Head of Transactional Finance (6-month FTC)

Head of Transactional Finance – Multi-Site Hospitality – 6 Month FTC

Location: London -Office-based

Salary: £70,000 – £80,000 per annum (circa, depending on experience)

6 Month FTC

The Opportunity

We are recruiting an experienced Interim Head of Transactional Finance to join a leading European hospitality group with an extensive multi site portfolio, initially on a 6 month FTC with an immediate start.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone with strong background in multi-site hospitality, who thrives in a fast-paced environment and has proven experience managing high-volume transactional finance operations.

Reporting directly to the Director of Finance, you will take overall responsibility for the Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable shared services functions, leading a team of approximately 20 employees, including three direct reports.

You will play a pivotal role in ensuring the smooth running of transactional finance operations, maintaining robust financial controls and delivering accurate, timely and compliant financial information across the group.

Working closely with senior finance leadership and operational stakeholders, you will drive process improvements, automation and standardisation while supporting the continued development and transformation of the finance function.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee the Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable shared services functions across a multi-site UK and European hospitality portfolio.
• Manage, coach and develop a team of approximately 19 employees, including four direct reports, ensuring effective performance management and delivery against agreed KPIs.
• Oversee end-to-end Accounts Payable operations, including invoice processing, supplier payments, reconciliations, financial controls and supplier relationship management.
• Ensure efficient Accounts Receivable operations, including accurate guest and corporate billing, cash collection, credit control, revenue reconciliations and debtor management.
• Maintain a robust financial control environment, ensuring processes are clearly documented and compliant with company policies and local regulatory requirements.
• Drive continuous improvement, standardisation and automation across transactional finance processes to improve efficiency and accuracy.
• Oversee month-end activities, including balance sheet reconciliations, journal approvals, accruals, bad debt provisions and period-end close processes.
• Ensure effective use and integration of finance systems, including ERP, PMS, POS and expense management platforms.
• Monitor performance against agreed KPIs, identifying opportunities to improve service delivery, productivity and financial controls.
• Lead and support finance transformation initiatives, system integrations and business-wide improvement projects.
• Support the implementation of new regulatory requirements, including European e-invoicing legislation.
• Act as the primary escalation point for complex transactional finance matters and key internal and external stakeholders.
• Lead the shared services team through organisational and process changes, creating a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.

About You

We are looking for an established Shared Services/Transactional Finance Manager or senior transactional finance professional with a strong track record of managing both Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable operations within a multi-site hospitality environment.

You will be an experienced people manager with excellent commercial awareness, strong financial controls knowledge and a proactive approach to developing teams and improving business processes.

Essential Experience & Skills

• Proven experience as a Finance Shared Services Manager, Transactional Finance Manager, Head of Transactional Finance or similar senior finance leadership role.
• Previous hotel experience is essential.
• Demonstrable experience overseeing both Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable functions.
• Strong background in managing high-volume transactional finance operations across multiple properties, entities or international business units.
• Proven experience leading, coaching and developing sizeable finance teams, including direct management of team leaders or supervisors.
• Strong understanding of financial controls, reconciliations, month-end processes, accruals and provisions.
• Experience driving process improvements, standardisation and automation within a shared services environment.
• Strong working knowledge of ERP systems and transactional finance processes.
• Experience monitoring KPIs, improving operational performance and ensuring compliance with relevant financial regulations.
• Strong commercial awareness with a data-led, analytical approach to problem-solving.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively across finance, operations and senior leadership.
• Advanced Excel skills and proficiency in Microsoft Office.
• Highly organised, adaptable and capable of managing competing deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Please quote reference 52715 when emailing in the first instance: hbu@alexanderlloyd.co.uk

This is only one of many vacancies we are handling. Alexander Lloyd is a leading recruiter across a range of roles within Finance and Accountancy.

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