Interim Head of Finance

Robert Walters UK; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment agency in the East Midlands is seeking an Interim Head of Finance. In this role, you will oversee financial management and reporting, ensuring compliance and contributing strategically to the organization. The ideal candidate will have 8-10 years of experience in senior financial management roles along with professional qualifications such as ACCA, CIMA, or ACA. This position offers the opportunity to make a significant impact while working across multiple regions.

Qualifications

• 8-10 years of experience in senior financial management roles.
• Extensive knowledge of current legislation and financial reporting standards.
• Demonstrated experience with budgeting, forecasting, and compliance.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all accounting operations and financial reporting.
• Lead profit and loss reviews, ensuring clarity for budget holders.
• Coordinate planning, budgeting, and forecasting processes.

Skills

Financial management

Analytical problem-solving

Stakeholder communication

Team development

Change management

Education

Professional qualifications (ACCA, CIMA, ACA)

Degree in finance or accounting

Job description

Overview

An organisation in Leicestershire is seeking an Interim Head of Finance to provide support and strategic direction during a pivotal period. This role offers you the opportunity to make a significant impact by overseeing all aspects of financial management, reporting, compliance, and risk mitigation across the UK operations. The role will be split between Leicestershire and south Birmingham.

As Interim Head of Finance, you will play a vital role in guiding the organisation's financial health through expert oversight of accounting operations, rigorous financial reporting cycles, and comprehensive compliance management. Your day-to-day responsibilities will involve close collaboration with various departments to assess project impacts, drive process optimisation initiatives—including automation—and ensure efficient supplier management. You will coordinate complex budgeting exercises across multiple regions while developing robust internal controls that protect organisational assets. By building strong relationships with both internal teams and external partners such as auditors or banking institutions, you will help shape sound financial strategies that underpin long-term success. Your ability to foster team development will be crucial in creating an environment where continuous improvement is embedded into every aspect of the finance function.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all accounting operations from record to report, including maintaining the general ledger and ensuring accurate monthly, quarterly, and annual accounts.
• Own the entire financial reporting cycle, guaranteeing timely delivery of statutory and management reports while upholding compliance standards.
• Lead monthly profit and loss as well as balance sheet reviews, engaging with budget holders to ensure clarity and accountability.
• Supervise VAT reporting and employment taxes in close partnership with the UK Tax Manager to maintain regulatory compliance.
• Monitor cash flow meticulously to ensure funds are available for organisational commitments and manage local treasury functions effectively.
• Assess the financial impact of proposed projects by collaborating with stakeholders such as IT, preparing business cases aligned with strategic initiatives.
• Coordinate planning, budgeting, and forecasting processes for UK and Ireland operations, including indirect costs analysis and headcount reporting.
• Develop and maintain internal controls, policies, and procedures that safeguard assets while ensuring integrity in all financial reporting activities.
• Manage relationships with external auditors by coordinating internal activities to meet required standards and deadlines.
• Provide leadership, development, and direction to the finance team while fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Professional qualifications such as ACCA, CIMA or ACA are essential for this role to demonstrate your technical expertise in finance.
• A degree in finance, accounting or a related field is preferred to underpin your practical experience with solid academic grounding.
• Significant experience—ideally 8-10 years—in senior financial management roles within multi-national environments is required for effective performance.
• Proven track record in delivering change and transformation within finance functions shows your adaptability and commitment to improvement.
• Extensive knowledge of current legislation and financial reporting standards ensures compliance across all activities.
• Demonstrated experience with budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis, reporting and compliance highlights your analytical capabilities.
• Ability to build team capability through nurturing staff development reflects your supportive leadership style.
• Excellent communication skills enable you to connect with stakeholders at all levels for successful collaboration.
• Strong analytical problem-solving abilities allow you to provide valuable insights for business decision-making under pressure.
• IT literacy with quick adaptation to new company systems supports seamless integration into existing workflows.