About The INS Group
At The INS Group, we deliver intelligent infrastructure lifecycle solutions across telecoms, digital capture, drone operations, access management, validation, and specialist field services.
We support major infrastructure and telecoms clients through a combination of operational expertise, intelligent systems, and technology-enabled delivery.
Our business is growing rapidly, and we are now looking to strengthen our Finance and Operations capability with a key appointment based at our Portsmouth office.
Our culture is built around accountability, collaboration, professionalism, customer service, accuracy, and continuous improvement.
Job Title
Financial Operations Manager
Also suitable for candidates with experience as a Senior Bookkeeper, Senior Finance Officer, Accounts Manager, Assistant Management Accountant, Finance Coordinator, Finance Administrator, or Bookkeeper with reporting experience.
Reporting To
Operations Director / CEO
The role will also work closely with external accountants, payroll providers, senior leadership, and internal operational teams.
Location
Portsmouth Office
Contract Type
Permanent – Full Time
Working Hours
40 hours per week, Monday to Friday, office-based
Salary
£35,000–£40,000 per annum depending on experience
The higher end of the salary range is reserved for candidates with strong Xero experience, payroll administration, cashflow forecasting, monthly reporting, and SME finance control experience.
The Role
The INS Group is seeking an experienced, highly organised, and detail-focused Financial Operations Manager to take ownership of day-to-day finance operations across the business.
This is a hands-on SME finance role covering bookkeeping, payroll administration, invoicing, supplier invoice checks, purchase orders, expenses, VAT support, payment preparation, financial reporting, and cashflow forecasting.
The successful candidate will help ensure our finance records are accurate, our systems are kept up to date, and our leadership team has clear visibility of cashflow, costs, debtors, creditors, supplier commitments, and financial performance.
This role will also support weekly cashflow forecasting and monthly finance reporting for senior leadership and Board-level discussion. It is suited to someone who enjoys structure, accuracy, accountability, and improving how a growing business manages its financial operations.
This is more senior than a standard Finance Administrator or Bookkeeper role, but it is not a Financial Controller or Head of Finance position. It would suit an experienced finance professional who is comfortable being hands-on while also producing clear, reliable financial information for decision-making.
Key Responsibilities - Finance Operations
- Manage day-to-day finance operations across the business.
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date financial records in Xero and supporting systems.
- Process customer invoices, supplier invoices, purchase orders, and expenses.
- Check supplier invoices for accuracy, approvals, and alignment with purchase orders.
- Support payroll preparation and payroll administration.
- Track and manage company expenses through Pleo.
- Support supplier payment preparation and payment runs using Telleroo.
- Maintain accurate financial data across Xero, Excel, Pleo, Telleroo, Apex, and other internal platforms.
- Support VAT preparation and submission processes in coordination with external accountants or finance support.
- Assist with debtor and creditor management, including invoice tracking, overdue payments, and supplier queries.
- Support quote administration, purchase order tracking, and finance-related data input.
- Ensure financial records, approvals, and documentation are maintained to a high standard.
- Liaise with clients, suppliers, internal teams, and external finance partners where required.
Cashflow, Forecasting and Reporting
- Prepare and maintain weekly business cashflow forecasts.
- Produce weekly finance updates for senior leadership.
- Support the preparation of monthly finance reports for SLT and Board-level discussion.
- Track actual performance against forecast, expected income, supplier commitments, and cash position.
- Monitor debtors, creditors, revenue, supplier costs, and committed spend.
- Highlight overdue debt, upcoming payments, supplier exposure, and cashflow pressures.
- Provide clear commentary on key financial movements, risks, and variances.
- Support budget tracking, cost control, and financial planning activity.
- Help improve the consistency, accuracy, and usefulness of internal finance reporting.
Systems, Controls and Process Improvement
- Keep finance systems accurate, organised, and up to date.
- Strengthen controls across invoicing, expenses, supplier approvals, and purchase order processes.
- Ensure finance processes are followed consistently across the business.
- Maintain clear audit trails for finance-related activity.
- Support compliance with finance, VAT, payroll, data protection, and internal policy requirements.
- Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce manual work, and improve data accuracy.
- Work collaboratively with Operations, Validation, Finance, and Delivery teams.
- Support continuous improvement initiatives and operational process development.
- Escalate inconsistencies, missing information, or process gaps where required.
Essential Skills & Experience
- Minimum 5 years experience in bookkeeping, finance operations, finance administration, accounts administration, management accounts support, or a similar SME finance role.
- Strong working knowledge of Xero.
- Confident using Excel for reporting, reconciliations, cashflow tracking, and data analysis.
- Experience with payroll administration.
- Experience managing customer invoicing, supplier invoices, purchase orders, and expenses.
- Experience preparing or supporting cashflow forecasts.
- Ability to produce clear weekly and monthly financial reports.
- Understanding of VAT processes and finance compliance requirements.
- Strong attention to detail and high standards of accuracy.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
- Ability to work effectively under pressure and to tight deadlines.
- Professional and confident communication style.
- Comfortable working in a growing SME environment where priorities can move quickly.
- Proactive, reliable, and able to work independently.
Desirable Skills & Experience
- AAT qualified, qualified CIMA/ACCA, or qualified by experience.
- Experience using Pleo, Telleroo, Apex, or similar finance and operational systems.
- Experience preparing reports for senior leadership, directors, or Board-level review.
- Previous experience within telecoms, infrastructure, engineering, construction, utilities, professional services, or project-led businesses.
- Experience improving finance processes, reporting structures, and internal controls.
- Experience supporting external accountants, payroll providers, or outsourced CFO support.
- Experience working with project-based revenue, purchase orders, and supplier cost control.
The Person We Are Looking For
We are looking for someone who is dependable, accurate, commercially aware, and confident taking full ownership of financial operations.
You should be the kind of person who enjoys bringing order, structure, and clarity to a business.
You will need to be self sufficient, highly organised, confident with numbers, and capable of explaining financial information in a clear and practical way.
The successful candidate will be hands-on and detail-focused, but also able to understand what the numbers mean for the wider business. You should be comfortable identifying inconsistencies, improving processes, and helping the leadership team stay ahead of financial risks, costs, and cashflow requirements.
This role would suit someone who wants to make a meaningful impact in a growing SME by improving financial administration, reporting, systems discipline, and day-to-day financial control.
What Success Looks Like
Success in this role will mean:
- Payroll, invoicing, expenses, supplier invoices, and purchase orders are managed accurately and on time.
- Xero and supporting finance systems are kept up to date regimentally.
- Weekly cashflow reporting gives the leadership team clear financial visibility.
- Monthly finance information is accurate, useful, and suitable for SLT and Board-level discussion.
- Supplier, debtor, creditor, and expense processes are controlled and consistent.
- Financial risks, overdue debt, supplier exposure, and upcoming commitments are clearly highlighted.
- Finance information is trusted across the business.
- The leadership team has better visibility of cash, costs, revenue, commitments, and financial performance.
- Finance processes become more structured, scalable, and reliable as the business grows.
What We Offer
- Competitive salary of £35,000–£40,000 depending on experience.
- Career development opportunities within a growing business.
- Supportive and collaborative working environment.
- Exposure to innovative technology-led infrastructure projects.
- Opportunity to help shape and improve the finance function.
- Direct involvement with senior leadership reporting.
- Varied and responsible role within a growing SME.
- 28 days annual leave, inclusive of bank holidays unless otherwise stated.
- Company pension scheme.
Employment Terms
The successful candidate will be employed under a permanent contract of employment subject to:
- Successful completion of probationary period.
- Right to work in the UK.
- Satisfactory references.
- Compliance with company policies and procedures.
- Confidentiality and data protection obligations.
The INS Group is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to creating an inclusive working environment for all employees.
How to Apply
Please apply with your CV and a short covering note outlining your relevant finance operations, bookkeeping, payroll, reporting, cashflow forecasting, and SME finance experience.
Pay: £35,000.00-£40,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company events
- Company pension
- Free parking
- On-site parking
Work Location: In person
