Salary: £63,192 with progression to £70,399
Location: Head Office located in Sunderland - base location will be discussed with successful candidate
Are you an experienced senior finance leader with a passion for strong financial stewardship, excellent technical capability, and making a meaningful impact?
About the role
We are seeking a highly skilled Head of Finance (Financial Controller) to lead our financial operations, ensure absolute confidence in our financial reporting, and support the organisation’s long‑term sustainability.
This is a pivotal leadership role at the heart of a mission‑driven organisation operating within a regulated charity and public‑sector‑funded environment.
As our Head of Finance, you will be responsible for the integrity of all financial reporting, controls, statutory compliance and financial governance across the organisation. You will oversee key finance functions including procurement, payroll, transactional finance and financial projects, while acting as a trusted deputy to the Director of Finance.
This role is ideal for someone who is technically strong, thrives in a contract‑based operational environment, and can balance hands‑on financial leadership with strategic insight.
MHM is a national organisation and some travel may be required as part of this role.
About you
You will need to be a Fully qualified accountant: ACA, ACCA, CIMA or CIPFA and possess strong technical financial accounting expertise and up-to-date knowledge.
You will need experience preparing statutory accounts under FRS102/Charities SORP, demonstrable experience managing external audits and a strong financial governance background with advanced Excel/financial systems skills.
You will have experience of providing strong leadership of finance teams in a complex organisation (c. £25m+ turnover), and the ability to communicate complex financial information to non-financial stakeholders.
Charity or public sector experience would be an advantage, along with the experience of supporting a multi site organisation. Exposure to payroll and procurement processes would also be beneficial in this role.
To be successful in this role, you will be able to balance strategic perspective with hands‑on operational delivery. You will demonstrate sound professional judgement, have strong analytical capability and be solution focused.
You will be values‑driven, have a commitment to social impact and demonstrate resilience.
About us
Mental Health Matters are a national charity who provide innovative and life changing mental health support for both individuals and communities. We offer a diverse range of services, and each and every person who works with us directly contributes to making positive changes, improving mental health and breaking down barriers.
Everything about MHM is people focused, both for our workforce and the people we support. Our people are the driving force of our organisation, and we are committed to having a talented workforce who will make a positive impact on our communities
What we offer you
* Competitive salaries, with an annual pay review process
* 25 days Annual leave, increasing with length of service, plus bank holidays
* Enhanced Occupational Sick pay
* Access to our workplace pension scheme
* Family friendly and flexible working arrangements to support a good work life balance
* Access to our Wellbeing Offer – including EAP, Virtual GP service and wellbeing resources
* Life Assurance and Free Will writing service
* Blue Light Card and Charity Workers discounts
* Access to Tickets for Good
* Employee recognition and celebration schemes
* A tailored induction programme, bespoke Personal Development and Career Pathways to support you in your role and your career aspirations
How to Apply
We operate Safer Recruitment processes, so if you are interested in this role, you will need to apply via our online application form.
Please ensure you complete the information requested in the application form, and answer the application questions to show how you meet the criteria detailed in the person specification.
For further information about our recruitment and selection processes, please use our candidate guide
We are an equal opportunities employer. We really value diversity and are committed to ensuring our processes are inclusive. We may ask for some personal information during the application process, however, everything we ask is to ensure we can offer fair and accessible opportunities for everyone.
If you would like to have an informal conversation about this role, or need some support to apply, please contact: recruitment@mhm.org.uk
The closing date is offered as a guide, however, we may close the role earlier than this depending on the number of applications we receive
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