Head of Finance

Web Recruit Ltd; Torquay; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A family-owned housebuilder is seeking a Head of Finance to provide strategic leadership and oversee financial management. The ideal candidate will have proven experience in finance and be a qualified accountant. Responsibilities include leading the finance team, developing financial strategies, and ensuring financial health of the organization. This full-time position offers competitive salary and various benefits including private healthcare and a company car.

Benefits

Electric or Hybrid Company Car or Car Allowance

Private Healthcare for yourself and family

Life Assurance X3

6% employer pension contributions

25 days’ holiday + bank holidays

Early Friday finishes

Discount on purchase of a Cavanna Home

Qualifications

• Substantial experience in a relevant role.
• Experience managing staff and reporting to senior management.
• Knowledge of how to prepare financial plans and budgets.
• Knowledge of how to conduct appraisals and variance analysis.

Responsibilities

• Lead the finance team and ensure professional standards.
• Develop and execute the Company's financial strategy.
• Provide insights and financial reports for decision-making.
• Monitor and maintain the Company’s cashflow position.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Leadership

Financial planning

Communication skills

Microsoft Office proficiency

Advanced spreadsheet skills

Education

Degree or equivalent level of education

Qualified accountant (ICAEW, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA)

Job description

Head of Finance

Torquay, Devon

With a rich history dating back to 1923, Cavanna Homes is the South West’s largest independent housebuilder. We are family‑owned and construct beautiful new homes that customers love.

We are looking for a Head of Finance to join our team on a full‑time, permanent basis.

About the role

Reporting to the Group Finance Director, the Head of Finance has full responsibility for leading the finance function and providing strategic financial leadership across the Company. This is a practical role that combines strategic insight with day‑to‑day financial control. You’ll be a key contributor to ensuring the financial health, operational efficiency and regulatory compliance of the business and supporting the execution of our business strategy.

You will be a trusted advisor to the Executive Directors, SLT and line managers with a real influence on decision‑making.

General tasks will include:

• Providing effective and dynamic leadership of the finance team, facilitating development to share best practice, and ensuring professional standards are met.
• Supporting the Group Finance Director to develop and execute the Company’s financial strategy.
• Advising the Group Finance Director on the financial implications of trading plan decisions and the effect of new information on significant plan assumptions.
• Taking responsibility for the Company’s financial management systems, statements and reporting.
• Supporting the Payroll Administrator to accurately deliver our payroll process.
• Monitoring and maintaining the Company’s cashflow position.
• Business partnering with our internal and external customers and providing insights and appropriate financial reports to inform and advise decision‑making.

This role will suit a strategic thinker with a desire to have a meaningful impact on decisions at all levels of the business.

What you’ll get in return

• Salary – Competitive
• Electric or Hybrid Company Car or Car Allowance
• Private Healthcare for yourself and family
• Life Assurance X3
• 6% employer pension contributions
• Medicash health cashback scheme
• 25 days’ holiday + bank holidays (additional holidays awarded for length of service)
• Holiday purchase scheme – purchase up to an additional week of holiday
• Cycle to Work Scheme up to the value of £3,500
• Early Friday finishes
• Discount on purchase of a Cavanna Home

Who we are looking for

• Degree or equivalent level of education
• Qualified accountant of a recognised accounting body (ICAEW, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA)
• Substantial experience in a relevant role
• Experience managing staff and reporting to senior management
• Knowledge of how to prepare financial plans and budgets
• Knowledge of how to conduct appraisals and variance analysis
• Proficient user of Microsoft Office
• Advanced spreadsheet skills, including financial modelling
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, understanding the importance of customer care for internal and external stakeholders

About us

Cavanna Homes is a family‑owned business established in 1923. Our aim is to become the most admired regional house builder in the Southwest. We strive to achieve this through our product design, innovation and build quality whilst maintaining the trust and respect of our customers and the local communities around our developments. We aim to be a company whose employees, shareholders, customers, business partners and the community can be proud to be associated with.

At Cavanna, everyone lives by ‘The Cavanna Way’. This is our set of values that defines who we are as a team and how we behave – ‘Customer Focused’, ‘Integrity’, ‘Socially Engaged’, ‘Reputable’, ‘Successful’ and ‘Safe’. If you believe these values match your own, then we’d love to hear from you.

The closing date for this role is 5th December 2025. We anticipate interviews will take place in the week commencing 8th December 2025.

Other organisations may call this role Senior Accountant, Chartered Accountant, Finance Manager, Finance Lead, or Finance Director.

So, if you want to step into an influential role as our Head of Finance, please apply via the button shown.