Head of Finance (Public Sector)

VanRath; Belfast; On-site; GBP 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment agency is seeking a Head of Finance for a prominent public sector body in Belfast. The successful candidate will oversee all financial operations, ensuring compliance with regulations and providing strategic advice. This role requires a qualified accountant with significant experience in financial management within the public or not-for-profit sector, excellent communication skills, and a proven track record in team leadership.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in financial management, ideally in the public or not-for-profit sector.
• Strong knowledge of financial regulations, accounting standards, and public sector finance.
• Excellent communication skills with experience presenting financial data to non-financial stakeholders.
• Experience managing or mentoring teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead preparation of monthly, quarterly, and annual reports; ensure timely and accurate financial statements.
• Oversee budgeting and quarterly forecasts, advising on variances and corrective actions.
• Ensure compliance with internal policies, external regulations, and audit requirements.
• Provide financial advice to senior management and liaise with auditors and stakeholders.
• Supervise and mentor junior finance staff, fostering skill development and knowledge sharing.
• Contribute to long-term financial planning and assist in risk assessments and business planning.

Skills

Financial Reporting

Budgeting & Forecasting

Financial Controls & Governance

Stakeholder Management

Team Leadership

Strategic Planning

Education

Professional accountancy qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA or equivalent)

Job description

Head of Finance (Public Sector)

VANRATH are delighted to be recruiting for a Qualified Accountant to join a well known Public Sector body in Belfast City Centre. As part of the Senior Leadership Team, the successful candidate will oversee all financial operations, ensuring compliance with public sector regulations, and providing strategic financial advice. This role involves preparing financial reports, managing budgets, and implementing financial controls to support the organisation's objectives.

This role requires someone who can start quickly in order to facilitate handovers.

Key Responsibilities:

• Financial Reporting: Lead preparation of monthly, quarterly, and annual reports; ensure timely and accurate financial statements.

• Budgeting & Forecasting: Oversee budgeting and quarterly forecasts, advising on variances and corrective actions.

• Financial Controls & Governance: Ensure compliance with internal policies, external regulations, and audit requirements.

• Stakeholder Management: Provide financial advice to senior management and liaise with auditors and stakeholders.

• Team Leadership: Supervise and mentor junior finance staff, fostering skill development and knowledge sharing.

• Strategic Planning: Contribute to long-term financial planning and assist in risk assessments and business planning.

Essential Criteria:

• Professional accountancy qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA or equivalent).

• Significant experience in financial management, ideally in the public or not-for-profit sector.

• Strong knowledge of financial regulations, accounting standards, and public sector finance.

• Excellent communication skills with experience presenting financial data to non-financial stakeholders.

• Experience managing or mentoring teams.

For further information on this vacancy, or any other public sector finance vacancy in Northern Ireland, please apply via the link provided or contact Robbie Lemon in the strictrest confidence.