Finance Operations Manager

We are a London based firm, with offices in Farringdon, established in 2013. Comotion were an MCA (Management Consultancies Association) finalist for best new consultancy of the year in 2017 and are recognised by Forrester as one of the Top 70 Service Design and Customer Experience consultancies globally.

Comotion build customer-led businesses by partnering with clients to challenge and inspire them, bringing magic and fun to their journey and leaving them with a new way of working that truly puts the customer at the heart of everything they do. We work with clients to create long-term, sustainable growth strategies, build operational excellence and transform the culture of the business.  Talecco is a specialist provider focused on the talent space. Within Talecco we focus on supporting clients with both interim and permanent recruitment services, plus training / capability development consulting.

In January 2018 we were purchased by Freeman; a US based $3bn global ‘brand experience’ business.

To achieve our plans for expansion, we now seek an experienced full-time Finance Operations Manager.  You will be a qualified or newly-qualifed accountant (CIMA, ACCA or ACA) who has ideally worked in a professional services environment.   You will be looking for an opportunity to join a young and thriving company with a great culture and an extensive and growing international client base. The company is part of a much bigger international group thus exposure to working in this type of environment would be an advantage. This is a very hands-on role, you will be creating and running core processes.

Key aspects of the role are:

Project accounting

Project accounting for all consulting assignments, ensuring the smooth running of client engagements through from contracting, set-up on internal systems through inflight management / reporting to close down and post project evaluation:

• Contract creation and issue; liaison with procurement for supplier (contractor) set-up.
• Project code administration
• Time accounting and job cost management
• Overruns/adjustments accruals

Weekly/Monthly and quarterly reporting packs

Evaluating overall operational performance of the business by gathering, analysing and interpreting data and metrics, including:

• Actual/Budget/forecast reporting. Working with the finance function in production of the monthly KPI dashboard

• Pipeline forecast management
• Group reporting pack presentation and annotation

• P&L updates
• Ad hoc reports as required by Freeman or Comotion Management
• Supply to Freeman of sales and operations metrics
• Creation of inputs, attendance at and output production for weekly sales and operations meeting

Management Reporting

• Month-end processes and close
• Income accrual journals – consulting and recruitment
• Internal workforce cost allocation
• Project expenses review and adjustments.
• SG&A review and necessary adjustments / accruals / prepayments

• Extensive liaison with group company finance and reporting functions
• Other Ad-hoc reporting tasks including:
• Timesheet and Expenses management
• Year-end tasks
• Re-forecasts
• Budgeting cycle management

Internal Projects 

Initiate and lead the delivery on time and to budget of internal projects for Comotion in areas such as facilities, internal systems selection and compliance. Also act as the contact point for Freeman initiatives and group wide projects

Policies and Procedures

Responsible for the development and updating of internal policies to ensure compliance with Freeman group standards, relevant industry best practice and UK legal compliance (e.g. GDPR)

Human Resources

Oversee the performance management process within Comotion and Talecco (development plans, informal monthly review process, twice yearly formal review process etc...)

Essential Experience

• Fully or newly-qualified accountant (CIMA, ACCA or ACA)

• Advanced Microsoft suite of products, in particular Excel and PowerPoint
• Demonstrable experience in using PSA (professional services automation) software – across areas such as job set-up; job management; timesheets; expenses
• Expert financial acumen around profit and loss sheets; balance sheets; cashflow management etc..
• Understands and can co-ordinate core people processes such as hiring and development / performance management
• Customer centric and driven: goes the extra mile for both colleagues and clients
• Strong moral compass and passionate about doing the right thing for both clients and the firm
• Flexible and responsive day to day with an ability to think on their feet
• Great team player who likes to have fun and collaborate with a range of people
• Excellent emotional intelligence with an ability to build trust and rapport in all relationships

The role will be required 5 days a week in the Central London offices with some ad-hoc travel to Freeman UK Head Office near Coventry.