Finance Manager

• Location: London Airports (Heathrow & travel to Luton)
• Job Type: Full-time with hybrid working

Join our professional team at a leading provider of ground handling services at London's major airports. We are looking for a Finance & Payroll Manager to develop and lead our financial strategy, ensuring operational excellence, safety, and customer satisfaction. This role offers the opportunity to work closely with the CFO and executive team, driving financial performance and strategic decisions.

Finance:

• Develop and lead the financial strategy aligned with long-term commercial and operational objectives.
• Act as a business partner to the CFO and executive team, contributing to strategic decisions, scenario planning, and risk management.
• Lead the preparation of board-level financial reports and participate in board or senior leadership meetings as required.
• Drive cost efficiency and value creation, identifying opportunities to improve margins and reduce overheads.
• Oversee day-to-day financial operations, including accounts payable, receivable, bank reconciliations, and general ledger maintenance.
• Prepare accurate and timely monthly management accounts and financial reports for internal and external stakeholders.
• Lead on budget preparation and forecasting in collaboration with department heads and senior management.
• Ensure compliance with all statutory financial obligations including VAT, Corporation Tax, and Companies House reporting.
• Monitor and report on financial risks, proposing mitigations and controls as needed.
• Support contract pricing and commercial decision-making through financial modelling and margin analysis.

Payroll:

• Manage the end-to-end payroll process for all employees, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with HMRC regulations.
• Administer pension schemes and ensure compliance with auto-enrolment legislation.
• Process and audit variable pay elements such as overtime, allowances, and shift premiums.
• Prepare and submit all payroll-related returns including RTI submissions, P60s, and P11Ds.
• Resolve employee queries related to payroll and deductions in a timely and professional manner.
• Maintain up-to-date records and ensure GDPR-compliant data handling.

Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement:

• Lead and mentor a multi-disciplinary finance & payroll team, setting KPIs, conducting performance reviews, and fostering professional development.
• Act as the key liaison with external stakeholders including auditors, banks, insurers, legal advisors, and regulators.
• Represent the finance function in cross-departmental projects including system migrations, restructures, TUPE transfers, and organisational redesign.

• Fully qualified accountant (AAT, ACCA, CIMA, ACA or equivalent) with 5+ years of experience including leadership at a senior level.
• Proven success in driving financial performance in a high volume, operational business, ideally within ground handling, general aviation, logistics, or transport.
• Strong commercial, operational, and strategic awareness.
• Exceptional communicator with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and deliver under pressure.

• Competitive salary.
• Employee Assistance Programme with 24-hour access to trained counsellors & wellbeing initiatives.
• Opportunities for career growth.
• A dynamic and collaborative working environment.