Head of Management Finance

ABOUT TRAFALGARENTERTAINMENT

Founded by Sir Howard Panter and Dame Rosemary Squire in 2017, Trafalgar Entertainment is an award-winning global live-entertainment business, producing plays and musicals, theatre and venue ownership and operations, live music and comedy, events and hospitality, Performing Arts education, ticketing, the distribution and filming of event cinema and TV live-streaming innovative content through Trafalgar Releasing Ltd (from David Tennant in Macbeth to Taylor Swift).

Trafalgar Entertainment is home to Trafalgar Theatres (with 23 venues in the UK, Sydney, London, and across the UK), including four London Theatres - Trafalgar Theatre, The Bridge Theatre, The Lightroom King's Cross and the new British Airways Theatre, Olympia.

We are passionate about entertainment, audiences, and the live experience and we value Creativity, Collaboration, Excellence and Respect.

THE ROLE

Head of Management Finance – UK Venues Role Purpose

The Head of Management Finance plays a key leadership role within the venues division, leading the financial operations of a dynamic, multi-site live entertainment business. The role is responsible for delivering high quality and timely management reporting, within an environment of strong financial control, to support performance and growth across the estate.

Working closely with the divisional leadership team, the Head of Management Finance will lead a small, capable finance team, embed consistent processes and controls, and act as a trusted partner to the members of the divisional leadership team to support financial performance measurement and aid strategic decisions.

This is a hands-on leadership role in a fast-moving environment, requiring strong judgement, confidence to make decisions at pace, and the ability to balance financial discipline with commercial opportunity.

This is an opportunity to play a central role in a growing, entrepreneurial venues business, working at the intersection of finance, live entertainment, and commercial decision-making.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership and Team Development

• Lead, coach, and develop the UK Venues finance team, supporting capability building and succession.
• Create a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Act as a senior member of the divisional leadership team, contributing to performance measurement, business planning and decision-making.
• Ensure clear priorities, strong delivery discipline, and effective workload management across the team.

Financial Operations and Control

• Oversee the production of timely, accurate monthly management accounts, KPIs, and variance analysis.
• Oversee day-to-day accounting operations across the venues, including:
• Accounts
• Payroll oversight and
• Month-end and year-end
• Journals, accruals, prepayments, and balance sheet
• VAT and statutory
• Maintain strong balance sheet control and clear audit
• Monitor and manage cash flow, supporting working capital discipline and capital
• Ensure accurate financial records and effective use of the general ledger.

Compliance, Risk and Governance

• Ensure compliance with UK accounting standards, tax regulations, and internal
• Build strong relationships with auditors, advisors, and internal stakeholders and lead the year-end audit process and preparation of statutory accounts.
• Design and maintain effective internal controls and risk management
• Keep abreast of regulatory changes and advise on potential business impacts.

Systems and Process Improvement

• Work closely with other departments to improve data quality and reporting

Essential Qualifications and Experience

• Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).
• Significant post-qualification experience in a senior finance role.
• Experience in a multi-site, customer-facing or transactional business, ideally within live entertainment, arts, leisure, or hospitality.
• Proven experience leading and developing finance
• Strong technical grounding in UK accounting standards and financial
• Experience delivering clear, commercially focused financial
• Experience working with multiple finance systems; experience with Business Central.

Key Competencies

• Effective leadership skills
• Clear, confident communication with finance and non-finance
• Analytical, structured, and solutions-focused.
• High attention to detail with strong delivery
• Resilient, adaptable, and comfortable in a fast-paced environment
• Strong Excel skills

Reporting Structure:

• Reports to: Group Financial Controller

Location and Hours:

• Primarily in Woking with some need to visit the London office and occasional visits to venues around the country. Flexibility for hybrid working arrangements.
• 40 hours per week

Package:

Competitive salary and benefits package, including life cover, contributory pension and critical illness cover.