Interim Finance Director

Michael Page; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 148,000 - 221,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive daily rate

Opportunity to impact the public sector

Hybrid working arrangements

Job summary

A reputable recruitment agency is seeking an experienced Interim Finance Director to manage finance, procurement, and estates for a prominent public sector body in Manchester. The role involves providing strategic leadership, ensuring compliance with financial regulations, and managing organizational change. Candidates should possess significant experience in complex public sector environments, strong analytical skills, and a professional accounting qualification. This position offers a competitive daily rate and hybrid working options, requiring travel to the Manchester office 1-2 days each week.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience at Director level in accounting and finance functions within public sector organisations.
• Experience stabilising teams and driving improvement quickly.
• Ability to think creatively with an income generation mindset.
• Balanced commercial focus with people-centred leadership.
• Experience stabilising teams and driving rapid improvement.
• Strong knowledge of public sector financial regulations.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Confident working with senior stakeholders.
• Strong communication skills to present complex financial information clearly.

Responsibilities

• Lead the finance, procurement, and estates functions.
• Manage process improvement during governance transition.
• Support major organisational programmes and enhance financial systems.
• Strengthen financial control, forecasting and year-end processes.
• Build relationships with the parent department and internal stakeholders.
• Provide strategic financial leadership and oversight.
• Ensure compliance with public sector regulations and policies.
• Lead budgets, forecasts and financial reporting.
• Assist senior management with financial insights for decision-making.
• Coordinate with external auditors and manage audit processes.
• Enhance systems and processes for accuracy and efficiency.

Skills

Financial oversight

Stakeholder management

Team leadership

Analytical skills

Problem-solving ability

Knowledge of public sector financial regulations

Education

Professional accounting qualification (e.g., ACA, ACCA, CIMA)

Job description

This is an exciting opportunity for a highly experienced Interim Finance Director to lead the finance, procurement and estates operations for a high profile UK Public Sector body, during an exciting period of change

Our client is a leading UK Arms-Length Body based in the North West and are known for its commitment to upholding high standards in its field. It is a medium-sized entity with a focus on delivering excellence in its work.

Description

• Ownership of the finance, procurement and estates functions, maintaining engagement, and provide a positive leadership presence.
• Manage process improvement, particularly in light of the governance transition. The finance function will need to produce strengthened and potentially duplicated year‑end assurance, including the possibility of closing the accounts twice during the transition.
• Support major organisational programmes including the estates programme.
• Strengthen financial control, assurance, forecasting, and year‑end processes.
• Build constructive relationships with the parent state department and internal stakeholders
• Provide strategic financial leadership and oversight.
• Ensure compliance with public sector financial regulations and policies.
• Lead the preparation of budgets, forecasts, and financial reports.
• Support senior management with financial insights for decision-making.
• Coordinate with external auditors and manage audit processes effectively.
• Enhance financial systems and processes to improve accuracy and efficiency.

Profile

A successful Interim Finance Director should have:

• Proven extensive experience at Director level or above in leading accounting and finance functions within complex Public Sector Organisations, ideally ALB/Regulatory Environments
• Ability to think creatively within rules, with an income generation mindset
• Comfortable with ambiguity, organisational change, and influencing at senior levels.
• Balanced commerciality and people‑centred leadership.
• Experience stabilising teams and driving improvement quickly.
• Strong knowledge of public sector financial regulations.
• A recognised professional accounting qualification (e.g., ACA, ACCA, CIMA).
• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Experience in managing teams and driving performance improvements.
• Confidence in working with senior stakeholders and decision‑makers.
• Strong communication skills to present complex financial information clearly.

Job Offer

• Competitive daily rate of GBP
• Opportunity to make a significant impact within the public sector.
• Hybrid/Home working with the ability to travel to Manchester 1-2 days a week

If you are ready to take on this rewarding Interim Finance Director role, we encourage you to apply today!