Finance Operations Manager

Job summary

Are you an experienced finance leader ready to drive operational excellence and shape the future of government finance services?

Join us as a Finance Operations Manager and play a pivotal role in delivering high-quality, customer-focused finance operations that support the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and its key Arm’s Length Bodies: the Planning Inspectorate, the Valuation Tribunal Service, and the Regulator for Social Housing. Here at the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG), we work on things that make a real difference to people's lives. Whether it's through the homes we live in, the work of our local councils, or the communities we're all part of, our work is at the top of the political agenda. We have ambitious and far-reaching outcomes to achieve this year and, if you're thinking of joining us, there's never been a more exciting time.

About the Role
As Finance Operations Manager, you will lead a dynamic team responsible for end-to-end finance transaction processing and support for approximately 2,500 users. You’ll manage and develop a team of up to 6 direct reports, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence in a fast-paced, evolving environment.

Key areas of responsibility include:

• Accounts Payable and Receivable
• Cash Management and Purchase to Pay
• Finance Helpdesk and Chatbot
• Grant Payments

You will be at the forefront of implementing a new team structure, embedding innovative ways of working, and ensuring every team member has clear goals and a tailored training plan. Your leadership will be crucial in maintaining high standards, meeting service level agreements, and driving improvements across all finance operations.

Why Join Us? This is an exciting time to join government finance operations, with significant change and investment underway through the Government Shared Services programme. You’ll have the opportunity to shape and embed new processes and technologies, drive continuous improvement, and deliver services that make a real difference to the department’s mission. Be part of a team that values innovation, collaboration, and professional growth. Help us deliver the future of public sector finance.

Job description

• Embed new ways of working and lead the team to become a flexible, multi-skilled operation. Lead, motivate, and develop a high-performing team, ensuring clear goals and personal development plans for all members.
• Oversee the delivery of finance operations delivering to Service Level Agreements, maintaining quality Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), management information, and exception/error reporting.
• Manage key supplier relationships, including the Bacs Bureau and staff expenses audit provider, attending regular review meetings and driving improvement opportunities.
• Support senior leaders in strategic planning and contribute to future Shared Service cluster activities as part of our planned move to Unity Business Services in late 2027. Deputise for the Head of Finance Operations as required.
• Maintain and update process documentation, ensuring alignment with the Global Finance Function (GFF).
• Champion service excellence, upskilling, and capability building within the team.
• Collaborate with data and improvement colleagues to drive innovation and deliver against divisional business plan objectives.
• Ensure robust controls are in place for data accuracy, risk management, and audit compliance

Person specification

• Significant experience managing an operational finance team with working knowledge of SAP or similar Finance ERP systems.
• Strong leadership, team-building, and change management skills. Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to build positive relationships at all levels.
• Experience in environments focused on process improvement and control.
• Customer service mindset, with a clear understanding of service level agreements. Experience in defining and reporting progress against targets, and resolving exceptions/escalations.
• Ability to make effective, risk-based decisions at pace and deliver results to tight deadlines.
• Commitment to maintaining data accuracy and providing timely, accurate information to stakeholders.
• Strong organisational skills, with a structured approach, attention to detail, and the ability to prioritise and deliver high-quality outcomes under pressure
• Flexible and adaptable, with the ability to multi task and be able to respond to changing priorities and take on a variety of tasks as needed

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £41,890, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government contributes £12,135 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

Application and Selection
The application process will be split into 2 stages, testing the following Success Profiles:

Ability, Experience, Technical

Please ensure your CV does not contain any personally identifiable information.

Note: We do not consider direct CV applications. All applications must be submitted via the provided application link.

Important: Your CV and Cover Letter must be merged into a single document before uploading.

Stage 1: Sift (CV & Cover Letter)

Experience: Your covering letter should set out:

• Why you are interested in the role

• How you meet the essential skills and experience criteria in the Job Description

Please keep to a maximum of 1500 words

Most of our campaigns utilise multiple assessors and so it is possible that each of your answers would be viewed by different assessors.

Stage 2: Interview

• Experience: Experience questions will be based around the essential skills and criteria as listed in the job description.

• Ability: Candidates will take basic maths test on the day of the interview, before the interview takes place

• Technical: Technical questions will be based around the essential skills and criteria as listed in the job description.

Sift and Interview Dates

Sifting is envisaged to take place the week commencing 16/02/2026.

Interviews for this role will be held face to face in your chosen location.

Starting Your Application

Step 1: Complete your personal details on CS Jobs

Step 2: Complete the Numerical Reasoning test by 23:55 on 11/02/2026.

You’ll receive guidance when invited to take the tests – please read it carefully before starting.

These tests are not timed, but we recommend allowing up to one hour per test.

Step 3: If successful, you’ll receive a link to complete your application via Be Applied by 23:55 on 15/02/2026.

Please note:

• Links are sent manually and may take a few days.

• Check your junk/ spam folders if you haven’t received it.

Step 4: We will review your application and if successful, you will be invited to interview.

How We Recruit

Find out more about our recruitment processes here.

• Applying

• Sifting

• Interview

• Interview Results & Feedback

• Reserve List

• Near Miss

• Civil Service Grades

• We are a DCS, RIS & GPTWV employer

• Reasonable Adjustments

How to Apply

Find out everything you need to know before applying here.

You must review the following information from the MHCLG Career's Site before submitting your application. This step is essential to ensure your eligibility for the role and that your application is completed correctly.

• Security Clearance Requirements

• Civil Service Nationality Requirements

• Right to Work

• Artificial Intelligence

• Civil Service Code and Recruitment Principles

• CV Declaration

• Sponsorships

• Salary and Grade

• Existing Civil Servants

• Conflict of Interest

• Location and Flexible Working

• Fixed Term Contracts

• Internal Fraud Database - Internal Fraud Register

• Appeals and Complaints

• Conflict of Interest

Security Clearance Requirements

National Office: + SC

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Stephanie Lockhart
• Email : Stephanie.lockhart@communities.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@communities.gov.uk

Further information

If you are unsure about any part of the process or require additional information about the post to enable you to progress your application, you should speak to the Resourcing team - recruitment@communities.gov.uk. Candidates can appeal at any stage of the recruitment process if they believe there has been:

a procedural irregularity

an infringement of the Civil Service equal opportunities policy

exceptional circumstances which were not notified to the interview panel which might have affected performance on the day.

It is important to note that these are appeals about the process not the decision. In the first instance, an appeal should be directed to the MHCLG Resourcing Hub at recruitment@communities.gov.uk.

If the MHCLG Resourcing Hub is unable to satisfactorily resolve your complaint, you may contact put your complaint in writing to the Civil Service Commission, Room G8,1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ or by email to: info@csc.gov.uk