Interim Head Of Finance

Altum Consulting; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 68,000 - 83,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Job summary

Altum Consulting invites applications for an Interim Head of Finance in London. The role reports to the CFO and oversees day-to-day finance, month-end close, and year-end preparation, ensuring robust controls and accurate reporting across a small team in a fast-paced environment.

The position is a 3-4 month fixed-term contract with hybrid working (2 days in the London office). Candidates with charity sector experience and strong technical accounting skills are preferred; immediate start or short

Qualifications

• This role requires a qualified accountant with substantial experience managing a finance function.
• Strong technical accounting knowledge, especially month-end reporting and year-end prep.
• Experience overseeing transactional finance processes and payroll.
• Confident presenting financial information to senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day finance function including payroll, AP, and banking.
• Manage month-end close, prepare reports and ensure timely control accounts.
• Prepare monthly financials for Finance Committee with CFO input.
• Coordinate year-end accounting and external audit support.
• Review work of junior staff and provide technical guidance.
• Maintain cash flow controls and financial procedures.
• Drive process improvement and system enhancements.

Skills

Excel

Dynamics

Jet Reporting

Financial reporting

Stakeholder management

Education

Qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA) or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Dynamics

Jet Reporting

Job description

Interim Head of Finance | £75k FTC | International Charity | 3-4 Months | London/Hybrid (2 days)

This Interim Head of Finance position is an exciting opportunity to join a well-established international charity during a busy year-end period. Working closely with the CFO, this role will focus on overseeing the day-to-day finance function, ensuring accurate financial reporting, maintaining strong financial controls and supporting the organisation through its December year-end. The role will involve managing a small finance team, reviewing financial processes and working closely with senior stakeholders to ensure the smooth running of the finance function. This would suit a hands-on finance professional who is confident managing transactional finance, month-end reporting and year-end preparation within a fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the day-to-day finance function, including accounts payable, staff expenses, payroll, banking and payment processes.
• Manage the month-end close, ensuring accurate financial reporting, reconciliations and timely completion of control accounts.
• Prepare monthly financial reports and supporting information for the Finance Committee, working closely with the CFO and senior stakeholders.
• Coordinate and prepare year-end accounting processes, ensuring financial records, reconciliations and supporting schedules are ready ahead of the external audit.
• Review the work of Finance Officers and Finance Assistants, providing technical guidance and ensuring accuracy across the finance function.
• Oversee cash flow, banking arrangements and payment runs, maintaining effective financial controls and ensuring compliance with internal procedures.
• Support the ongoing improvement of financial processes, systems and reporting where required.

Person Specification

• A qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent) or qualified by experience, with substantial experience managing a finance function.
• Strong technical accounting knowledge, particularly surrounding month-end reporting, reconciliations and year-end preparation.
• Experience overseeing transactional finance processes, including accounts payable, payroll, expenses and banking.
• Confident preparing financial reports and presenting financial information to senior stakeholders and committees.
• Strong Excel skills and experience working with accounting systems. Previous experience of Microsoft Dynamics and Jet Reporting would be highly advantageous.
• Excellent organisational and interpersonal skills, with the ability to manage competing deadlines and provide support to a small finance team.
• Previous experience within the charity or not-for-profit sector would be beneficial but is not essential.
• A proactive, hands-on and adaptable approach, with the ability to quickly understand existing processes and take ownership of key responsibilities.

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a respected international charity and play a key role in supporting its finance function through a critical reporting period. The organisation offers a hybrid working arrangement, with two days per week in its London office. The role is initially on a short-term basis, with flexibility to consider candidates on either a day-rate or fixed-term contract arrangement. Candidates should be available immediately or at short notice.