PPL
Head of Finance and Operations
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About PPL
PPL is a management consultancy with a difference. As a social enterprise and certified B Corp, we work with the NHS, local government and civil society to improve services and outcomes for people and communities across the UK.
Our social purpose is central to our operating model. We donate over 50% of our profits to support charities and wider social impact and provide every member of the team 10 days of paid volunteering leave each year. It also shapes how we work: with care, integrity, high standards and a strong sense of responsibility to one another.
We are in the middle of an ambitious period of growth. Our Shared Services functions are central to that journey. They provide our leadership team with clear insight and assurance, make it easy for the wider team to do great work, and build the systems and disciplines that will allow PPL to grow without losing what makes it special.
The opportunity
You will lead PPL's Finance and Operations function, as well as being the senior financial professional within PPL.
You will own financial planning, management information, cash flow, controls and assurance, giving our joint CEOs, Directors, senior leadership team and Board clear analysis and practical recommendations.
You will also lead the wider business operations portfolio through established managers and specialist providers. This includes our workplace and facilities, administrative support, external IT relationship, information security and management systems. You do not need to be the technical expert in every operational area. You do need the judgement to set clear standards, ask the right questions and ensure that services, controls and accountabilities work together.
This is a newly created role, joining PPL at an important point in our growth. We currently have around 70 people and plan to grow significantly over the next few years. You will lead our in-house Finance and Operations team, supported by specialist external providers, with the opportunity to improve our financial insight, strengthen the link between project and organisational performance, simplify processes and shape a function that can support PPL at greater scale.
What you will lead
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Lead financial management and assurance
- Own annual budgeting and forecasting, cash flow management and the organisation's view of financial performance and emerging pressures.
- Provide timely management information, analysis and recommendations to senior leaders and the Board.
- Assure end-to-end financial processes for client and project work, including project forecasting, time and expense recording, subcontractor costs, invoicing and cash collection.
- Ensure month-end, transactional finance, payroll assurance, year-end accounts, audit and statutory submissions are accurate, timely and properly controlled.
- Maintain effective controls, delegated authorities and approval processes, addressing weaknesses promptly and protecting PPL from error, fraud and avoidable loss.
Build a high performing function
- Set and deliver a clear Finance and Operations plan aligned to PPL's organisational priorities.
- Lead and develop the Finance Manager, Office and Facilities Manager and Operations Administrators, with clear delegation, standards and accountability.
- Plan the capacity, capability, systems and external support the function needs as PPL grows, making a clear case for investment or change where required.
- Use service data, feedback and root cause analysis to improve processes, remove duplication and increase resilience.
Oversee wider business operations
- Set clear service standards for workplace, facilities, administration, meetings and events, and ensure our offices are safe, welcoming and well run.
- Oversee key suppliers and PPL's external IT provider, including service performance, escalation, licences, assets and access controls.
- Maintain oversight of information security, business continuity, health and safety and PPL's ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 27001 management systems.
What you will bring
You will already be operating at Head of Finance level, or in a senior role with equivalent breadth and accountability. The role requires the depth of judgement that comes from having led a finance function, and will particularly appeal to someone seeking a purposeful sideways move.
- A recognised accountancy qualification (ACA / ACCA / CIMA), or equivalent senior finance experience.
- Substantial responsibility for a full finance service, including budgeting, forecasting, cash flow, management accounts and financial controls.
- Experience assuring transactional finance, payroll, year-end accounts and work delivered by external accountants or other providers.
- A track record of turning financial information into clear advice and recommendations for Directors, senior leaders or Boards.
- Experience leading managers and multidisciplinary teams through clear delegation, support and accountability.
- Sound commercial judgement and the confidence to balance financial discipline, operational needs, risk and the experience of the wider team.
- The ability to improve systems and processes in a growing or changing organisation, without losing grip on reliable day-to-day delivery.
- A strong commitment to PPL's mission, values and social purpose.
Get help with your application
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Experience in consultancy, professional services, a social enterprise or another purpose-led organisation would be particularly useful. Exposure to facilities, outsourced IT, information security or ISO management systems would also help, although deep technical expertise across all of these areas is not required.
What PPL offers
- A salary of £80,000-£90,000pa (depending on experience), plus bonus and a wider benefits package including private health insurance.
- A genuinely influential role, working closely with PPL's joint CEOs, Directors and senior leaders.
- The mandate to shape your function near the beginning of PPL's growth journey, including its priorities, systems, capability and ways of working.
- Purposeful work in a social enterprise where commercial success funds wider social impact.
- An exceptionally capable and generous team, with a culture that combines high standards with trust, flexibility and mutual support.
Our selection process is expected to include an initial panel interview, followed by an in-person final-stage interview with our co-founders and joint CEOs.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.
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