Executive director - finance

Job Description

Executive Director - Finance

Irwell Valley Homes are seeking an experienced, strategic and values-led Executive Director of Finance to shape the organisation’s financial strength, sustainability and performance.

Reporting to the Chief Executive and working closely with the Executive Team, Board and Committees, you will provide the insight, assurance and financial leadership needed for confident decision-making, strong governance and long-term resilience.

At a time of significant financial, regulatory and operational pressure across housing, this role will help ensure Irwell Valley Homes remains financially robust, well governed and able to invest in homes, services and communities.

About Irwell Valley Homes

Irwell Valley Homes is a not-for-profit housing association providing affordable homes and services to more than 20,000 people across Greater Manchester. It owns and manages over 7,700 homes across Bolton, Bury, Lancashire, Manchester, Salford, Trafford and Tameside.

The organisation has a strong record of investment, improvement and regeneration. Over the past three years, it has invested more than £22 million in existing homes, improving quality, energy efficiency and customer experience. Its regeneration programmes include the award-winning Sale West redevelopment in Trafford, with more than £50 million invested, and a £68 million programme in Haughton Green, Tameside.

Irwell Valley Homes continues to grow, with 214 new homes on site over the next two years and plans to build a further 300 homes across Greater Manchester over the next five years.

The Opportunity

As Executive Director of Finance, you will lead financial strategy and ensure finance is recognised as an enabling, trusted and high-impact strategic partner.

This pure finance leadership role covers financial strategy, treasury, long-term planning, funding, investment appraisal, value for money, governance, risk and assurance. It also requires someone who can contribute beyond finance and help lead the organisation as a whole.

You will support the Chief Executive, Executive Team and Board with clear insight, ensuring plans manage risk, strengthen viability, secure funding and deliver ambitions for customers, homes and communities.

Irwell Valley Homes is looking for a finance leader who can make complex information clear and accessible, helping leaders manage budgets, make good decisions and deliver value for money.

Key Responsibilities

• You will lead the development and delivery of a future-focused financial strategy that supports corporate ambitions and long-term sustainability, including business planning, budgeting, forecasting and financial modelling.
• You will lead treasury strategy and funding, ensuring Irwell Valley Homes has the capacity and resilience to deliver investment, regeneration and growth priorities. You will build strong relationships with funders, lenders, auditors, regulators and other key partners.
• You will oversee financial performance and provide accurate, timely reporting to the Chief Executive, Executive Team, Board and Committees, ensuring information is used to challenge, support and improve performance.
• You will lead on value for money, ensuring resources are used efficiently and financial decisions support strong outcomes for customers and communities. You will help managers understand budgets, performance and the financial impact of their decisions.
• You will provide strategic financial input into major projects, investment decisions, regeneration, development, partnerships and potential joint ventures or mergers, ensuring proposals are commercially sound, financially viable and aligned with purpose.
• You will strengthen risk, assurance and governance, maintain strong controls, meet regulatory expectations and comply with financial, legal and legislative requirements, including the Regulator’s Viability Standard and related submissions.
• As a member of the Executive Team, you will contribute to wider leadership, model the organisation’s values and support a one-team culture through visible, confident and inclusive leadership.

About You

• You will be a fully qualified accountant, with membership of a recognised professional body such as CIMA, ACCA or ACA.
• You will bring significant senior finance leadership experience, ideally in social housing, although candidates from other complex, asset-based or regulated environments will be considered. Strong understanding of treasury, funding, long-term planning and regulation will be important.
• You will have worked closely with Boards, Committees, Executive Teams and senior stakeholders, providing clear advice, constructive challenge and sound financial judgement.
• Commercially astute and strategically minded, you will balance financial discipline with organisational purpose, recognising that finance should enable delivery, improvement and better outcomes for customers.
• Irwell Valley Homes is particularly interested in leaders who build trust, communicate clearly, influence effectively and make finance accessible rather than distant or overly technical.
• You will be a visible, collaborative leader who supports, coaches and develops others, fostering an inclusive, high-performing culture.
• You will bring integrity, accountability and strong personal values, with a commitment to continuous improvement and collective leadership.

Why Join Irwell Valley Homes?

This is an opportunity to join a purposeful, people-centred organisation where your leadership will directly influence homes, communities and long-term sustainability.

Irwell Valley Homes offers a supportive working environment, strong social purpose and the chance to work with a collaborative Executive Team committed to investing in homes, improving services and strengthening communities.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

Irwell Valley Homes is committed to building a diverse, inclusive and values-led organisation. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. Our recruitment process is fair and accessible. As a Disability Confident employer, we are happy to make reasonable adjustments throughout the process.

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