Head of Finance

MCR Pathways is a national charity dedicated to helping disadvantaged, care-experienced, and vulnerable young people to find, grow, and use their talent through transformational 1:1 mentoring. Working across Scotland and England, MCR Pathways partners with schools, employers, mentors, and communities to unlock potential and create lasting change.

As the organisation continues to grow its reach and impact, strong financial leadership is critical to ensuring long-term sustainability, accountability, and innovation.

MCR Pathways is seeking an experienced and strategic Head of Finance to play a pivotal role in supporting the charity’s growth and financial sustainability. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer and working closely with the Senior Management Team and Trustees, the Head of Finance will lead financial strategy, governance, and performance management across the organisation. This is a hands-on and influential role, combining strategic oversight with operational delivery. You will ensure that robust financial systems, controls, and insight underpin decision-making at every level, enabling MCR Pathways to maximise its impact for young people.

MCR Pathways has recently implemented cloud-based finance systems (Xero and Dext), and the successful candidate will be confident working with digital platforms and identifying opportunities for further integration and innovation.

Key Responsibilities

• Providing strategic and operational financial leadership to the CEO, Senior Management Team, and Trustees.
• Developing and delivering robust financial strategy, controls, and performance management frameworks.
• Leading on budgeting, forecasting, cashflow management, reserves planning, and long-term financial modelling.
• Producing high-quality management accounts, dashboards, and financial insights to support effective decision-making and scenario planning.
• Overseeing the charity’s statutory accounts, annual audit, and compliance with charity finance regulations and the Charities SORP.
• Ensuring strong financial governance, including ownership of the risk register and reporting to Trustees and committees.
• Supporting funding applications, bids, and grant reporting, working closely with colleagues and external partners.
• Building collaborative relationships across the organisation, supporting teams with financial planning and funder reporting.
• Line managing the Finance Manager (0.6 FTE) and contributing as a key member of the Senior Management Team.

The Ideal Candidate

• Be a qualified accountant (CIMA, ACA, or ACCA) with substantial senior-level financial leadership experience.
• Bring strong experience of financial management, budgeting, forecasting, and strategic planning, ideally within the charity or not-for-profit sector.
• Demonstrate excellent communication skills, with the ability to present complex financial information clearly to diverse audiences.
• Have a strong understanding of charity finance, governance, compliance, and regulatory frameworks.
• Be confident using cloud-based accounting systems (including Xero) and advanced Excel, with a proactive approach to digital innovation.
• Be a collaborative and values-driven leader, able to influence, support, and inspire colleagues across the organisation.
• Share a genuine passion for MCR Pathways’ mission and a commitment to improving outcomes for young people.

This is a unique opportunity to join a highly respected and ambitious charity at a pivotal stage of its development. As Head of Finance, you will play a central role in shaping the organisation’s future, ensuring financial resilience while enabling the continued growth of a programme that changes lives. MCR Pathways offers a supportive and flexible working environment, generous annual leave, strong pension provision, life assurance, and access to an Employee Assistance Programme. Most importantly, you will be part of a team united by purpose and driven by impact.