Head of Finance
Closing date: 19/04/2026, 23:55
Location: Manchester
Business Unit(s): Finance
Position Type: Full-Time
Salary: £67,987 – £80,556
Our client, The Independent Football Regulator (IFR), has been established to protect and promote the sustainability of English football, for the benefit of fans and the local communities football clubs serve.
The IFR will help improve financial sustainability of clubs, ensure resilience across the leagues, and safeguard the heritage of English football. It will operate a licensing regime, set corporate governance standards and monitor, protect, and promote financial resilience. It will also enforce compliance with requirements on financial regulation, club ownership and directors, fan engagement, and heritage protection.
The IFR will also have powers to prohibit clubs from joining competitions that are not fair or meritocratic, or that threaten the heritage or sustainability of English football.
About the Role
Responsibilities Include:
1. Leading the organisation’s financial activities ensuring robust financial governance, regularity, propriety and value for money throughout the organisation.
2. Ensuring alignment of financial strategies, policies and governance with the regulator’s strategic priorities.
3. Leading and managing all aspects of financial operations including financial strategy; planning, budgeting and forecasting; reporting and analysis; compliance and risk management; financial control; audit and assurance; charging strategy; treasury and cash management.
4. Embedding effective financial management and control.
5. Leading the development and implementation of the financial strategy supported by effective forecasting, reporting, analysis and compliance.
6. Lead, motivate and develop the organisation’s financial function and promote wider financial awareness, fostering personal accountability, operational excellence and continuous improvement throughout the organisation.
7. Ensuring compliance with relevant legislation, regulatory requirements and government financial standards, including Managing Public Money.
8. Providing strategic insight and authoritative advice to the CEO, COO, ExCo, ARAC and Board on financial performance and effectiveness.
9. Embed strong risk management, control and assurance.
10. Effective stakeholder management.
11. Leading by example and driving a culture of financial rigour, accountability and excellence across a small but high profile organisation.
Essential Requirements:
12. Leadership and management experience with a strong track record of building and leading high performing finance teams, fostering a culture of personal accountability, driving operational efficiency and delivering exceptional outcomes in a high-profile operating environment.
13. Excellent financial skills with experience of developing and implementing effective financial strategies, policies, governance and control throughout an organisation.
14. Finance strategy and planning experience – budgeting, forecasting, reporting and aligning with strategic priorities.
15. Financial operations expertise – overseeing day-to-day functions including cash management, treasury, payroll and invoicing.
16. Experience implementing and optimising new financial processes and systems.
17. Reporting and analysis expertise – overseeing the production of statutory and management accounts, reporting to ExCo and Board, developing, monitoring and reporting performance metrics and effectiveness indicators.
18. Sound knowledge of compliance, assurance and risk management.
19. Detailed knowledge and experience of public sector finance financial governance frameworks, Managing Public Money and procurement environments.
20. Excellent communication skills, including briefing senior leadership and boards.
21. Eligibility for appropriate government security clearance.
22. Finance professional with a recognised relevant qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA or equivalent).
Desirable Skills:
23. Experience working with or within regulators, sports bodies or public sector organisations.
24. Financial modelling, data analytics and proficiency in ERP software.
25. Understanding Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) requirements and their financial impact.
26. Emotional intelligence – managing high pressure situations and understanding the financial impact of financial decisions on employees and stakeholders.
If successful, you will join a Non-Departmental Public Body and will be employed as a Public Servant.
If you are an existing Civil Servant or a DCMS employee, you will no longer have access to Civil Service benefits including the Civil Service pension.
The terms and conditions of employment include:
27. Pension 12% – An employee contribution of 5%, with an employer contribution of 7%.
28. Flexible Benefit 8% – Employees can choose to invest 8% of their base salary into their pension or take as cash (post tax).
29. Reward – Our client will have a performance-based reward programme.
30. 31.5 days annual leave.
31. Flexible and hybrid working – 40% in office attendance.
32. Occupational sick pay.
33. 9 months paid Maternity Leave and generous paternity and adoption leave.
34. A bespoke L&D programme to help you achieve your personal CPD, including paid membership fees.
35. Cycle-to-work scheme and much more!
Interested? Click apply and you will be redirected to our client’s careers site to complete your application.