Head of Finance Transformation - 12m FTC

Collinson is the global, privately-owned company dedicated to helping the world to travel with ease and confidence. The group offers a unique blend of industry and sector specialists who together provide market-leading airport experiences, loyalty and customer engagement, and insurance solutions for over 400 million consumers.

Collinson is the operator of Priority Pass, the world’s original and leading airport experiences programme. Travellers can access a network of 1,500+ lounges and travel experiences, including dining, retail, sleep and spa, in over 650 airports in 148 countries, helping to elevate the journey into something special. We work with the world’s leading payment networks, over 1,400 banks, 90 airlines and 20 hotel groups worldwide.

We have been bringing innovation to the market since inception – from launching the first independent global VIP lounge access Programme, Priority Pass to being the first to sell direct travel insurance in the UK through Columbus Direct and creating the first loyalty agency of its kind in the travel sector with ICLP. Today we still invest heavily in innovation to ensure that we continue to deliver superior customer experiences.

Key clients include Mastercard, American Express, Cathay Pacific, British Airways, LATAM, Flying Blue, Accor, EasyJet, HSBC, Chase, HDFC.

Our mission is focused on doing good beyond profit, which for us means we seek out opportunities for our people to share in our success and that we give back to the communities and people within which we work.

Never short of ambition, the success of our business is delivered through the diverse and talented team of over 2,200 global colleagues.

Airport Dimensions Overview

Airport Dimensions (AD) uses unmatched insights from our vast array of airport and airline partnerships, as well as the Priority Pass Program, to acquire, build and operate its own network of shared-use lounges and other airport experiences. From comfortable lounges to restful sleep pods, from innovative digital services to convenient food ordering and contactless collection of duty free, Airport Dimensions help improve the travel experience while helping airports maximize ancillary revenue opportunities and become more innovative.

AD has a rapid growing network of locations at the world’s leading airports across the United States, United Kingdom and Middle East. Under our brands The Club, Club Aspire, Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club, No.1 Lounges and Sleep ’n Fly, Airport Dimensions provides award-winning hospitality services tailored to the specific needs of passengers and has developed value-added experiences for over fifty airport and airline partners.

Grounded in insight and expertise across lounges, sleep, play and digital, we create experiences that bring more choice and enjoyment to passengers while helping airports grow non-aeronautical revenue. As a trusted partner to airports globally, we combine deep industry understanding with a collaborative approach to shape the future of the airport experience. Over the last 3 years the number of Airport Dimensions lounges has almost doubled to around 90 today and the ambition is to at least double again over the next 3 years including potential M&A deals if needed.

Purpose of the job:

The Head of Finance Transformation role is a 12 month fixed-term contract and is responsible for shaping a forward-looking, insight-driven finance function that combines FP&A leadership, finance transformation, and data & analytics. The role drives high-quality planning, forecasting, and performance insight, ensuring finance plays a central role in informing strategic decision-making and influencing the executive agenda.

Operating across strategy and execution, the role builds and embeds scalable operating models, modernises processes, and establishes a robust, single source of truth for data and reporting. Through strong commercial acumen and hands-on analytical capability, it enables faster, sharper decision-making and positions finance as a trusted strategic partner to the business.

Key Responsibilities:

· Develop and embed a best-in-class finance operating model, driving standardisation, scalability, and continuous improvement across processes and ways of working.

· Drive finance transformation initiatives, modernising planning, reporting, and governance frameworks to align with business growth and strategic priorities.

· Establish and maintain a robust data and analytics capability, delivering a single source of truth and enabling consistent, high-quality reporting across the organisation.

· Enhance management reporting and dashboards, improving clarity, speed, and accessibility of insights to support business performance.

· Partner with executive and senior stakeholders to shape strategic decisions through clear communication, financial storytelling, and constructive challenge.

· Provide commercially focused analysis and scenario modelling to support investment decisions, growth initiatives, and performance optimisation.

· Build and lead a high-performing finance strategy and analytics capability, fostering a culture of ownership, accountability, and continuous improvement.

· Ensure strong alignment between finance, commercial, and operational teams to drive integrated planning and performance management.

· Maintain a hands-on approach, engaging directly with financial models, data, and processes to ensure accuracy, credibility, and practical delivery.

· Lead knowledge transfer and training for implementation of new tools and processes to ensure 100% adoption across a global finance team and support understanding impact on finance target operating model

· Lead FP&A activities, including budgeting, forecasting, performance analysis, and delivery of high-quality commercial insight to support decision-making.

Knowledge, skills and experience required:

· Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, Business, or related degree, member of CIMA / ACCA or equivalent with minimum 5 years post qualified experience (PQE).

· Extensive experience in FP&A, with a strong track record of leading planning, forecasting, and performance management in complex, multi-entity environments.

· Proven leadership experience across finance transformation, operating model design, process optimisation and driving change.

· Demonstrated ability to build and scale finance capabilities in evolving or ambiguous environments, including establishing structure from the ground up.

· Strong commercial acumen with the ability to interpret financial data, identify key drivers of performance, and provide actionable insights.

· Advanced analytical and modelling skills, with experience in modern data, reporting, and visualisation tools. Use of Tagetik or Power BI is essential (ideally both).

· Experience developing and embedding data governance frameworks, including creation of a single source of truth and improved data integrity.

· Track record of influencing and partnering with senior executives, with the confidence to challenge and shape strategic decisions.

· Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate complex financial information into clear, compelling narratives.

· Hands-on approach with a willingness to engage in detailed analysis, modelling, and problem-solving when required, with meticulous attention to detail, quality and accuracy.

· Strong leadership and stakeholder management skills, collaborative with the ability to build credibility, drive alignment, foster a culture of continuous improvement and change.

· Highly organised individual able to prioritise multiple tasks and deliver to agreed timeframes.

· Open to occasional travel

Collinson is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes differences in all their forms including: colour, race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, neurodivergence, family status, age, individuals with disabilities and people from all backgrounds, cultures and experiences as we strongly believe this contributes to our on-going success.

We are focused on continually evolving our purpose driven, high performing culture, providing an environment where our people have the opportunity to achieve their full potential and do interesting and meaningful work. Our company values are: Take Action, Do the right thing, One team and Be insight led. These help guide everything we do internally in terms of how we think, act and interact, right through to how we deliver value to our customers and clients.

In your application, please feel free to note which pronouns you use (For example - she/her/hers, he/him/his, they/them/theirs, etc).

If you need any extra support throughout the interview process, then please email us at ukrecruitment@collinsongroup.com