Head of Finance

Ashdown Group; England; Hybrid; GBP 49,000 - 60,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

7% matched pension contribution

25 days' annual leave

Hybrid/remote working

Job summary

Ashdown Group is recruiting a Head of Finance / Senior Systems Accountant for a leading charity. The role blends hands-on accounting with systems improvement, reporting, and change management across a small finance team.

Working 4 days per week (30 hours) with remote setup and one day a month in a South West London office, you will lead financial processes, implement new systems, and drive automation and AI initiatives to enhance efficiency.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant or equivalent experience in finance.
• Hands-on technical accounting experience.
• Experience improving finance systems, processes and reporting.
• Proven project management in system changes and enhancements.

Responsibilities

• Undertake hands-on financial and systems accounting activities, including VAT returns.
• Oversee month-end processes and deliver timely reporting.
• Manage, support and develop the finance team.
• Review and improve finance systems, processes and controls.
• Identify opportunities to streamline processes and increase efficiency.
• Lead finance-related projects, including new systems implementations.
• Improve financial reporting and management information.
• Collaborate with finance and non-finance stakeholders to define requirements.
• Explore automation and AI opportunities to enhance financial management.
• Provide strong financial and systems expertise during organisational change.

Skills

Hands-on accounting

Stakeholder management

Automation & AI awareness

Process improvement

Education

ACA/ACCA/CIMA or equivalent

Tools

Finance systems

Job description

Head of Finance / Senior Systems Accountant - Charity

Working Pattern: 4 days per week / 30 hours
Salary: Up to £54,850 plus 25 days annual leave
Contract: Initial 6-month fixed-term contract, with potential to extend or become permanent
Working: Remote with one day a month in South West London office

A leading and well-established charity is looking for an experienced Head of Finance / Senior Systems Accountant to join their Finance team during an exciting period of change and improvement.

This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced finance professional who enjoys a hands-on accounting role combined with systems, process improvement and change management.

The organisation offers an excellent work-life balance, including a 4-day, 30-hour working week, flexible hybrid working, a 7% matched pension contribution and 25 days' annual leave.

The successful candidate will take a hands-on role across financial and systems accounting while leading initiatives to improve financial processes, systems and reporting. You will also have responsibility for supporting and developing the finance team, managing projects and identifying opportunities to introduce greater automation and new technology.

Key Responsibilities

• Undertake hands-on financial and systems accounting activities, including VAT returns.

• Oversee and support the month-end process, ensuring accurate and timely reporting.

• Manage, support and develop members of the finance team.

• Review and improve existing finance systems, processes and controls.

• Identify opportunities to streamline processes, reduce manual work and improve efficiency.

• Lead finance-related projects, including the implementation of new systems, processes and enhancements.

• Improve financial reporting and management information.

• Work closely with finance and non-finance stakeholders to understand requirements and implement improvements.

• Explore opportunities for automation, AI and other emerging technologies to improve financial management.

• Provide strong financial and systems expertise during a period of organisational change.

About You

To be considered, you will ideally be a qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent), although candidates who are qualified by experience (QBE) will also be considered.

You will need to demonstrate:

• Strong experience in hands-on technical accounting.

• Previous experience improving finance systems, processes and reporting.

• Proven project management experience, including implementing new systems, processes or system enhancements.

• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.

• Experience managing, supporting and developing a finance team.

• The ability to work both strategically and hands-on, getting into the detail when required.

• A proactive approach to identifying opportunities for improvement.

• Ideally, an understanding of automation and AI within finance and how technology can be used to improve efficiency and reporting.