Head of Finance

Go Low Carbon; Carlisle; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A sustainable energy company based in Carlisle is seeking a strategic and hands-on Head of Finance to oversee financial management. Responsibilities include financial reporting, budgeting, tax compliance, and contract negotiations. The ideal candidate will be a qualified accountant with significant leadership experience in finance. This is an office-based role offering additional benefits, including a mental health program and 32 days of holidays per year.

Benefits

Private health care

32 days of holidays per year

Staff social activities throughout the year

Company mental health and wellbeing programme

Qualifications

• Must be a qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).
• Must have proven experience in a senior finance role.
• Must possess strong commercial acumen and strategic thinking.

Responsibilities

• Oversee entire financial management of the business.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and audits.
• Work closely with senior management to create annual budgets.

Skills

Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent)

Proven experience in a senior finance role

Strong commercial acumen and strategic thinking

Excellent leadership and team management skills

Proficient in financial modelling, forecasting and analysis

Experience with systems like Xero, NetSuite, SAP

Strong interpersonal and communication skills

Tools

Xero

NetSuite

SAP

Job description

Go Low Carbon Limited is at a pivotal stage of growth and are now seeking a strategic and hands‑on Head of Finance to lead our finance function and contribute to our continued success.

As the Head of Finance you will be responsible for overseeing the entire financial management of the business providing strategic insights and ensuring robust financial controls. This is a key leadership role that works closely with senior management and board‑level stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Management

• Develop and manage financial policies and procedures to ensure accurate and timely financial reporting.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly and annual financial statements including balance sheets, income statements and cash flow statements.
• Monitor financial performance, provide analysis and report on variances against the budget.
• Manage cash flow and ensure efficient allocation of resources.
• Oversee accounts payable and receivable ensuring timely processing of invoices and collections.
• Collaborate with external auditors to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and accurate audits.

Payroll Management

• Oversee the preparation, processing and distribution of payroll for all employees in a timely and accurate manner.
• Ensure compliance with laws as well as keeping up to date with new regulations.
• Maintain accurate employee records for payroll, tax and benefits purposes.
• Process and reconcile payroll deductions including benefits, retirement contributions and garnishments.
• Implement processes to address payroll‑related inquiries from employees, ensuring resolution of any issues or discrepancies.
• Ensure compliance with company policies regarding overtime, leave accrual and time‑off tracking.

Tax Compliance & Reporting

• Ensure all payroll‑related tax filings are completed accurately and on time.
• Prepare and submit year‑end reports.
• Stay current with changes in tax laws, wage and hour regulations and other payroll‑related legislation to ensure ongoing compliance.

Budgeting & Forecasting

• Work closely with senior management to create annual budgets and financial forecasts.
• Provide financial analysis and recommendations for cost savings or adjustments in payroll and other operational costs.

Contract Creation & Negotiation

• Ensure contracts align with company policies, industry standards and legal requirements.
• Collaborate with internal departments to understand business needs and reflect them in contract language.
• Lead negotiations with clients, suppliers and other third parties to achieve favourable terms for the company.
• Identify potential risks and issues in contracts and proactively work with management to mitigate those risks.
• Conduct regular reviews of existing contracts to ensure continued relevance and compliance with current laws and regulations.
• Maintain an organised and accessible database of all company contracts, ensuring proper filing, tracking and reporting.
• Coordinate contract renewals, amendments and terminations as needed, ensuring timely execution.
• Serve as the main point of contact for any contract‑related inquiries from internal stakeholders or external parties.
• Evaluate vendor and partner performance and provide feedback to ensure continuous improvement.
• Ensure appropriate follow‑up and action on any performance issues.

Requirements

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).
• Proven experience in a senior finance role, ideally as a Financial Controller, Finance Director or Head of Finance.
• Strong commercial acumen and strategic thinking.
• Excellent leadership and team management skills.
• Proficient in financial modelling, forecasting and analysis.
• Experience with systems e.g. Xero, NetSuite, SAP is desirable.
• Comfortable working in a fast‑paced evolving environment.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.

Additional Details

Company mental health and wellbeing programme

32 days of holidays per year (including bank holidays)

Staff social activities throughout the year

Private health care

This is an office‑based role in Carlisle only; we are unfortunately unable to accept candidates with new visa requirements at this time.