Finance & Operations Manager
Location: Hitchin, Hertfordshire
Salary: £50,000 per annum
Hours: Full-time, in-house role
Systems: Sage 50, Odoo ERP, Excel
About the Role
We are looking for a hands-on Finance & Operations Manager to join our business in Hitchin.
This is a varied in-house role covering finance, accounts and operational support. Initially, the successful candidate will help cover accounts work during maternity leave, while also supporting the directors with day-to-day operations, systems and process improvements.
The role would suit someone who is commercially minded, highly organised, confident working across different systems, and comfortable in a busy SME environment.
Key ResponsibilitiesFinance & Accounts
- Cover and support day-to-day accounts work during maternity leave.
- Maintain accurate financial records using Sage 50.
- Support with purchase ledger, sales ledger, bank reconciliations and payment runs.
- Assist with VAT returns, management accounts and financial reporting.
- Help improve financial processes, controls and reporting.
- Liaise with suppliers, customers and internal teams on finance-related queries.
- Support the directors with cash flow visibility and debtor/creditor reporting.
Operations & Systems
- Assist the other director with operational tasks and process improvements.
- Work with Odoo ERP and Sage 50 to support smooth day-to-day operations.
- Help link, reconcile and improve data flows between multiple systems.
- Use Excel to analyse, clean and report on operational and financial data.
- Identify inefficiencies and suggest practical improvements.
- Help document processes and create better internal reporting.
- Support stock, order flow, supplier and customer-related processes where required.
European Trading / Cross-Border Activity
- Support with administration and reporting linked to European customers, suppliers or group activity.
- Experience dealing with European trade, VAT, logistics or cross-border processes would be beneficial.
Essential Skills & Experience
- Post-qualified accountant or finance professional.
- Strong hands-on accounts experience within an SME environment.
- Very strong Excel skills, including confident use of formulas, lookups, pivot tables and data analysis.
- Experience using Sage 50.
- Confident working with ERP systems, ideally Odoo.
- Strong understanding of financial controls, reconciliations and reporting.
- Good systems mindset, with the ability to understand how different platforms connect.
- Able to work independently and take ownership of tasks.
- Practical, organised and comfortable working in a fast-moving business.
- Strong communication skills and ability to work closely with directors and internal teams.
Desirable Skills
- Experience linking or reconciling data between multiple systems.
- Experience with Odoo ERP.
- Experience with ecommerce, marketplaces, stock-based businesses, wholesale or distribution.
- Experience dealing with European customers, suppliers, VAT, logistics or cross-border administration.
- Advanced Excel or reporting skills.
- Experience improving internal processes in an owner-managed business.
Person Specification
We are looking for someone who is:
- Hands-on and practical.
- Detail-focused but commercially aware.
- Confident with numbers, systems and processes.
- Able to work independently without needing constant supervision.
- Happy to get stuck into both finance and operational tasks.
- Good at spotting problems and suggesting sensible improvements.
- Comfortable working directly with company directors.
What We Offer
- Salary of £50,000 per annum.
- A varied and important role within an established SME.
- The opportunity to take ownership of finance and operational processes.
- Direct involvement with the company directors.
- A practical, in-house role with genuine influence over how the business runs.
Pay: £50,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company pension
- Free parking
- On-site parking
Application question(s):
- Are you fully qualified (required) with CIMA, ACA or ACCA?
Experience:
- post-qualified finance: 3 years (required)
Work Location: In person
