Interim Finance Director Stonepillow

Peridot Partners; Chichester; Hybrid; GBP 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading charity organization in Chichester is seeking an Interim Finance Director to provide strategic oversight during a crucial period. This role includes leading the Finance Department, ensuring continuity of financial operations, and driving budgeting initiatives. Suitable candidates will have substantial qualifications in accounting and extensive experience in charity financing and transformation projects. The position offers a dynamic opportunity to impact homelessness services significantly.

Benefits

Opportunity to lead high-impact projects

Development and learning opportunities

Work with a purpose-driven organisation

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience leading financial transformation or improvement projects in resource-constrained environments.
• Proven ability to develop and implement financial strategies aligned with organisational goals.
• Experience working closely with CEOs, Boards, and senior leadership teams.
• Skilled in leading budgeting cycles, financial modelling, and scenario planning.
• Experience maintaining high standards of control, risk management, and transparency.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Finance Department including the Finance Officer and Management Accountant.
• Ensure continuity of financial operations and reporting.
• Provide strategic financial leadership in close collaboration with the CEO.
• Support the Finance & Audit Committee with reporting.
• Project-manage transition to outsourced payroll.

Skills

Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or CIPFA)

Proven experience in a business finance role

Leadership in change management

Strategic financial planning

Stakeholder engagement

Budgeting and forecasting

Financial governance

Financial accounting software

Charity sector expertise

Income diversification

Business partnering

Sector knowledge

Systems and process improvement

Organisational development

Job description

Interim Finance Director – Stonepillow

Salary: £500 per day (interim, ideally 6 months)

Closing date: Rolling applications.

About the role

Stonepillow is a leading homelessness charity in West Sussex with an annual income of c.£5 million. The Finance Director has been on long‑term sick leave; we need an interim leader to provide continuity and strategic oversight while the permanent role is covered.

Key responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Finance Department, including the Finance Officer and Management Accountant.
• Handle all correspondence addressed to the Finance Director.
• Ensure continuity of financial operations and reporting.
• Provide strategic financial leadership in close collaboration with the CEO.
• Collaborate with the Interim Finance Consultant, dividing responsibilities and ensuring smooth hand‑over.
• Support the Finance & Audit Committee with timely and accurate reporting.
• Facilitate a phased return of the permanent Finance Director if applicable, shifting focus to project delivery.

Project‑Based Priorities

• Budgeting for 2026/27 – lead planning meetings with SLT and Management Accountant.
• Accounts Payable Process – document workflows, authorisations, and bank payments; implement weekly payment run timetable.
• Management Accounts – review format of monthly accounts to improve quality of information flow.
• Purchase Order System – evaluate options, present to Finance Committee, and implement agreed system.
• Month‑End Close Procedures – establish and embed structured month‑end processes.
• Balance Sheet Oversight – initiate monthly reconciliations and develop a balance‑sheet reporting pack for SLT.
• Payroll Outsourcing – project‑manage transition to outsourced payroll.
• Site Consolidation – assess financial implications of merging three sites into one.
• Additional Projects – support other finance‑related initiatives as they arise.

Who we are looking for

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or CIPFA).
• Proven experience in a business finance role, including restricted funding.
• Leadership in change management – demonstrated experience leading financial transformation or improvement projects in resource‑constrained environments.
• Strategic financial planning – proven ability to develop and implement financial strategies aligned with organisational goals.
• Stakeholder engagement – experience working closely with CEOs, Boards, and senior leadership teams.
• Budgeting and forecasting – skilled in leading budgeting cycles, financial modelling and scenario planning.
• Financial governance – experience maintaining high standards of control, risk management and transparency.
• Financial accounting software – familiarity and expertise in day‑to‑day use to achieve strong reporting.
• Charity sector expertise – strong understanding of charity finance, restricted/unrestricted funding, SORP, and regulatory compliance.
• Income diversification – experience identifying and supporting new income streams, including social enterprise, commissioning or fundraising initiatives.
• Business partnering – ability to act as a strategic partner to operational teams, translating financial data into actionable insights.
• Sector knowledge – familiarity with homelessness, housing or social care sectors and their financial challenges.
• Systems and process improvement – experience implementing financial systems or improving workflows.
• Organisational development – understanding of how finance supports growth, culture and service delivery.

Key benefits

• Work with a purpose‑driven organisation committed to preventing, relieving, recovering, resettling and restoring lives.
• Opportunity to lead high‑impact projects in a dynamic charity environment.
• Collaborate with senior leadership and finance teams to shape the future of homelessness services.
• Development and learning opportunities through project work and exposure to the charity sector.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion are at the heart of our values and are embedded in everything we do. We welcome applications from all backgrounds.

How to apply

To apply, please submit a CV and a supporting statement that clearly outlines your suitability for the role against the criteria provided above to [e-mail], using “Application: Stonepillow – Interim Finance Director” in the subject line.