DFN Project SEARCH is looking for an experienced charity finance professional to take on the newly-created Head of Finance role. As a well-established and successful UK charity, we are operating in a period of continued growth and require a Head of Finance who combines reliable financial insight, robust control and strong governance with hands-on delivery. This role will work closely with the Finance Director and wider executive team while remaining directly involved in month-end, reporting, controls, cash flow and systems improvement. This role hasa requirement to travel to Londonan average of twice monthly as well as other UK travel to support away days and programme visits.
Key responsibilities include:
* End-to-end ownership of the finance function, ensuring accurate, efficient and compliant day-to-day operations.
* Working closely with the Finance Director to deliver management reporting, annual budgeting, statutory accounts and audit support.
* Strengthening cash flow forecasting, treasury oversight, credit control and financial planning to support organisational growth.
* Principal owner of the charity’s financial controls, policies, procedures and systems, further developing the use of Xero for real-time insight.
* Supporting the charity’s funding model through strong oversight of restricted funds, grant reporting, contract support and funder compliance.
* Build financial understanding across the organisation by supporting budget holders and translating financial information for non-finance colleagues.
* Clear reporting relationship with the Finance Director and line management responsibility for the Finance Administrator.
Essential criteria
The successful candidate should be a fully qualified accountant who is comfortable leading and doing in a small charity environment. They should be technically strong, confident with hands-on financial operations, and able to work credibly with the Finance Director, executive colleagues, trustees, external advisors and non-finance budget holders.
* Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA or equivalent).
* Proven experience in a finance management role with end-to-end responsibility for a finance function.
* Strong working knowledge of Charity SORP and charity accounting requirements.
* Experience preparing management accounts, statutory accounts and board-level financial reports.
* Strong cash flow management, balance sheet reconciliation and month-end close capability.
* Experience of restricted funds management, grant reporting and supporting budgets for funding applications or tenders.
* Confident using accounting systems, ideally Xero, and advanced Excel.
* Ability to explain financial information clearly to non-specialist audiences and partner effectively with budget holders.
* Strong leadership and collaboration skills, with the ability to line manage and develop a small finance team.
* Proven experience in developing and implementing Financial Instructions in a charity setting
Desirable criteria
* Experience of leading change and process optimisation
* Experience in a remote or distributed organisation
* Experience of working with complex stakeholder groups across education, public sector, social impact or donor settings
* Experience of payroll oversight, VAT returns and finance systems/process improvement would be highly valuable.
Remuneration and Offer Considerations
Over and above the salary range offered, we also offer:
* Flexible working arrangements considered including jobsharing and part-time (minimum of 4 days per week) work as well as a condensed hours working pattern of 10 working days over 9.
* Annual leave buy-back.
* Remote role with travel as required.
* Wellbeing benefits such as an Employee Assistance Programme and NHS top-up support.
#J-18808-Ljbffr