Head of Finance - Operations

About the role

The Head of Finance – Operations is a permanent senior role based at the Bedfordshire head office. Reporting to the Finance Director, you will lead a team of five finance professionals and act as the trusted financial partner to the Operations function across a large, multi‑site hospitality and retail estate.

Key responsibilities

• Provide strategic financial leadership for the nationwide operations estate.
• Partner with senior operational stakeholders to influence decisions through insightful analysis and commercial challenge.
• Own budgeting, forecasting and long‑term planning processes for Operations.
• Deliver performance reporting that highlights revenue, margin and labour productivity opportunities.
• Drive cost optimisation across labour, utilities, direct materials and overheads, including ESG and energy performance.
• Manage the finance relationship with the Dayforce workforce planning system.
• Develop KPIs that support operational excellence and productivity improvements.
• Provide financial modelling and commercial evaluation for capital investment and strategic projects.
• Ensure strong financial controls, governance and compliance across operational activities.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives across finance processes, systems and reporting.
• Collaborate with Finance, Operations, Property, Commercial and People teams to support wider business transformation.

Required profile

• Commercially minded finance leader with proven experience in operational finance within hospitality, retail or similar multi‑site environments.
• Strong track record of influencing senior executives and delivering strategic financial insight.
• Experience managing a finance team and driving performance improvement initiatives.

Required skills

• Dayforce workforce planning system