Head of Finance

Hays PLC; Hailsham; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A charity client is seeking a Head of Finance for their office in Hailsham. This senior leadership role involves overseeing financial operations, managing a finance team, and ensuring compliance with regulations. The successful candidate will hold a relevant accounting qualification and possess experience in charity and fund accounting, driving efficiency and accountability. This office-based role offers a competitive salary and benefits.

Benefits

25 days holiday plus bank holidays

Pension scheme

Qualifications

• Qualified Accountant with ACA, CIMA, CIPFA or ACCA.
• Experience leading a finance team.
• Knowledge of charity and fund accounting, including SORP, and VAT regulations.

Responsibilities

• Oversee financial operations including budgeting, forecasting, and compliance.
• Manage a team and conduct performance reviews.
• Lead financial planning and analysis to support long-term goals.

Skills

Financial operations management

Strategic financial recommendations

Risk identification and mitigation

Process optimisation

Education

ACA

CIMA

CIPFA

ACCA

Job description

Head of Finance, Office-based role, Hailsham, East Sussex

Your new company

Our charity client is looking to recruit a Head of Finance for an office-based role.

Your new role

You will be an experienced and strategic finance professional to take on a senior leadership role overseeing Finance, IT, and Health & Safety functions. You will manage a team of direct reports, including conducting annual performance reviews, and providing strategic financial recommendations to the executive team. You will be responsible for all aspects of financial operations, including accounting, budgeting, forecasting, tax, and treasury, while ensuring compliance with statutory law, charity commission requirements, and financial reporting standards. Key duties include liaising with external financial services for reporting, leading financial planning and analysis to support long-term goals, and developing systems for project profitability and job costing. The role also includes reviewing and approving monthly payments, managing online banking processes, and ensuring VAT compliance. Additional responsibilities involve supporting external audits, preparing annual budgets and quarterly reforecasts, maintaining rolling cash flow forecasts, and monitoring key performance indicators. The ideal candidate will be proactive in identifying and mitigating financial, legal, and operational risks, and will lead the finance team with a focus on accountability and continuous improvement. A strong emphasis is placed on driving efficiency through automation and process optimisation. This is a critical role for someone looking to make a significant impact in a dynamic and mission-driven environment.

What you'll need to succeed

You will be an ACA, CIMA, CIPFA or ACCA qualified Accountant with experience of leading a finance team along with a solid understanding of charity and fund accounting (including SORP). You will have knowledge of VAT regulations, including partial exemption, and payroll tax compliance. You will also be involved in implementing improvements in financial systems and processes, so prior experience is a plus.

What you'll get in return
The salary is £60,000 - £70,000 with 25 days' holiday plus bank holiday and pension. This role is 100% office-based.

What you need to do now

If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now. If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career.