Head of Finance and Commercial

Social Work England; Sheffield; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A national regulatory body in the UK is seeking a qualified Head of Finance and Commercial. This role involves leading financial functions, developing strategies, and ensuring compliance with regulations. The ideal candidate should bring significant senior management experience and a recognised accountancy qualification, along with strong leadership and communication skills. This position offers a hybrid working model and a comprehensive benefits package.

Benefits

Hybrid working

25 days annual leave, increasing to 30

Pension scheme and life insurance

Employee recognition scheme

Cycle to work scheme

Qualifications

• Qualified accounting professional with leadership skills.
• Experience in managing complex financial functions.
• Ability to provide strategic financial advice.

Responsibilities

• Lead finance and commercial functions.
• Develop financial strategy and annual budget plan.
• Ensure compliance with statutory requirements.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Leadership skills

Financial analysis

Communication skills

Relationship building

Education

Recognised accountancy qualification (ACA, CIPFA, ACCA, or CIMA)

Job description

Are you a qualified accounting professional, and strategic leader? Do you have a passion for driving financial or commercial excellence? We’re looking for a Head of Finance and Commercial to lead a busy, collaborative team at the heart of our organisation, ensuring robust financial management and delivering insight that shapes key decisions.

From financial strategy and budget planning to payroll and procurement, your role is pivotal in driving financial performance and ensuring efficient utilisation of our resources. It’s a high-impact environment where your leadership will inspire your team, strengthen financial discipline across the organisation, and help us achieve our mission.

Social Work England is the specialist regulator for social workers in England. We believe in the power of collaboration and share a common goal with those we regulate – to protect the public, enable positive change in social work and ultimately improve people’s lives.

This is a rare opportunity to join a national organisation with an important mission, and to lead and develop a function that is critical to our future success within an inclusive, supportive environment.

About the Role

As Head of Finance and Commercial, you’ll lead our finance and commercial functions, ensuring compliance with internal and government frameworks and providing strategic advice to the executive leadership team. You’ll drive financial performance, shape long-term sustainability, and embed a culture of financial discipline across the organisation. You’ll also manage a busy, collaborative team and work closely with colleagues at all levels to deliver insight, assurance, and value for money.

In addition, you will:

• Lead and inspire the finance and commercial team, driving engagement and continuous improvement.
• Develop and implement the organisation’s financial strategy and annual budget plan, advising the CEO and Executive Leadership Team (ELT), in its implementation.
• Provide accurate reporting, forecasting and financial models to inform strategic decision‑making by the ELT and the Board.
• Ensure compliance with statutory requirements, audit standards, and government frameworks.
• Oversee production of annual accounts and liaise with auditors to deliver the audit plan.
• Manage procurement and commercial policies, ensuring value for money and compliance with public contracting regulations.
• Act as the main contact for auditors, bankers, pension providers, and the Department for Education sponsor team.
• Embed financial discipline across the organisation through knowledge sharing and robust internal controls.

About You

At Social Work England, our values are at the heart of everything we do. We strive to becollaborative, ambitious, fearful, independent and transparent. We’re looking for someone who can embody these values, inspire others, and contribute to our ambition to be an innovative and responsive regulator that makes a real difference to people’s lives.

To be successful in this role, you’ll be a qualified accounting professional with clear leadership skills and the ability to balance strategic thinking with operational excellence. You’ll bring experience of managing complex financial functions and influencing decisions at a senior level, alongside a commitment to integrity and collaboration. You may have worked at an arms‑length body or other public sector organisation before.

In this role we are looking for:

• A recognised accountancy qualification (ACA, CIPFA, ACCA or CIMA).
• Post‑qualification experience at senior management level.
• Previous experience of leading and developing a high‑performing team, fostering engagement and continuous improvement.
• The ability to think strategically while ensuring operational excellence in finance.
• Experience of developing annual budgets, costing models and providing accurate financial analysis.
• Excellent communication skills, able to explain complex financial information clearly to non‑financial colleagues and stakeholders.
• Strong relationship building and collaboration skills, able to work effectively across all levels of the organisation.
• A demonstrable commitment to inclusion, equality and diversity.

The Benefits

In addition to your salary, we also offer:

• Hybrid working, typically working two days per week in the office.
• 25 days annual leave, rising with service to 30 days per annum, plus bank holidays.
• The option to purchase up to an additional 5 days of annual leave per annum.
• A TIDE award winning inclusive culture, made up of staff networks, social events and forums.
• A pension scheme, life insurance, an employee recognition scheme and cycle to work scheme.