Finance Director in Leeds

Together Women Projects

Working closely with the Chief Executive, Board of Trustees, Finance Committee and Executive Team, the Director of Finance will provide strategic financial leadership, ensuring the organisation has robust financial management, strong governance, effective controls and high-quality financial insight to support confident decision making.

Strategic Financial Leadership

• Provide strategic financial leadership across the organisation
• Develop long term financial plans that support Together Women's strategic ambitions
• Advise the Chief Executive, Executive Team and Board on financial strategy, sustainability
• Lead financial modelling, scenario planning and business planning
• Ensure the organisation maintains appropriate reserves, cashflow and financial resilience
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, maximise resources and strengthen financial sustainability

Executive Leadership and Business Partnering

• Work collaboratively as a member of the Executive Team to shape organisational strategy and performance
• Act as a trusted adviser to the Chief Executive, providing timely, balanced and commercially astute financial advice
• Build strong relationships with Directors and managers, supporting them to understand financial performance, manage budgets and make informed decisions
• Support the development of new services, contracts and business opportunities through financial modelling and costing
• Contribute to organisational planning, transformation and continuous improvement

Financial Management and Governance

• Lead the preparation of annual budgets, management accounts, statutory accounts and financial forecasts
• Ensure robust financial controls, compliance and effective governance across the organisation
• Lead the annual audit process and maintain excellent relationships with external auditors
• Ensure compliance with charity, company and financial legislation
• Present high-quality financial reports to the Board of Trustees and Finance Committee, translating complex financial information into clear, meaningful insight
• Ensure effective management of restricted funds, grant reporting and contract finances

Leadership of the Finance Function

• Provide leadership, support and development to the finance team, creating a high performing and customer focused finance service
• Develop efficient financial systems, processes and controls that support a growing organisation
• Promote continuous improvement through digital innovation, automation and modern financial practices
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous learning

Income Growth and Organisational Development

• Support the Chief Executive and Director of Development in preparing financially robust funding applications, tenders and business cases
• Develop project budgets and financial models for new opportunities
• Provide financial due diligence for partnerships, contracts and new initiatives
• Support contract mobilisation and ongoing financial performance monitoring

Risk, Assurance and Compliance

• Maintain a proactive approach to financial risk management
• Ensure appropriate financial policies, procedures and internal controls are in place and regularly reviewed
• Support organisational assurance through effective risk reporting and compliance monitoring
• Work closely with the Finance Committee, Trustees and external stakeholders to maintain confidence in Together Women's financial stewardship

Role Requirements

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA or equivalent)

Experience

Significant senior financial leadership experience within a complex organisation

• Experience of advising Boards, Committees and senior leadership teams
• Experience of leading annual budgeting, forecasting, cashflow management and statutory accounts
• Experience of managing audits and working effectively with external auditors
• Experience of leading and developing finance teams
• Experience of financial planning within organisations delivering multiple funding streams, contracts or grant funded programmes
• Experience of developing financial systems, improving processes and driving continuous improvement

Knowledge And Skills

Excellent strategic financial planning and analytical skills

• Ability to interpret complex financial information and communicate it clearly to non-finance audiences
• Strong commercial awareness and sound business judgement
• Excellent leadership, influencing and relationship building skills
• Strong understanding of governance, risk management and internal controls
• Ability to balance strategic thinking with operational delivery

Personal Qualities

• High levels of integrity and professional credibility
• Collaborative and approachable leadership style
• Excellent judgement and sound decision making
• Solutions focused with the confidence to challenge constructively
• Highly organised with excellent attention to detail
• Resilient, adaptable and able to work effectively in a fast-changing environment
• Passionate about Together Women's mission and committed to equality, diversity and inclusion

Desirable

• Experience within the charity or not for profit sector
• Experience of charity accounting, restricted funds and SORP
• Experience of contract costing, commissioning or public sector funding
• Experience of supporting organisational growth and change
• Experience of financial systems implementation or digital transformation

Within The First 12 Months You Will Have

• Strengthened Together Women's financial planning and reporting
• Built trusted relationships with the Board, Executive Team and managers
• Developed a high performing finance function
• Enhanced financial systems, controls and business intelligenceSupported successful funding bids, new contracts and organisational growth
• Established yourself as a trusted strategic adviser to the Chief Executive and Board

The role is only open to women, in accordance with the sex-based exemptions of the Equality Act 2010 pursuant to Schedule 9, Part 1.

Applicants should have the right to live and work in the UK.