Head of Financial Accounts

Group Support Services; Lancashire; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading social enterprise in the UK is seeking an experienced financial accounting leader to oversee their accounting team. This role involves managing year-end audits, ensuring compliance, and driving process improvements. Candidates must have a strong track record in financial reporting, team management experience, and hold a recognized accountancy qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or similar). The position offers competitive salary and comprehensive benefits, including a pension plan and generous annual leave.

Benefits

Competitive salary with yearly review

Pension with matched contributions up to 7%

Company Car / Car Allowance

Excellent holiday package up to 35 days annual leave

Cashback plan for healthcare costs up to £500 saving per year

10% bonus scheme for all colleagues

Training and development

Huge discounts and offers from shops and cinemas

Qualifications

• Proven track record of delivering financial accounting and reporting, including producing audited financial statements on time.
• Demonstrated success in leading teams through change initiatives.
• Extensive experience managing a finance team in a large/complex organization.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and strong capability across other Microsoft Office applications.
• Recognized accountancy qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).

Responsibilities

• Lead the financial accounting and reporting team.
• Ensure processes and controls are documented, updated, and followed.
• Manage the year-end audit and maintain compliance with the financial control framework.
• Provide technical advice and ensure accurate, timely financial statements and reports.

Skills

Financial accounting and reporting

Team management

Change management

Advanced Microsoft Excel

Relationship building

Education

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

Tools

Microsoft Office applications

Job description

At Places for People, we hire People, not numbers! So, if you like the sound of one of our jobs, please apply - you could be just who we're looking for! Of course, experience and track record are important, but we're more interested in hiring someone that embodies our People Promises. That's someone that does the right thing, is enthusiastic and motivated to grow, believes in Community spirit, is respectful and enjoys their work. As the UK's leading Social Enterprise we're dedicated to creating inclusive and thriving Communities for both our Customers and Employees.

So, what are you waiting for? Join a community that cares about you!

More about yourrole

You’ll lead the financial accounting and reporting team, making sure processes and controls are documented, updated, and followed. You’ll keep accounting policies current, provide technical advice, and ensure accurate, timely financial statements and reports. You’ll manage the year-end audit, maintain compliance with the financial control framework, and drive improvements through automation and better planning. You’ll also support ad hoc financial reporting for business initiatives.

For more information, please download our job profile available on our website.

Essential Criteria

• Proven track record of delivering financial accounting and reporting, including producing audited financial statements on time and to regulatory standards.
• Demonstrated success in leading teams through change initiatives that achieved measurable process efficiencies, improved controls, or delivered cost savings.
• Extensive experience managing and developing a finance team in a large / complex organisation, with evidence of achieving team performance goals.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and strong capability across other Microsoft Office applications, demonstrated through practical examples or certifications.
• Recognised accountancy qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent)

More about you

You’ll need experience leading financial accounting and reporting, including producing audited statements, and a proven ability to drive change that improves processes and controls. Strong team management skills, excellent IT knowledge—especially Excel—and the ability to build relationships across all levels are essential. You should be confident managing competing priorities and deadlines. Ideally, you’ll also have experience with Business World, consolidating complex entities, and working in social housing or a regulated industry. A recognised accountancy qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or similar) is required.

Benefits

We are a large diverse and ambitious business, which will give you all the challenge you could wish for.

We know that there's always more we can do to make you smile, that's why we offer a comprehensive benefits package with each role, yours will include :

• Competitive salary, with a salary review yearly
• Pension with matchedcontributions up to 7%
• Company Car / Car Allowance
• Excellent holiday package – up to 35 days annual leave with the option to buy or sell leave
• Cashback plan for healthcare costs – up to £500 saving per year
• A bonus scheme for all colleagues at 10%
• Training anddevelopment
• Extra perks including huge discounts and offers from shops, cinemas and muchmore.