IT Operations Manager

About this role

Role Purpose

AMS Group is a growing, private equity-backed accountancy and advisory firm with divisions spanning Audit, Accounts, Tax, Advisory and Consultancy. We are in the middle of a significant period of change, both in how we grow and in how we use technology to support that growth.

Our technology function is small, ambitious and hands-on. Our foundational technology programme is moving us away from hosted, on-premise applications and infrastructure towards a modern, cloud-first Microsoft environment built on Azure and Microsoft 365. Alongside this, we are running a set of transformation programmes covering CRM, client onboarding, AI and automation, and data. Day-to-day support and hosting are delivered through our managed service partner, under an outsourced model.

The IT Operations Manager is central to making all of this work in practice. You will be the main point of contact between AMS and our managed service partner, responsible for the day-to-day running of both the supplier and the service.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the relationship with our managed service partner across service levels, escalations, incidents and performance, ensuring AMS colleagues receive a reliable, secure and responsive service.
• Manage day‑to‑day service delivery, acting as the main conduit between the business and outsourced providers, and holding suppliers to account against agreed service levels and deliverables.
• Oversee our Microsoft environment across Microsoft 365, Azure, Entra ID, SharePoint, Teams and end‑user devices, coordinating with the managed service partner on user access, onboarding and offboarding.
• Support infrastructure and cloud change as we move from hosted, on‑premise systems to the cloud, including tenant work, migrations and modernisation.
• Provide operational input into transformation programmes (CRM, onboarding, AI and automation, and data), acting as a significant stakeholder whose operational insight shapes delivery and support.
• Contribute to cyber security and risk activity, maintaining good security practice, governance and controls across the estate.
• Manage contracts, renewals, suppliers and costs across operational technology services, ensuring spend is controlled and value is clear.
• Build strong relationships across the firm, acting as a trusted, plain‑speaking technology partner who makes technology easier to work with.
• Drive continual improvement, identifying opportunities to enhance service, tooling or process and ensuring they are delivered.

Key Relationships

Who the role interacts with regularly, both internally and externally.

• Internal: Technology team, CTO, Transformation Programme Leads, Audit & Accounts teams, Advisory teams, wider AMS colleagues.
• External: Managed service partner, outsourced technology providers, software vendors, cyber security partners.

Skills, Knowledge & Experience

Experience

• Proven experience as an IT Operations Manager, IT Manager or infrastructure‑focused professional, ideally within an SME or growing business.
• Experience within professional services or a regulated industry (highly desirable).
• Strong track record of service delivery, operational management and continual improvement.
• Experience managing an outsourced provider or MSP and ensuring delivery against agreed service levels.
• Experience supporting or delivering infrastructure and cloud projects, including migrations.

Technical Skills

• Strong knowledge of Microsoft 365 and Azure, including Entra ID, SharePoint and Teams.
• Good grasp of infrastructure, networking and end‑user services.
• Understanding of cyber security best practice, governance and risk.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with a clear, jargon‑free style.
• Proactive, commercially minded approach with the ability to balance day‑to‑day operations with longer‑term improvement.

Desirable

• Microsoft tenant or domain migration experience.
• Exposure to Power Platform, automation or AI tooling.
• Cyber Essentials knowledge and relevant ITIL, Microsoft or security certifications.
• Experience with digital transformation and cloud adoption in a professional services setting.

Qualifications

*Essential:*None

*Desirable:*Relevant Microsoft, ITIL or cyber security certifications.

Performance Measures (Success Criteria)

How success in the role will be measured - Financial targets, KPI scorecard

• Service reliability, responsiveness and user satisfaction.
• Supplier performance against agreed SLAs.
• Successful delivery and support of infrastructure and cloud change.
• Effective operational input into transformation programmes.
• Cyber security posture, governance and risk management.
• Cost control and value delivery across technology services.
• Quality of stakeholder relationships and communication.
• Demonstrated continual improvement across processes and service delivery.

What We Offer

• A genuinely varied role with real ownership, at the centre of a technology function that is modernising fast.
• Direct exposure to Microsoft 365, Azure, cyber security and firm‑wide transformation programmes.
• Hybrid working and a supportive, plain‑speaking leadership team.

Company Benefits

• 25 Days Holiday (Buy an extra 5 days)
• Birthday Off
• Annual bonus scheme
• Pension Scheme
• Health cash plan
• Company sick pay
• Enhanced parental pay
• Perkbox
• Employee Assistance Programme

AMS Group is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Pay: £55,000.00-£65,000.00 per year

Benefits

• Additional leave
• Company events
• Company pension
• Cycle to work scheme
• Enhanced maternity leave
• Sick pay

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Manchester

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