Financial Controller

ICAEW; Liverpool; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Benefits package

Job summary

ICAEW in Liverpool is seeking a Head of Finance to lead the finance function, reporting to the Chief Finance Officer and driving financial performance within a not-for-profit organisation.

You will develop the finance team, implement a new finance system, ensure accurate reporting, manage audits and partner with senior stakeholders to deliver value across the organisation.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant and member of a recognised UK chartered body.
• Strong technical accounting knowledge and experience managing financial operations.
• Experience producing financial statements from trial balance and month-end processes.
• Experience implementing or developing a finance system; change management is advantageous.
• Confident communicator with senior stakeholders; able to lead a team and translate complex data.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a small finance team (Senior Finance Officer and two Finance Officers).
• Coordinate production of management accounts and reporting.
• Lead draft annual financial statements and respond to external audit queries.
• Direct annual budgeting and support long-term financial forecasts.
• Maintain strong financial controls across ledgers, balance sheet, fixed assets and VAT.
• Provide financial analysis and management information for decision-making.
• Collaborate with budget holders and senior stakeholders organization-wide.
• Support statutory, regulatory and tax reporting.
• Play a key role in implementing and developing the new finance system and improving reporting and controls.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency and value for money in the finance function.

Skills

Team leadership

Financial reporting

UK GAAP/IFRS

Stakeholder management

Excel

Education

Chartered Accountant (UK)

Tools

Finance system implementation

Job description

Your new company

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join a highly regarded and distinctive organisation based in Liverpool as its new Head of Finance. Operating within the not for profit sector, the organisation has an established reputation and offers a genuinely interesting environment in which to develop your career.This is a senior finance appointment, reporting directly to the Chief Finance Officer and leading a small finance team. The organisation is also investing in its finance infrastructure, including the implementation of a new finance system, making this an excellent time to join and influence how the finance function operates going forward.

Your new role

As Head of Finance, you will take ownership of the day-to-day leadership and development of the finance function, whilst providing high-quality financial information and support to senior stakeholders across the organisation.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading and developing a team comprising a Senior Finance Officer and two Finance Officers.
• Coordinating the production of accurate and timely management accounts and associated reporting.
• Preparing draft annual financial statements and supporting schedules, and taking the lead in resolving external audit queries.
• Leading the annual budgeting process and supporting the development of longer-term financial forecasts.
• Maintaining strong financial controls across purchase ledger, sales ledger, balance sheet reconciliations, fixed assets and VAT.
• Producing financial analysis and management information to support decision-making.
• Working closely with budget holders and senior stakeholders across the organisation.
• Supporting statutory, regulatory and tax-related financial reporting.
• Playing a key role in implementing and developing the organisation’s new finance system, improving reporting, processes and financial controls.
• Identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, value for money and the overall effectiveness of the finance function.

This is a hands-on Head of Finance position where you will combine technical accounting expertise with people leadership, business partnering and continuous improvement. You will also deputise for the Chief Finance Officer when required.

What you’ll need to succeed

You will be a qualified accountant and member of a recognised UK chartered accountancy body (or equivalent), with strong technical accounting knowledge and demonstrable experience of managing financial operations.You should be comfortable producing financial statements from trial balance, managing month-end processes and working across areas including management accounts, budgeting, financial controls, VAT and audit.Previous experience of implementing or developing a finance system would be particularly advantageous, as would experience of managing change and improving financial processes.Just as importantly, you will be a confident and credible communicator who can build relationships with senior stakeholders, lead and develop a finance team and translate complex financial information into clear, practical insight. Strong Excel skills, attention to detail and the ability to manage a varied workload will be essential.

What you’ll get in return

In addition to a competitive salary and benefits package, the position offers hybrid working and a fantastic organisational culture.
This is a unique environment and you will be rewarded by knowing you are part of a special organisation that gives back to the local community.