Head of Finance

Concept Housing Association; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A housing organization seeks a Head of Finance to lead financial strategy and manage finance teams. The role encompasses budgeting, forecasting, and ensuring regulatory compliance, while promoting a culture of financial excellence. The ideal candidate will be ACA/CIMA/ACCA/QBE qualified with experience in financial reporting and audits. Excellent leadership and communication skills are essential, as is the ability to drive continuous improvement within the organization.

Benefits

Company pension scheme

Life assurance

Private medical insurance

Salary exchange for electric car

Enhanced maternity and paternity pay

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant with ACA/CIMA/ACCA/QBE.
• Experience in financial reporting and budgeting.
• Leadership experience in managing finance teams.

Responsibilities

• Oversee Finance and Payroll Teams.
• Ensure compliance with statutory regulations.
• Produce high-quality financial reports.
• Manage budgeting, forecasting, treasury, and audits.
• Liaise with external auditors and tax advisors.

Skills

Strong understanding of UK GAAP

Excellent communication skills

Leadership experience

Analytical skills

Experience in audit or control environment

Commercially aware

Education

ACA/CIMA/ACCA/QBE qualified

Tools

MS Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Main Purpose of the Role

The Head of Finance is a senior leadership role, responsible for steering the financial strategy and governance of Concept Housing Association. Reporting directly to the Director of Finance, the postholder will oversee and manage the Finance and Payroll Teams, ensuring regulatory compliance and the delivery of accurate financial reporting.

This role demands a strategic thinker with strong leadership capabilities who brings energy, enthusiasm, and a proactive approach to financial management. We are looking for someone who thrives in a dynamic environment, inspires their team, and is passionate about driving excellence and continuous improvement.

Beyond operational oversight, the Head of Finance will play a key role in shaping our organisational direction, supporting executive decision‑making, and embedding a culture of financial excellence. The postholder will lead on budgeting, forecasting, audit, and system implementation, while also acting as a trusted business partner to senior management colleagues. This is a pivotal role and requires a commitment to driving continuous improvement to ensure the long‑term sustainability of the organisation.

Please note that a background in the housing sector is preferred, as the role involves oversight of rent, arrears, housing benefit reconciliation, and provider recharges, all of which are central to the organisation’s financial sustainability.

Key Focus Areas

• Lead financial strategy and ensure regulatory compliance
• Deliver accurate financial reporting to support decisions
• Drive budgeting, forecasting, audit, and system improvements
• Act as a trusted business partner to senior management
• Promote a culture of financial excellence and continuous improvement

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee Finance and Payroll Teams, including two Management Accountants
• Mentor and develop team capability
• Ensure compliance with statutory regulations
• Produce high‑quality financial reports for strategic planning
• Manage budgeting, forecasting, treasury, and audits
• Translate complex financial data into actionable insights
• Support organisational sustainability and long‑term planning
• Liaise with external auditors and tax advisors
• Oversight of rent, arrears, housing benefit reconciliation, and provider recharges

Relevant Essential Skills And Experience

• ✅ACA/CIMA/ACCA/QBE qualified
• ✅Strong understanding of UK GAAP and financial controls; ideally with a background in audit or a control environment
• ✅Experience of new system implementation
• ✅Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to support the internal stakeholders
• ✅Previous experience of leading a finance team
• ✅Strong analytical and reporting capabilities for board reporting
• ✅Commercially aware with an open growth mindset
• ✅Experienced user of MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Please note - in line with our recruitment policy, we are only accepting applications from candidates who have not previously applied for this role.

Why Join Us?

At our company, we believe in supporting our people both professionally and personally. Here’s what we offer in return for your talent and commitment:

• Company pension scheme for your future
• Life assurance (four times your salary)
• Private medical insurance for peace of mind
• Salary exchange for an electric car (subject to eligibility)
• Additional leave options: bereavement, life events, emergency days, and even your birthday if it falls on a weekday
• Christmas office closedown days to enjoy the festive season
• Access to an employee reward portal
• Employee referral scheme to share opportunities
• Mileage allowance for work‑related travel
• Enhanced maternity and paternity pay to support growing families
• Employee assistance programme for confidential help and advice

Our Inclusive Culture

We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. Every application is assessed based on role requirements – never on gender, nationality, ethnicity, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, or religious belief.

We celebrate diversity and foster an environment where everyone feels valued and respected.