Head of Finance and HR Operations

Department:
HR

Location:
Hanley

Compensation:
£42,000 – £48,000 / year

Description
Closing date Thursday 25th September However, we reserve the right to close this advertisement at any time if we receive suitable applications for the role.

Interviews 29th and 30th September

To lead and oversee the Finance function at Acorn Training, ensuring robust financial management, accurate reporting, compliance, and effective cashflow to support the organisation\’s growth and stability. The role also provides oversight of HR operations, ensuring policies, procedures and people processes run smoothly, with external support for complex or legal HR matters.

The Head of Finance & HR Operations will directly manage finance and HR staff, act as the key point of contact for external accountants and HR legal partners, and ensure both functions deliver efficient, compliant and high-quality services across the business.

Key Responsibilities and Key Performance Indicators
Finance Leadership (Primary Focus)

• Oversee the full finance cycle including payroll, management accounts, cashflow forecasting and budget monitoring.
• Ensure monthly and year-end reconciliations, journals and statutory returns are accurate and timely.
• Manage the Finance Assistant, ensuring day-to-day transactions, payments, and reconciliations are completed effectively.
• Lead preparation of management accounts and financial reports for the COO and EMT, highlighting risks, trends and opportunities.
• Support the COO with budgeting, forecasting and financial models for new tenders and contracts.
• Liaise with external accountants and auditors, ensuring the organisation remains compliant and audit-ready
• Monitor expenditure closely, driving value for money and ensuring costs align with budgets.
• Ensure compliance with HMRC requirements (PAYE, VAT, P11D, company returns).
• Lead on automating and digitising finance processes wherever possible, improving efficiency, accuracy and reporting capability.

HR Operations (Secondary Focus)

• Oversee HR administration processes including contracts, absence, recruitment paperwork, and policy compliance.
• Line-manage HR team members, ensuring they provide efficient support to managers and staff.
• Ensure policies, procedures and staff records are accurate, consistent and compliant with employment law.
• Provide first-line HR advice and guidance to managers on day-to-day issues, escalating complex matters to the COO or HR legal team.
• Coordinate wellbeing and engagement initiatives, ensuring Acorn remains a supportive place to work.
• Act as the link between internal HR staff and external employment law/legal advisors.

Leadership & Coordination

• Line-manage both Finance and HR staff, ensuring clarity of objectives, regular 1-2-1s, and performance development.
• Provide accurate and timely HR and Finance data to the COO and EMT to support effective decision making.
• Promote continuous improvement across finance and HR systems, policies and reporting.
• Champion Acorn\’s values, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion statement, and wellbeing priorities.

Key Performance Indicators

• Accuracy and timeliness of payroll and financial reporting.
• Strong cashflow management and budget adherence.
• Compliance with HMRC and statutory financial requirements.
• Effective management accounts and reports delivered to deadlines.
• Compliance with HR policies, documentation and legal obligations.
• Positive staff feedback on HR support and processes.

Skills, Knowledge & Expertise
Qualifications and specific training

• AAT Level 4 or equivalent (essential)
• Strong IT literacy including Microsoft Office, Excel, HRIS and financial systems (Sage or equivalent). (essential)
• Working towards or achieved a professional accounting qualification, such as CIMA or ACCA (or be willing to work towards)
• CIPD Level 5 or equivalent professional qualification (HR).
• Management or leadership qualification desirable.

Experience

• Leadership experience across Finance and/or HR functions, ideally with exposure to both. (essential)
• Proven track record of delivering financial stability, accurate reporting and robust compliance. (essential)
• HR experience including employee relations, organisational development, cultural change and TUPE. (essential)
• Experience within education, employability, or skills sectors

Knowledge

• Strong financial acumen and commercial awareness, with the ability to analyse complex data. (essential)
• Excellent understanding of UK employment law, HR best practice and workforce planning. (essential)
• Ability to balance detail with strategic perspective, providing clarity to the EMT (essential)
• Ability to identify opportunities to automate and digitise finance processes, improving efficiency and accuracy. (essential)
• Setting up new administrative systems and processes (desirable)
• Learning and Skills based IT systems (desirable)

Skills

• The ability to check information accurately, identify trends in financial information (essential)
• The ability to work flexibly within a team. (essential)
• Proactive, innovative and forward-thinking, with the ability to identify opportunities for improvement and growth. (essential)
• High integrity, resilience and discretion when handling sensitive or confidential matters. (essential)
• Exceptional leadership, communication and influencing skills. (essential)
• Skilled in presenting complex information clearly to both financial and non-financial stakeholders. (essential)

We welcome applications from all suitably-qualified candidates, irrespective of gender, disability, marital or parental status, ethnic or social origin, religion, belief, or sexual orientation. In addition, during the various stages of recruitment, reasonable adjustments can be taken to ensure equal opportunities for candidates with disabilities or special needs.

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy

Please get in contact with to discuss alternative options you may require, or alternative application methods