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Taylor & Francis is one of the world’s largest publishers of high-quality, peer reviewed scholarly journals, books, e-books and reference works. We empower learners, thinkers and doers with trusted knowledge that advances research and enriches lives. We bring together diverse people, ideas and opinions to validate and publish the experts, theories and truths that matter. And we’ve been doing this in an unbroken arc since 1798.

Our purpose is to foster human progress through knowledge.  We strongly believe that this requires us to encourage and examine different ideas and voices, so that any work that meets our exacting levels of quality deserves to be included in our publications. This requires open minds, the opportunity for robust debate, and the courage to defend perspectives that stand up to scrutiny, even if they conflict with our personal beliefs or values. Because that’s the only way to find the best obtainable version of the truth and, ultimately, foster human progress. If you agree, then we’d love to hear from you.

Taylor & Francis are looking to bring on a leader with a strong technical skillset and strategic vision to lead the transformation of their finance systems and operational landscape.  With a background in managing diverse technology teams through varied project work, they will be able to demonstrate the ability to drive project delivery through cross functional and divisional collaboration whilst providing managerial support to a wide geographically diverse team.

Closing date for applications: Friday 24th of May 2024

This role is open to candidates based in the UK. You must have the right to live and work in the UK. This role will be hired on a hybrid basis, with at least 1 day per week worked from our office in either Milton Park, Oxfordshire (OX14) or 240 Blackfriars, London, and the rest of your time worked remotely from your home office. 

What you’ll be doing:

The Director of FInancial Operations is responsible for devising and implementing the strategic vision for finance systems and associated T&F applications.  The role provides managerial responsiblity for ten individuals based in the UK and Bengaluru covering business analysis, data architecture, visualisation, scenario planning and automation.  This role includes supporting day-to-day operations, as well as, medium and long-term development in support of business needs and strategy.

What you'll be doing:

• Lead the Reporting Strategy for Finance to drive business value through a combination of business engagement and an evolution of the toolsets and data landscape used in T&F.
• Overall line management ownership of the 10 finance professionals including BA, PBI, data architecture, TM1 and Alteryx specialisms.
• Responsible for the veracity, automation, and quality assurance of monthly financial statements / reporting inventory in line with the required timetable.
• Define and manage the Reporting Strategy / BI project roadmap through to successful delivery, manage stakeholders, plan, and mobilise resources.
• Embed an analytical culture within the BI team and work with other functional experts to create and embed a common framework for data treatment and analytical standards.
• Drive continuous improvement and innovation in finance operations, leveraging best practices, industry standards, and emerging technologies.
• Key interface between customers and the system development teams driving forward the reporting landscape across all platforms.
• Collaborate with senior stakeholders across the business, including finance, IT, HR, and operations, to ensure alignment and integration of finance systems and processes.
• Manage the relationships with ELT level down to position Finance as a digital driver sitting at the heart of the wider company strategy.
• Drive Finance through a transformation into a digital first, data led function through implementation of better tools and data handling techniques.
• Provide leadership, guidance, and coaching to the finance operations team, fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, and diversity.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, business, or related field. Master's degree or CPA preferred.
• Significant experience in system delivery roles, including previous experience in a senior management or director role.
• Proven track record of leading and managing technology teams across different geographies and cultures.
• Strong knowledge and experience in finance systems and processes, including ERP, BI, reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and analytics.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and engage senior stakeholders and external partners.
• Strategic, analytical, and problem-solving mindset, with the ability to drive change and innovation.
• Understanding of senior board member roles and responsibilities and how these interact with each other
• Extensive experience of aetting and managing agile technology projects
• Strong data literacy and stewardship techniques are essential
• Flexible, adaptable, and resilient, with the ability to work in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.

Skills and Behaviours Required

• Strong teamwork and business partnering at a senior level
• Strategic vision and conviction
• Decision making under within a pressurised environment
• Team leadership and associated soft skills
• Conflict management and clear alignment to RACI agreements
• Good technical and analytical skills
• Strong Commercial and customer focus
• Negotiation skills and resilience
• Proactive nature but strategically aligned effort

At Taylor & Francis we care about our colleagues, promoting work-life balance, wellbeing, and flexible working. You will be joining a thriving business, working alongside an exceptional group of people. We believe that the skills and experience you bring to Taylor & Francis are invaluable. We want you to have the opportunity to develop your abilities, and to innovate and develop in areas which you are passionate about.

UK Benefits:

• An excellent work/life balance with a fantastic, flexible working culture.
• Company funded single cover private medical insurance
• 25 days annual leave per year plus bank holidays
• 3 additional discretionary days off during the holiday season at the end of the year
• 4 paid volunteering days each year
• Employee assistance programme – offering 24/7 well-being support
• Share Match – Plan that matches every share purchased with two free shares.
• Pension scheme
• Life assurance, plus optical and medical care.

Training And Professional Development:

We’re passionate about ensuring you have all the tools and resources at your fingertips to reach your short and long-term career goals. We’ll support you in your journey by working together on your own bespoke Taylor & Francis Development Plan, ensuring you have the resources, tools, support, and coaching that will get you where you want to be.

Interview process:

Once you have submitted your application, we may get in touch with you for an initial screening conversation or ask you to complete a short video interview to enable us to better understand your skills, experience, and motivation. Following this, you will be invited to attend a competency-based interview, either virtually or in person. Typically, we’d then finish the interview process with a final, 2nd stage interview before extending an offer to the successful applicant.

Taylor & Francis Group an Informa Business

We want all our candidates to shine in our recruitment process. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to ensure you are able to show us your best self. This could include having the application form in a different format, more time for questions, or anything else – please ask us, we are happy to be flexible! Please contact [email protected]

Being Yourself at Taylor & Francis

 If you’re excited about working with Taylor & Francis to foster human progress through knowledge, we invite you to apply even if your existing skills and experience don’t fit every item listed above. At Taylor & Francis, we are at our best and most successful when colleagues can be themselves and contribute regardless of their identity or background. As a colleague, you will have the opportunity to further innovate and develop in areas that you are passionate about. Our goal is to empower you with the resources, incentives, and flexibility you need to enjoy success at work and to live a healthy, balanced life.

Taylor & Francis is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe in and value diversity of people and thought, fostering a supportive and inclusive environment where all colleagues can learn and succeed as their true selves. Taylor & Francis recruits, develops, and retains colleagues without regard to any protected personal characteristics or other non-merit-based factor.

We genuinely care about our colleagues, promoting work-life balance, wellbeing, and flexible working. We believe that the skills and experience you bring to Taylor & Francis are invaluable. We want you to have the opportunity to develop your abilities, and to innovate and develop in areas which you are passionate about. To find out more about our business and the great career opportunities please go to our Careers Site: http://www.taylorandfrancisgroup.com/careers

Or better yet check out our LinkedIn ‘Life’ Page, highlighting our accomplishments, employees, and company culture. It’s also a good way of meeting our recruitment team, who will be happy to advise you on your journey here at T&F.

https://www.linkedin.com/company/taylor-&-francis-group/life/79e0c27c-afdf-4bbb-84e6-5f8ed5e10bb8