Finance and Operations Manager

Company Overview

LianLian is a UK-authorised Payment Institution (API) committed to maintaining the highest standards of regulatory compliance, operational excellence, and financial integrity. The company provides a broad range of cross-border payment and collection services to an international client base, with a focus on innovation, transparency, and customer service excellence.

We are an overseas entity of LianLian Global, a business unit within LianLian DigiTech (HK

We are seeking a high-performing, commercially minded
Finance and Operations Manager
to join our London team. The ideal candidate will be strategic, hands-on, and experienced in leading financial management and operational activities within a regulated fintech or payments environment. This position reports directly to the General Manager and will play a key role in ensuring that LianLian UK remains financially sound, operationally efficient, and fully compliant with FCA and HMRC requirements.

Role Summary

The
Finance and Operations Manager
will be responsible for overseeing the financial health and operational efficiency of the business. The role covers financial strategy, accounting, treasury, and settlement operations, ensuring strong governance, cost control, and scalability in line with the company's growth ambitions.

The successful candidate will work closely with the senior leadership team in the UK, EU, and Group HQ in China to align on business strategy, regulatory reporting, and global financial governance.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Management & Strategy

• Lead the company's financial planning and analysis (FP&A) activities, including annual budgeting,

quarterly forecasts, and variance analysis.

• Oversee all accounting functions, including Accounts Payable (AP), Accounts Receivable (AR), and general ledger activities.

• Ensure timely and accurate production of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements in compliance with UK GAAP and internal Group standards.

• Develop and monitor financial KPIs and performance metrics to support strategic decision-making.

• Manage cash flow, liquidity, and capital allocation to ensure the company meets its operational and regulatory obligations.

• Support strategic initiatives by providing financial modelling and return-on-investment analysis for new business opportunities.

Regulatory & Compliance Oversight

• Ensure compliance with all applicable UK financial, tax, and accounting regulations, including FCA, HMRC,

and Companies House requirements.

• Lead the preparation and submission of financial and regulatory reports, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.

• Serve as the key point of contact for external auditors, tax advisors, and financial regulators.

• Maintain alignment with LianLian Group's global financial control framework, coordinating with other entities within the Group.

Operations & Process Improvement

• Oversee daily payment operations, settlement, reconciliation, and treasury management activities.

• Develop and refine operational processes to improve scalability, efficiency, and accuracy across payment flows and reconciliation systems.

• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to enhance automation and reduce operational risk.

• Identify bottlenecks in operational workflows and implement improvements that strengthen financial and customer outcomes.

Cross-Functional & Strategic Leadership

• Partner with Compliance, Risk, and Business teams to ensure operational alignment and support business growth.

• Provide leadership and guidance to finance and operations staff, fostering a high-performance culture.

• Support the General Manager and senior management team with data-driven insights and strategic recommendations.

• Contribute to Board and management reporting, ensuring transparency and accountability across financial and operational domains.

Qualifications and Experience

Education:

Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field. Professional qualifications such as ACA, ACCA, or CIMA are highly desirable.

Experience:

• Minimum of 5-10 years experience in financial management, accounting, or operations, ideally within a regulated payments or fintech environment.

• Strong understanding of payment processing, treasury management, and settlement operations within an API or EMI structure.

• Demonstrated experience managing audits, regulatory reporting, and cross-border finance coordination.

Knowledge:

• Deep knowledge of UK financial regulations, including those relevant to Payment Institutions and HMRC obligations.

• Familiarity with FCA reporting, safeguarding frameworks, and operational resilience principles.

• Experience working within international or multi-entity financial structures.

Skills:

• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving abilities with attention to detail.

• Strong leadership and communication skills with the ability to engage effectively across departments and

geographies.

• Proven ability to streamline processes and lead transformation initiatives in financial and operational

contexts.

Communication:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English. Proficiency in another language, particularly

Chinese, is an asset.

Application Process

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and early submissions are encouraged.

At
LL PAY UK Limited (LianLian UK)
, we are committed to upholding the highest standards of data protection and privacy in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). As part of our recruitment process, we may need to share your CV and associated personal data with our hiring manager and colleagues located in our HQ in China.

To proceed with this application, you provide consent. Providing consent is entirely voluntary, and you may withdraw it at any time without affecting your ongoing candidacy. If you wish to withdraw your consent, please contact us.

Applications via recruitment agencies will be automatically discarded.