Job Description
Role Overview
The organisation is building up its new Flights platform from the ground up. While the Product and Tech teams are scaling the software, there is a need for an elite operational architect to bridge the gap between aviation-specific settlement logic and a massive, centralised corporate finance infrastructure.
We are seeking an elite, independent
FinOps Consultant / Interim Head of Flight Settlement
to lead the early-stage discovery and definition of a global financial operations framework. This is a
“zero-to-one” initiative
.
You will design the target operating model, map complex flow-of-funds, ensure global clearinghouse compliance, and deliver the operational blueprint that the tech team will build against.
There is a small team managing flight finance workflows, alongside a world-class, extensive corporate finance department. Your role will be highly collaborative and matrixed.
You will:
Audit the legacy setup
Map out new operational flows
Potentially support building business cases for future headcount and operational structures
Key Responsibilities & Deliverables
During this
6-9 month engagement
, responsibilities will focus on aviation domain architecture and stakeholder management.
Flights Settlement Architecture
Financial Target Operating Model (TOM):
Design the end-to-end operational blueprint for both Merchant of Record (MoR) and Agency/Pass-Through payment models
Clearinghouse & IATA Mapping:
Define requirements for onboarding onto ARC (Airline Reporting Corporation) and IATA BSP (Billing and Settlement Plan) globally
Exception & Leakage Architecture:
Map workflows for high-risk aviation financial events such as:
Involuntary refunds
Schedule changes
Chargebacks
Agency Debit Memos (ADMs) mitigation
Cross-Functional Translation:
Translate airline finance regulations into clear business requirements for Core Tech, Product, Treasury, Tax, and Legal teams
Risk & Collateral Framework:
Support Treasury with:
Financial exposure risk assessments
Bank guarantees
Cash float requirements
Multi-currency FX management
Enterprise Integration & Stakeholder Alignment
Corporate Finance Bridging:
Partner with Treasury, Tax, Internal Audit, Accounting, and Order-to-Cash teams to align settlement flows with corporate controls
Legacy Evaluation:
Audit existing flight workflows to determine reuse potential
Operational Gap Sizing & Business Case Definition
Capacity & Capability Analysis:
Identify gaps in tools, systems, headcount, and expertise required for airline cash cycles (e.g. BSP remittance, ADM disputes)
Business Case Creation:
Develop executive-level business cases and target team structures to secure investments
Required Experience & Expertise
Aviation FinTech Background:
10+ years in financial operations within travel distribution (OTA, airline, GDS, or consolidator)
Clearinghouse Mastery:
Deep expertise in IATA BSP, ARC, NDC, and settlement-with-order frameworks
Enterprise Matrix Navigation:
Proven experience operating across large, complex organisations
Sizing & Strategy Toolkit:
Strong analytical background in capacity planning, cost optimisation, and business case development
Zero-to-One Experience:
Track record of building flight financial back-office or reconciliation ecosystems from scratch
Documentation Skills:
Ability to create structured SOPs and process maps from complex global regulations
Business Translator:
Ability to translate finance processes into product and technical requirements
Contract Timeline & Deliverables
Months 1-2: Discovery & Alignment
Global regulatory, IATA/ARC, and legal compliance requirement mapping
As-is audit of legacy flight tech and corporate finance capabilities
Identification of cross-functional dependencies
Months 3-4: Target Operating Model
End-to-end Flight TOM
Cash-flow architecture
Currency hedging frameworks
Settlement procedures aligned with corporate finance
Collaboration with Product to translate into tech requirements
Months 5-6: Transition to Delivery
Finalisation of SOPs
Readiness training for internal teams
Support handover to operational leads
Operational gap analysis and resource sizing report
Business case for required teams and tools
Months 7-9: Handover
Full handover to permanent Operations lead
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