Role: Head of Finance
Location: Hybrid(on-site 3 days per week in Sheffield)
Our offer to you
We pride ourselves in being a great place to work, providing a supportive culture with opportunities to grow and develop your career, achieve a healthy work life balance and to be recognised for the great work you do. You will receive:
1. Competitive salary and pension scheme
2. 33 days holiday (inclusive of bank holidays) - increasing to 38 days over 5 years
3. Hybrid, Flexible working
4. Cycle to work scheme Electric Vehicle Scheme
5. Health and Wellbeing portal – access to financial, health and wellbeing support and an Employee Assistance Programme
6. Discounts – you will have access to Blue Light and NHS Discounts as well as discounts on mobile phones, gym membership, cinema tickets, restaurants, holidays and shopping
About Us
This is a fantastic opportunity to join a team of over 1,400 employees and over 31,000 volunteers, united by our goal of saving lives through essential first aid services, training and campaigning. As a charity with rich heritage and a long history of serving humanity, we are proud of our past and excited about creating a healthier, safer, more resilient future.
St John Ambulance works at the heart of communities, supporting and enabling them to access and receive physical and mental health first aid. We do this through developing and providing effective community response and outreach services (e.g. Ambulance response & Nighttime Economy) and using our longstanding expertise to empower people with vital clinical skills and the confidence to use them (e.g. our Volunteers and Community Advocates, NHS Cadets and Young Responders programmes). There is also a buoyant social enterprise network which delivers first aid training and supplies medical consumables to businesses and consumers.
Job Summary
We’re looking for an experienced and forward-thinking finance leader to play a central role in shaping the future of the finance team at St John Ambulance. Reporting to the Finance Director (who reports directly to the CEO), this is a high-impact position at the heart of our finance transformation journey—ideal for a self-motivated, qualified accountant who thrives on change and making an impact.
As a senior leader within the organisation, you’ll be instrumental in driving the evolution of our finance function, leading and developing a large, multi-disciplinary team. You'll bring deep expertise across a broad range of finance disciplines and be excited by the opportunity to embed best practices, streamline processes, and strengthen financial governance.
This is more than a technical role—it's a strategic leadership opportunity. You'll collaborate with senior stakeholders across the organisation and externally, using your communication and influencing skills to shape decision-making and support our charitable mission.
You’ll oversee the delivery of timely, accurate management accounts and play a key role in providing high-quality financial reporting to our Trustees and Finance Committee. You'll also take the lead on our statutory audited accounts, acting as the principal contact for both internal and external auditors.
With additional responsibility for cashflow forecasting, treasury management, tax compliance, VAT, and gift aid, this role ensures St John maintains robust financial governance. While charity sector experience is an advantage, it's your passion for making a difference and your leadership in finance that will set you apart.
About You
7. Educated to degree level with a full professional accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, or CIMA).
8. Significant post-qualification experience (PQE) in senior financial accounting roles, with strong technical expertise.
9. Proven track record in producing annual statutory accounts and successfully managing external audit processes.
10. Extensive experience leading and developing large finance teams within complex organisations, driving performance and accountability.
11. Skilled in preparing management accounts, income and expenditure reports, and cash flow forecasts to support strategic decision-making.
12. Demonstrated success in finance team transformation, implementing process improvements, and enhancing financial controls.
13. Experienced in stakeholder engagement at all levels, including Board reporting, and providing expert technical accounting advice to support change and excellence.
About the Role
14. Lead statutory and management reporting: Oversee the production of audited statutory financial statements and timely completion of the external audit. Ensure best practice in external financial reporting and take full responsibility for the accuracy and delivery of monthly management accounts.
15. Own cash flow and balance sheet management: Lead the preparation of the charity’s monthly rolling cash flow forecast and ensure full ownership of the balance sheet, including timely and accurate reconciliations.
16. Strengthen financial controls and working capital: Ensure effective financial processes and controls within transactional teams to manage working capital and drive continuous improvement in financial operations.
17. Oversee compliance and tax: Identify, manage and control financial risks, including tax compliance. Provide expert technical accounting advice and ensure the charity remains fully compliant in all taxation matters, including VAT and gift aid.
18. Drive counter fraud and governance improvements: Act as the financial lead for the charity’s control environment and counter fraud framework. Champion improvements in fraud awareness, culture, and control.
19. Manage key external relationships: Serve as the main contact for the charity’s bankers and investment managers, and act as secretary to the Finance Committee and Investment Advisory Group.
20. Optimise treasury and investment performance: Lead treasury activities to maximise returns on working capital and investments, ensuring alignment with the charity’s strategic objectives.
21. Develop team and performance culture: Foster a high-performing finance team through regular 1-1s, development reviews, and team meetings. Embed a strong performance management culture in line with St John Ambulance policies.
Please see the job description for more detail (this can be viewed on our website or once you click apply)
If you are a current St John Ambulance employee,