Financial Controller

Robertson Bell; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading charity organization is seeking a Financial Controller in Manchester to strengthen financial leadership and enhance financial controls. This pivotal role offers an opportunity to lead a busy finance team while providing accounting expertise and influencing decision-making at a senior level. Ideal candidates will have a recognised accounting qualification and experience in charity or public sectors is a plus. The position features a flexible hybrid working model to promote work-life balance.

Benefits

Flexible hybrid working model

Career development opportunities

Impactful work in charity sector

Qualifications

• Fully qualified accountant or nearing qualification.
• Strong experience in internal control environments.
• Ability to lead and develop finance teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead group year-end reporting and statutory audit.
• Embed strong financial controls and policies.
• Oversee month-end close and reconciliations.

Skills

Financial control enhancement

Team leadership

Stakeholder relationship management

Accounting expertise

Education

Recognised accounting qualification

Job description

Take a pivotal role in strengthening financial leadership and shaping the future of a high impact for a national charity tackling homelessness and social exclusion as their new Financial Controller.

This is a rare opportunity to step into a senior finance leadership role within a fast-moving, mission-driven organisation delivering vital housing and support services across England. Reporting to the Executive Director of Finance & IT, you’ll play a central role in embedding strong financial controls, leading a growing finance team, and supporting both core charitable operations and an expanding housing subsidiary.

This role offers genuine development potential - ideal for someone looking to broaden their leadership exposure, deepen their technical expertise, and position themselves for future Director-level responsibilities.

What you’ll gain:

• Strategic leadership exposure – work closely with executive leadership, trustees and internal committees, contributing to organisation-wide decision making.
• People leadership – lead, mentor and develop a busy finance team in a complex, multi-entity environment.
• Systems and transformation experience – take a leading role in embedding a new finance system and driving greater automation and efficiency.
• Group-level complexity – gain hands‑on experience across consolidated accounts and a growing housing subsidiary.
• Clear progression potential – a genuine platform to develop into broader finance leadership within the charity sector (or beyond).

What you’ll do as the Financial Controller:

• Lead group year-end reporting, the statutory audit, and high-quality trustee reporting.
• Embed strong financial controls, policies and processes, driving continuous improvement.
• Play a key role in finance system implementation and increased automation.
• Act as a trusted technical advisor, providing accounting expertise across the organisation.
• Deliver timely, insightful management accounts for a growing housing subsidiary.
• Oversee month-end close, reconciliations, payroll and transactional finance with confidence.
• Represent finance at internal forums, influencing decision-making at a senior level.

What you’ll need:

• A full recognised accounting qualification (or be in the final stages).
• Strong experience operating in a robust internal control environment, with ownership of month‑end and/or year‑end processes.
• Proven ability or desire to lead, motivate and develop a finance team.
• Excellent relationship-building skills, with confidence working across a senior leadership group.
• Experience in the charity, housing or public sector is desirable but not essential.

Candidates looking to make their first move from practice into a senior in-house role are strongly encouraged to apply.

The role is based in Manchester , with a flexible hybrid working model (typically two days per week in the office).

Ready to take the next step?

Applications for this Financial Controller are reviewed on a rolling basis, so early submission is encouraged to avoid missing out on this standout opportunity to grow your finance leadership career while making a genuine social impact.