Head of Finance

Manchester Community Central; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 41,000 - 51,000; Full time

Job summary

Manchester Community Central is seeking a senior financial lead to shape strategy, oversee budgeting and reporting, and provide trusted advice to the CEO and Board. You will manage accounts, audits and regulatory returns, while guiding HR, governance and risk across the organisation.

With strong charity finance expertise and a values-led mindset, you will translate complex information for managers and trustees, and support a flexible, hybrid working arrangement in Manchester.

Qualifications

• Strong financial background with experience in the charity sector, including restricted funds, grants finance and Charity SORP.
• Ability to translate complex financial information into clear, accessible advice for non-financial managers and trustees.
• Experience leading financial and HR oversight with values-led, equity-focused approach.

Responsibilities

• Develop financial strategy, reserves policy and long-term sustainability planning.
• Prepare management accounts, forecasts and board reports.
• Oversee annual accounts preparation, audit, and regulatory returns.
• Lead budgeting, controls and cash-flow monitoring.
• Oversee payroll, payments, bank reconciliations and tax compliance.
• Provide support to managers on budgeting and compliance.
• Ensure HR policies comply with employment law and HR data handling.

Skills

Charity finance experience

Financial reporting

Budgeting & forecasting

Communication skills

Education

Qualified or part-qualified accountant (charity finance)

Job description

Key responsibilities

• Financial Strategy & Sustainability – Work with the Treasurer, Finance Subgroup and Board on financial strategy, reserves policy and long-term sustainability planning.
• Reporting & Accountability – Produce timely management accounts, forecasts and reports for the Board, CE, managers and funders — translating complex information into clear advice for non-specialists.
• Statutory Compliance – Lead preparation of annual accounts to Charity SORP, oversee audit completion, and ensure all regulatory returns are submitted on time.
• Financial Planning & Control – Lead budget-setting, maintain financial controls and audit trails, monitor cash flow and flag issues early.
• Financial Operations – Oversee payroll, payment administration, bank reconciliations and tax compliance.
• Management Support – Build managers' confidence in budgeting, people management and compliance, providing accessible support for day-to-day and complex issues alike.
• HR – Ensure HR systems, policies and records are compliant with employment law.
• Systems & Continuous Improvement – Design and maintain systems that are efficient, userfriendly and reduce administrative burden.
• Risk & Governance – Contribute to risk management and ensure appropriate insurance, contracts and financial safeguards are in place.

Salary: £45,975 per annum

Hours: 35 hours per week. Flexi-time system with core hours 10am-3pm

Location: St Thomas Centre but job offers some working from home flexibility

Contract: Permanent

Reporting to: Chief Executive

Responsible for: Finance Lead and HR Lead

Qualifications: Qualified or part-qualified accountant (or equivalent demonstrable expertise in charity finance)

Deadline: Rolling Recruitment Applications received by 12:00 PM midday 30th October 2026 Friday will be reviewed together as our 2nd round.

Who we’re looking for

We're looking for someone who combines real technical expertise with a genuine commitment to the values that drive Macc's work. This is a senior role requiring both depth of knowledge and the ability to use it in service of an organisation whose purpose is to strengthen communities. That combination matters as much as the qualifications.

You’ll need a strong financial background — ideally as a qualified or part-qualified accountant with experience in the charity sector, including a working understanding of restricted funds, grant finance and Charity SORP. Technical knowledge alone isn't enough: you'll need to be able to translate complex financial information into clear, accessible advice for managers, trustees and others who aren't finance specialists. Making the numbers understandable and useful is a core part of the job.

This role also has oversight of our HR Lead so we’re looking for someone who’s comfortable holding this. You don't need to be a specialist but you’ll need to approach our role as an employer with the same values-led mindset we bring to everything else — embedding equity and inclusion in practice, not just in policy.

This is a role that requires sound judgement and a high degree of integrity. You’ll be handling sensitive financial and people-related information, advising the Chief Executive and Board, and supporting managers across the organisation. People will need to feel they can rely on your advice and come to you with difficult questions. Building and maintaining that trust will be central to how you work.

Strong communication skills are essential. You’ll be producing financial reports and HR papers for the Board and its subgroups, supporting managers who may be less confident in financial or people management, and helping embed systems that work for everyone. Being clear, patient and accessible in how you communicate will matter as much as being accurate.

We want Macc to lead by example — as an employer, as a financial steward and as a values-based organisation. We’re looking for someone who sees good governance and inclusive practice not as administrative obligations, but as part of what it means to do this work well.

This role will suit someone who’s energised by the breadth of it — finance and HR, strategic and operational, specialist and generalist. If bringing rigour, integrity and a genuine commitment to equity to a community organisation sounds like the right challenge for you, we’d love to hear from you.

You need to be willing and able to travel around Manchester — though driving ability is not essential as we encourage use of public transport and active travel.