Head of Transactional Finance | International Media Business | London (Hybrid)
Harmonic are delighted to be partnering with an established international media business on the search for a Head of Transactional Finance.
The Client
We’re working with an established international media business with a sizeable UK finance operation and a clear need to modernise key transactional finance processes. The business is looking to strengthen service levels, improve efficiency, and bring stronger leadership across payroll and accounts payable. There is a particular focus on reviewing team structure, tightening controls, and improving the way finance partners with the wider business.
The Role
Reporting into senior finance leadership, this is a hands‑on transformation role with ownership across transactional finance. The immediate priority is accounts payable, where there is a clear need to review the team, professionalise processes, and explore automation opportunities.
Beyond AP, you will support and develop an established billing and collections team headed up by a Finance Manager, focusing on driving the team forward, improving KPIs, and championing automation with a particular emphasis on AI. You will also play a key role in shaping how finance influences the end‑to‑end process and finance system transformation across the business. Payroll is outsourced, so this element of the role centres on managing the team, overseeing how data flows into the payroll system, and driving efficiencies rather than running payroll itself.
This role requires someone who is genuinely transformation‑minded rather than a caretaker of existing processes. The business has embedded ways of working that need to be challenged, improved, and replaced with a more proactive and commercially‑oriented finance service. You will need to be visible, credible with senior stakeholders, and willing to get into the detail to drive real change.
Key Responsibilities
- Take ownership of the transactional finance function with immediate focus on accounts payable, reviewing team structure, professionalising processes, and identifying automation opportunities
- Drive a step‑change in AP processes, including invoice workflows, payment processing, and expenses management, reducing manual touchpoints and improving internal service levels
- Support and develop the billing and collections team, working closely with the Finance Manager to drive performance, improve KPIs, and embed automation with a focus on AI
- Play a key role in how finance influences the end‑to‑end process and finance system transformation across the business
- Oversee the outsourced payroll relationship, managing the team and improving how data is processed through and into the payroll system to drive efficiencies
- Ensure expenses processes are fit for purpose, with appropriate compliance oversight and reduced escalation risk
- Establish clear KPIs and service standards across the team, including query response times and resolution rates, building a more responsive and customer‑focused finance function
- Act as a visible and proactive business partner to internal stakeholders, improving the reputation and standing of the finance function across the organisation
- Identify and address operational, compliance, and control risks across AP, billing and collections, and payroll
- Lead, develop, and motivate the team, building a culture of accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement
- Ad hoc tasks to support the wider business function
What we need to see (essential)
- Proven leadership experience across transactional finance, with strong exposure to accounts payable, billing and collections, and broader finance operations
- Demonstrable transformation experience, with clear evidence of improving processes, team structures, and service levels within a finance function
- Experience driving automation within transactional finance, with an interest in the practical application of AI
- Strong business partnering and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build credibility at all levels of an organisation
- Strong people leadership capability, with experience improving team productivity, setting clear expectations, and developing individuals
- Comfortable identifying underutilised system capability and driving better use of existing technology
What we’d love to see (bonus)
- Experience within a media, rights, or subscription‑based business
- Exposure to outsourced payroll environments
Salary
£90,000 – £95,000 + up to 30% bonus
Location
London, hybrid working (minimum of two days in the office)
Start Date
ASAP
At Harmonic, we are dedicated to fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace. We actively welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and assure you that every candidate will be thoughtfully considered for the roles we represent, without regard to race, religion, gender expression, disability, or sexual orientation.
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