Head of Accounting Services

Head of Accounting Services

Circa£105,000 plus great benefits including a £6,000 car allowance, up to 10% matched pension contributions, private healthcare and more (Work Level 4)

Manchester City Centre, in this roleyou’llneed to come into the office a minimum of twice a week (find out more at jobs.coop.co.uk/hybrid-working-policy).

We’relooking for a Head of Accounting Services,focused onSales to Cash (StC),to join theFinance Services leadershipteam within our wider Co-op Business Services (CBS) organisation. CBS is made up ofa number ofdiverse teams dedicated to delivering high-quality,reliableand cost-effective business services across our Co-op.You’llplay a key role in helping CBS to support and realise our group vision of ‘co-operating to build more value for member-owners every day’.

Why this job matters

You’llbe responsible foroptimising how we manage our working capital, focusing particularly on cash flow and trade debtors.You’lllead the effort to drive consistency across areas likebalance sheet reconciliations,billing and collections, cashapplicationandreporting, as well as leading the fullStCprocess, guiding both the strategy and day-to-day operations. This is a fast-paced area of the business, anda great opportunityfor youto optimisenew systems and processeswithinourwider Finance Servicesleadershipteam, while promoting a culture of learning, open communication, and collaboration.

What you’ll do

• Oversee the fullStCprocess, providing strategic direction and leadership for related initiativeswhilstmanaging against SLAs, KPIs, controls, qualitystandardsand budget
• Lead on the optimisation ofprocesses and ways of working acrossERP and wider interfacing systems, drivingend to end optimisationand control improvements
• Ensure consistencyand qualityin key areas, such as c.£1bn of billing and collections,and asignificant volume of related sub-ledger and balance sheetreconciliationsin collaborationand alignmentwith our Record to Report Service team
• Work alongside seniorbusinessleaders on working capital-related matters
• Lead and manage a talented team, supporting them in their learning and development
• Join our CBS leadership team and collaborate with peers to ensure the successful implementation of our CBS strategy

What you’ll bring

We're committed to making our roles as accessible as possible, so we only ask for the minimum criteria. To thrive here, you'll need to bring:

• An ACA,CIMA,or CCAB qualification
• Experience usingERP SystemSAP and liaising with third-party outsource providers
• Experience of leading significant teams in a Shared Business Services or similar delivery environment
• Financial and changeexpertiseinend-to-endcommercial,salesandcredit/collectionprocesses
• Proven leadership experience, with the ability to engage, inspire, and motivate large teams
• Strong analytical and risk management skills
• Good communicationand relationship-building skills, with the ability to influence and challenge people inclusively

Why Co-op?

At Co-op, we're owned by our members. And because we're owned by you, we can do right by you. So when you join us, you're not just taking a job, you're joining a movement. We've an organisation that puts people and communities first, and we're powered by purpose. We want this to be a place where you can thrive, so you'll also receive:

• An annual bonus (based on personal and business performance)
• 28 days holiday (rising to 32 with service) plus bank holidays
• A pension with up to 10% employer contributions
• Private healthcare
• Access to a subsidised onsite gym (at our Manchester HQ)
• 30% discount on Co-op products and 10% off other brands
• Stream - early access to a percentage of your pay as you earn it
• Virtual healthcare including GP appointments, mental health support, nutrition and fitness advice
• 24/7 colleague support service
• Training and support for your development and career progression
• Cycle-to-work scheme

A place you'll belong

We're building diverse and inclusive teams that reflect the communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone and are committed to creating a workplace where colleagues can feel like they belong, supported by our inclusive policies and the way we work.

We're proud to be part of the Disability Confident scheme and offer interviews to disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria for a job. If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process, we'll support you.

Learn more about our recruitment process at jobs.coop.co.uk/apply-process and our inclusion commitments at job.coop.co.uk/diversity-inclusion