Senior Finance Manager

Build the finance function for one of the UK's most exciting new live entertainment businesses.

At YTL Live, we are creating a new operating business that will run Aviva Arena Bristol, alongside the wider YTL Live entertainment destination at Brabazon. 

As we move from development into operational readiness and opening, we are looking for a Senior Finance Manager who can do more than manage finance well - we need someone who can build it from the ground up.

This is a rare opportunity to join at a formative stage and play a central role in taking the business from set-up to opening. Reporting to the CEO of YTL Live, with a functional reporting line to the Finance Director, you will lead the design, implementation and operation of the finance processes, controls, systems and reporting infrastructure required to support a high-volume, commercially complex live events business.

You will help create a finance function that is fit for launch and scalable beyond it - one that can support a business with multiple revenue streams, partner-delivered services and significant operational complexity. This is a hands-on role for someone who is equally comfortable shaping the future operating model and rolling up their sleeves to make it work, day to day.

What you'll do 

You will lead the build of the YTL Live finance function, establishing the processes, controls and governance needed to support the business through pre-opening, launch and into operations, while overseeing finance activity for current live operations.  

Specifically, this means you will:

• own the finance workstream for systems implementation, helping to select and implement an integrated finance systems ecosystem and ensuring finance requirements are embedded into wider business processes from the outset
• design scalable finance processes for a high-volume event environment, including policies, procedures and control frameworks that can support rapid growth and operational complexity
• build robust financial reporting and control, including management accounts, balance sheet reconciliations, month-end processes and reporting for the CEO, Finance Director, Senior Management Team and Board
• support operational readiness and venue mobilisation, ensuring finance is fully integrated into opening plans, testing activity and the transition into live operations
• establish purchasing, supplier onboarding, approval and payment processes, with appropriate controls, delegated authorities and alignment to group policies
• manage financial risk, governance and compliance, supporting audit, tax and statutory reporting requirements and maintaining clear control documentation
• support budgeting, forecasting and business planning, working closely with leadership to provide accurate performance insight and commercially grounded decision support.  

What you'll need

This role is a critical leadership appointment, underpinning the financial integrity of YTL Live ahead of Aviva Arena opening.

We are looking for a finance leader who has experience building, improving or mobilising finance capability, not just operating within an already-established function.

The strongest candidates are likely to bring a combination of the following:

• qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA) or equivalent experience
• experience in entertainment, hospitality, leisure, events, venues or another operationally intensive, customer-facing business
• a strong background in financial accounting, controls and governance
• experience designing or improving finance processes in a growing, changing or project-led environment
• experience leading or supporting ERP/finance systems implementation or enhancement projects
• confidence working in a pre-opening, mobilisation, start-up or transformation setting where structure is still being built
• experience in high-volume transactional environments and, ideally, in revenue reconciliation across multiple channels
• the credibility and resilience to work independently, influence senior stakeholders and make progress in a fast-moving business. 

This is not a role for someone who simply wants to inherit a well-established finance operation. It is an opportunity to create the finance backbone of a new live entertainment business before one of the UK's major arena openings.

You will shape systems, define control, influence how the business works and help build and operate a function that can support long-term growth.

For the right person, this role offers real scope to make a visible impact and grow with the business as YTL Live expands its operations.

What you'll receive  

• A combined pension contribution of up to 20%. 
• Career progression and professional development opportunities. 
• 25 days' holiday rising to 28 with length of service. 
• A car allowance. 
• Performance-related bonus. 
• The opportunity to sell up to five days of holiday every year. 
• The opportunity to buy up to ten days of holiday each year (subject to conditions). 
• A healthcare package that allows you to claim back healthcare costs. 
• Life assurance of up to eight times your salary. 
• The opportunity to lease a new electric car through salary sacrifice (subject to conditions). 
• Cashback and discounts from more than 3,000 retailers. 
• One paid volunteering day each year. 
• Enhanced family leave and pay arrangements. 
• Access to an interactive health and wellbeing platform. 
• Support from trained mental health first aiders. 
• A £1,000 referral fee if you recommend someone who is successfully recruited by us. 

Who we are 

YTL UK is part of the international YTL Group based in Kuala Lumpur. The UK companies include: 

• Wessex Water – one of the top-performing water and sewerage companies in England and Wales, serving 2.9 million people across the South West 
• YTL Developments – a major UK developer currently redeveloping a 450-acre former airfield into an award-winning, exciting mix of houses, apartments, schools, commercial space, restaurants and hotels, to make a truly sustainable new community 
• YTL Construction UK – a top 20 UK contractor providing fully integrated services to infrastructure, residential, commercial, industry, energy and environmental sectors 
• YTL Live – the development and operation of an entertainment complex that includes a 20,000 capacity arena, conferencing and exhibition space 
• plus a number of other retail, environmental and specialist businesses. 

Our people tell us that YTL UK is a great place to work, which is why so many of them stay with us! You will have a unique opportunity to develop and progress your career within such a diverse group. 

We are passionate about diversity and inclusion – with that in mind, all applicants are welcome. We are delighted to have signed the Armed Forces Covenant and are a Disability Confident Employer. 

If you require reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process, please inform a member of our Recruitment team.