Head of Finance Operations (Process, Efficiency & Control)
| Posting date: | 19 February 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £73,200 per year |
| Additional salary information: | 35 hours per week |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 12 March 2026 |
| Location: | Manchester, Greater Manchester, M3 4JP |
| Company: | Science Museum Group |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | SMG03436_1771512071 |
Summary
Are you a finance operations leader who believes automation, data and strong people leadership can transform how finance delivers value - and excited by the opportunity to lead that change at scale?
About us
The Science Museum Group (SMG) is an exciting organisation at the boundary of the private, public and charitable sectors, with a fascinating variety of financial requirements. We run the world's largest group of science museums and look after a collection of more than 7 million objects, igniting curiosity and revealing wonder to our visitors and colleagues. We are an ambitious group, with major programmes of development across our museums, including the recently completed refurbishment of Manchester's Power Hall and the upcoming construction of an entirely new Central Hall in York, as well as a continuing series of temporary exhibitions and learning activities for children and adults.
About the role
As a Head of Finance Operations, you will be accountable for leading our finance operations team to provide greater process transparency, improved process performance and control, reduced error rates, better stakeholder alignment and efficient change management processes. The financial process families that you and your team will oversee are source to pay, order to cash, acquire to retire, payroll and other finance processes. You will also be a key enabler of the successful transformation of these key processes, owning the implementation of end-to-end process improvement and standardisation.
The role is based at the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester and requires on site work at least two days a week - at a site of global importance in the history of science, technology and engineering, including the world's first commercial passenger railway station - and occasional travel to other locations in the group.
You will manage a team of six permanent FTEs and two temporary roles (three direct reports), coaching them for success and development. You will join a well-established, group-wide function and complete a finance leadership team that also includes two Heads of Finance Business Partnering (for capital projects and operational activities - one London and one Manchester based), a Head of Finance Reporting, Change & Improvement (Manchester) and a Head of Financial Technology & Data Analytics (London). The two Manchester based roles will support you in establishing a strong finance team presence at the site. This is a great role to step into at a time of real momentum and change within the organisation.
Please refer to the attached Vacancy Information Pack for further detail on the role, including the context behind its creation and what success will look like in post. We have also included an infographic outlining the team structure to help you understand how this role fits within the wider finance function.
About you
We're keen to see applications from candidates who are qualified finance professionals (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent) and who believe finance operations should be highly automated, data-driven and strategically influential. You will see functions such as AP, AR, payroll and cash management as critical drivers of organisational performance, not simply transaction processing. We would welcome applications from experienced people leaders who enjoy coaching teams through change, setting clear expectations and developing capability for a more digital future.
We're particularly interested in candidates with experience leading operational transformation and delivering measurable improvements through automation, systems optimisation and data analytics. You will bring a practical technology mindset, understanding how systems, integrations and data flow support efficient, accurate finance processes. You will combine this digital ambition with solid technical finance knowledge, risk and control awareness, and excellent attention to detail, enabling you to identify process weaknesses and improve both efficiency and governance across end-to-end finance operations.
As this is a role that will deliver significant change, we're also looking for candidates with demonstrated change leadership, resilience and clear, persuasive communication and influencing skills. You will be comfortable building stakeholder buy-in, negotiating effectively and driving behavioural change across complex organisations.
Above all, we're looking for someone committed to what finance operations can become - and motivated to deliver meaningful, lasting improvement within a collaborative and inclusive organisation.
Don't feel you meet all the criteria? We welcome an application even if your experience doesn't match directly. With your transferable skills, you could be the right candidate for this, or other opportunities that we have.
Applying
View the Vacancy Information Pack listed under 'Attachments' on the vacancy listing on our website for more details about the role and the application process or click 'Apply Online' to submit an application.
What we offer
Working with a world-leading museum group that offers access to truly unique environments and collections, you'll benefit from the perks listed below, as well as full support for life events such as parental and adoption leave, sickness, and career breaks.
- Meaningful work. We're a mission-led organisation where the work you do supports us in Inspiring Futures.
- Career growth. We offer enhanced support with personal and professional development.
- Work/life balance. We offer 27 days annual leave in addition to bank holidays, along with flexible policies which support you and your home life.
- Health & Dental Insurance. Extra peace of mind, from day one.
- All our colleagues can access an employee assistance programme, access to the Unmind app, and other wellbeing support.
- Colleague networks. Our colleague-led networks are an informal forum for colleagues to come together to discuss topics of shared interest and lived experience. They create a space for people to exchange ideas, discuss best practice, socialise and build a sense of community.
- Enhanced contributory pension. To support you in saving for the future.
- Interest-free loans. When you need a little extra cash for life events or home improvements.
- Great discounts. Free entry to exhibitions, discounts in our shops, cafes, and access to other museums in the NMDC network.
Open for All is one of the Science Museum Group's five core values and sets out our important aspiration to be a place for everyone. We are working hard to understand our organisation better and to develop a culture that recognises and values different backgrounds, mindsets, skills, experience, knowledge, and expertise. By having greater diversity, we believe that we will be a stronger and better organisation, capable to continue to Inspire Futures.