Head of Finance

St Luke's Hospice (Harrow & Brent); Kenton; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

St Luke’s Hospice seeks an experienced Head of Finance to lead the charity’s finance function during a period of organisational evolution. You will combine technical excellence with commercial awareness and compassionate leadership to support sustainability and service delivery across Harrow and Brent.

Reporting to the Director of Finance & Commercial, the postholder will modernise finance processes, lead a financial accounting system implementation, and enhance reporting, budgeting and

Qualifications

• CCAB-qualified finance professional with strong leadership
• Experience in not-for-profit/charity sector preferred
• Understanding of governance, controls and reporting requirements

Responsibilities

• Lead the finance team and oversee day-to-day financial operations.
• Deliver a finance systems implementation programme and embed new ways of working.
• Improve financial reporting, budgeting and forecasting capability.
• Develop effective business partnering relationships across the organisation.
• Ensure strong governance, financial controls and compliance.
• Support strategic decision-making and organisational transformation initiatives.

Education

CCAB qualification

Qualified by experience

Job description

St Luke’s Hospice seeks an experienced and values-driven Head of Finance to lead and develop its finance function during an important period of organisational evolution.

As a respected local charity providing specialist palliative and end-of-life care across Harrow and Brent, St Luke’s relies on strong financial leadership to support its mission and long-term sustainability.

The successful candidate will combine technical excellence with commercial awareness and compassionate leadership, ensuring robust financial stewardship while working closely with senior colleagues to help shape the future of the organisation and the services it provides to the community.

Who we are

St Luke’s provides free specialist care to around 2,000 patients annually and incurs care costs of approximately £11 million each year. It is a well-established independent charity dedicated to providing specialist palliative and end-of-life care to people living in Harrow and Brent. Its vision is a world where everyone with an incurable illness can access the care they need to live well, where families and carers receive support and where individuals can die with dignity in the place of their choice.

All services are provided free of charge, made possible through NHS funding, retail operations, fundraising activities, volunteers and the generosity of the local community. For decades, St Luke’s has been making every moment matter for patients and their loved ones throughout some of life’s most challenging circumstances.

About the role

Reporting to the Director of Finance & Commercial, the Head of Finance will play a pivotal role in strengthening the hospice’s financial operations and supporting its long-term sustainability. This is a hands‑on leadership role combining technical excellence, strategic business partnering and organisational change delivery.

A particular focus of the role will be modernising finance processes and leading the implementation of a new financial accounting system, helping to improve reporting, efficiency and financial insight across the organisation.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading the finance team and overseeing all day‑to‑day financial operations.
• Delivering a finance systems implementation programme and embedding new ways of working.
• Improving financial reporting, budgeting and forecasting capability.
• Developing effective business partnering relationships across the organisation.
• Ensuring strong governance, financial controls and compliance.
• Supporting strategic decision‑making and organisational transformation initiatives.

Who we are looking for

We are seeking an ambitious, CCAB‑qualified or qualified by experience finance professional who combines strong technical expertise with a collaborative and compassionate leadership style. You will be motivated by purpose and excited by the opportunity to use your skills to support an organisation making a genuine difference in people’s lives.

You will be equally comfortable operating strategically and managing operational detail, bringing the credibility and confidence required to influence stakeholders at all levels. Experience gained within the charity, healthcare, public sector or broader not‑for‑profit environment would be valuable, although charity reporting experience is essential along with an understanding of mission‑led organisations.

Most importantly, you will share St Luke’s values, possess excellent communication skills, and be able to translate complex financial information into clear, practical insight. This role offers the opportunity to be a trusted adviser, influential leader and key contributor to the continued success and sustainability of a highly respected hospice.

We are particularly interested in candidates who have led finance transformation projects, including the implementation of financial reporting systems. You will have the ability to balance project delivery with day‑to‑day operational leadership, bringing both technical expertise and strong stakeholder management skills to ensure lasting organisational benefit.

St Luke’s Hospice are working with Peridot Partners to recruit for this role

St Luke’s Hospice are equal opportunity employers and particularly welcome applications from groups who are currently under‑represented in our staff.

Please note:We will not be able to employ you if you are not eligible to work in the UK. We will not be able to obtain a work permit on your behalf.