Head of Finance

ICAEW; Watford; Hybrid; GBP 63,000 - 77,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement (3 days in the

Benefits package

Job summary

ICAEW in Watford is recruiting a Head of Finance for a large charity operating across housing and community services. The role leads day-to-day finance, strengthens controls, and partners with the Finance Director on strategy. Hybrid role with three days per week in the office.

You will oversee budgeting, forecasting, reporting, audits and regulatory compliance, plus drive improvements across the finance function and staff development. Salary: £70,000 + benefits.

Qualifications

• Strong finance experience in not-for-profit sector.
• Experience leading finance teams and delivering a high-quality finance function.
• Knowledge of financial controls, compliance, audit and reporting.
• Ability to influence and communicate with senior stakeholders.
• Experience improving processes, systems and ways of working.
• Collaborative, pragmatic and improvement-focused approach.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day finance operation and maintain strong financial controls.
• Oversee financial reporting, management information and core finance processes.
• Lead the annual audit and ensure regulatory compliance.
• Support budgeting, forecasting and longer-term financial planning.
• Contribute to Board and senior leadership reporting.
• Drive continuous improvement and finance transformation.
• Lead, develop and support the finance team.
• Build relationships with senior operational stakeholders.
• Support the Finance Director with wider financial strategy.

Skills

Leadership

Financial reporting

Stakeholder communication

Process improvement

Education

ACA/ACCA/CIMA or equivalent

Job description

Head of Finance£70,605 + benefits

Watford | Hybrid, 3 days per week in the office

Are you an experienced senior finance professional looking to join a purpose-led organisation making a genuine social impact? We are recruiting a Head of Finance for a large and established charity operating across housing and community services. This is a key senior leadership role, working closely with the Finance Director and taking responsibility for the effective day‑to‑day leadership of the finance function.

• Lead the day-to-day finance operation and maintain strong financial controls
• Oversee financial reporting, management information and core finance processes
• Lead the annual audit and ensure strong regulatory compliance
• Support budgeting, forecasting and longer-term financial planning
• Contribute to Board and senior leadership reporting
• Drive continuous improvement, efficiency and finance transformation
• Lead, develop and support the finance team
• Build strong relationships with senior operational stakeholders across the organisation
• Support the Finance Director with wider financial strategy and organisational growth

About you

• A recognised accountancy qualification, ideally ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent
• Strong finance experience gained within the charity, housing or wider not-for-profit sector
• Experience leading finance teams and delivering a high-quality finance function
• Strong knowledge of financial controls, compliance, audit and financial reporting
• The ability to influence and communicate effectively with senior stakeholders
• Experience improving processes, systems and ways of working
• A collaborative, pragmatic and improvement-focused approach

Important

This role is based in Watford and requires three days per week in the office, so candidates must be comfortable with this working pattern.

Why consider this opportunity?

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a sizeable, values-led organisation delivering important services across housing, health and wellbeing, children's services and community programmes. You will have the opportunity to influence the wider finance agenda, work closely with senior leadership and play an important role in the organisation's continued development.

Salary: £70,000 + benefits

If you are a qualified finance professional with charity or housing experience and are looking for a broad senior leadership role with a strong social purpose,