Financial Controller

Robertson Bell; Whitley Bay; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading charity organization in Whitley Bay seeks an experienced Financial Controller to shape financial governance and lead a multi-disciplinary finance team. This senior role involves managing statutory accounts, guiding financial processes, and improving efficiency. The ideal candidate is a fully qualified accountant with strong month-end experience and leadership skills. Enjoy hybrid working arrangements and significant opportunities for progression within the organization, positively impacting those facing homelessness and social disadvantage.

Qualifications

• Fully qualified accountant or close to qualification.
• Experience in a controlled environment for month-end/year-end processes.
• Ability to build trust within a leadership team.

Responsibilities

• Lead multi-disciplinary finance team and strengthen governance.
• Manage statutory accounts, audits, and ensure compliance.
• Drive finance system improvements and deliver monthly reporting.

Skills

Strong experience managing month-end processes

Ability to communicate clearly

People management skills

Technical accounting guidance

Education

Fully qualified accountant

Job description

Shape the financial future of a purpose-driven organisation delivering life-changing housing and support services across England as a Financial Controller.

This is an outstanding opportunity to step into a senior finance role within a nationally operating charity that supports people facing homelessness and social disadvantage. Based in Whitley Bay, the Financial Controller sits at the heart of the organisation’s finance function, offering breadth, responsibility and genuine long-term progression.

Working closely with the Executive Director of Finance & IT, you’ll lead a multi-disciplinary finance team, strengthen financial governance, and help steer the organisation through a period of operational and systems development. Alongside the core charity, you’ll gain exposure to a growing housing subsidiary, adding commercial depth and complexity to the role.

Why this role stands out:

• Leadership with influence – operate as a senior finance voice, contributing to organisational strategy and supporting trustees and executives.
• Change and improvement – play a central role in modernising systems, improving controls and embedding best practice.
• Broader exposure – work across group structures, consolidated accounts and subsidiary reporting.
• Team development – take ownership of a capable finance team, building confidence, capability and resilience.
• A platform for progression – ideal for someone aiming to step into wider finance leadership or future director-level roles.
• Lead statutory accounts and audits, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
• Strengthen financial policies, controls and procedures across the charity and housing subsidiary.
• Drive finance system improvements and process efficiencies.Provide technical accounting guidance to the team and wider organisation.
• Deliver monthly management reporting and support strategic decision-making.
• Oversee transactions, payroll, reconciliations and month-end close.
• Represent finance at leadership and governance forums.

What we’re looking for:

• A fully qualified accountant (or close to qualification).
• Strong experience managing month-end and/or year-end processes within a controlled environment.
• The ability to communicate clearly and build trust across a leadership team.
• A confident or aspiring people manager who enjoys developing others.
• Charity, housing or public sector experience is welcome but not essential.

This role would suit someone moving from practice into their first industry post, or an experienced manager ready for a broader leadership challenge.

Location & flexibility:

The role is based in Whitley Bay, with a hybrid working arrangement (typically two days per week in the office).

Interested?

If you’re looking for a role that combines technical challenge, leadership responsibility and meaningful social impact, all with clear development potential, we’d love to hear from you. Apply now to be considered!