status, aged creditors, payment forecasts, and KPIs.
• Identify risks, bottlenecks, or patterns of recurring issues and recommend solutions.
• Support month-end close processes and provide accurate figures to finance.
• Ensure strong internal controls and audit readiness.
• Work closely with finance, commercial, procurement, and operations teams.
• Maintain robust segregation of duties across invoice processing, payment preparation and payment authorisation.

Qualifications

• Significant experience within an Accounts Payable team, including supervising or managing a team
• Strong understanding of AP processes, financial controls, and reconciliation
• Ability to lead, motivate, and develop a high-performing team
• Strong problem-solver with a proactive and organised approach
• Excellent communication skills with both internal teams and external suppliers
• High level of accuracy, organisation, and attention to detail
• Strong Excel skills and experience with accounting/ERP systems
• Ability to work to deadlines in a fast-paced environment

Desirable

• Experience within the construction industry or similar project-based environment.
• Experience improving or implementing AP processes or systems.

Personal Attributes

• Strong problem-solver with a proactive and organised approach
• Leads by example in quality, attitude, and professionalism
• Strong problem-solver with a proactive and organised approach
• Calm under pressure and able to manage competing priorities
• Confident communicator with excellent interpersonal skills
• Committed to accuracy, quality, and continuous improvement

About Us

Here at Farrans we build, we transform, and we connect. Making a positive difference to the communities in which we operate is our passion and we place social responsibility at the heart of every scheme.

The projects we deliver have an important role in the everyday lives of people in the UK & Ireland. We are committed to making a positive impact on the environment and strive for sustainability in all we do.

Our culture is one of transparency, equality and encouragement, where questions are welcomed, learning never stops and access to support is provided.

Farrans are an equal opportunities employer and are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive work environment for all. Should you require any reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process, please don't hesitate to let us know.

Benefits

When you come to Farrans, you can make a big impact. We love enthusiasm, new ideas and innovation. Your well-being is our priority.

Our people are our greatest asset, which is why we offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support you to achieve your full potential.

Our career development opportunities provide you with a clear progression pathway, advanced education in your core subjects as well as management and leadership opportunities to excel quickly.

We understand the importance of work life balance. We offer flexible working hours (where applicable) and generous leave policies to help you maintain a healthy work-life integration.

We know that our most important asset is our people and that is why we have invested significantly to ensure the physical and mental wellbeing of all our employees.

To learn more about what we can offer you, click here