Head of Finance

Ashdown Group; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 58,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

7% matched pension

Job summary

Ashdown Group seeks an experienced Head of Finance / Senior Systems Accountant for a well-established charity. The role combines hands-on accounting with systems, process improvement and change management, delivering robust financial reporting.

This is a 4-day, 30-hour week with hybrid working and two days per week in the South West London office, plus a 7% matched pension and 25 days of annual leave. You will lead the finance team, manage projects, streamline controls, and explore automation

Qualifications

• Hands-on technical accounting experience.
• Experience improving finance systems, processes and reporting.
• Proven project management experience.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Experience managing, supporting and developing a finance team.
• Ability to work strategically and hands-on, with attention to detail.
• Understanding of automation/AI within finance is advantageous.

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.

Skills

Hands-on accounting

Systems improvement

Project management

Stakeholder management

Team development

Automation awareness

Change management

Education

Qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA) or equivalent

Job description

Head of Finance / Senior Systems Accountant - Charity

Working Pattern: 4 days per week / 30 hours

Salary: Up to £58,250 plus 25 days annual leave

Contract: Initial 6-month fixed-term contract, with potential to extend or become permanent

Working: Hybrid with two days a week 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.