At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead commercial finance initiatives and drive strategic decision-making in a mission-driven charity.
- Company: Join a large, values-led charity making a real difference in diverse communities.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working, and the chance to shape financial strategy.
- Why this job: Make a meaningful impact while leading a talented finance team in a transformative role.
- Qualifications: Fully qualified accountant with strong commercial finance experience.
- Other info: Opportunity for exceptional career growth in a dynamic, purpose-led environment.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 84000 £ per year.
Permanent Kent (Hybrid) Senior Leadership Role £70,000-£80,000 DOE. Charity Recruit is partnering with a large, complex and mission-driven charity to recruit a Head of Commercial Finance, a genuinely rare opportunity to step into a role with real influence, scale and variety. This organisation operates across an unusually diverse portfolio of services, including housing, supported living, social enterprise manufacturing, retail, training, welfare services and major fundraising programmes. It is values-led at its core, but commercially ambitious and now needs a senior finance leader to help it move from historic reporting to forward-looking, insight-driven decision making.
The Opportunity
This is a hands-on leadership role for a commercially astute finance professional who enjoys complexity and challenge. Reporting into the Director of Finance & Performance (and working closely with an Interim CFO), you’ll lead the organisation’s commercial finance agenda and play a central role in shaping how financial insight is used across the business.
Key aspects of the role include:
- Leading budgeting, forecasting, reforecasting and medium-term financial planning
- Driving high-quality business partnering across multiple service lines, including housing, manufacturing and social enterprise
- Strengthening pricing models, margin analysis, scenario modelling and investment appraisal
- Improving the speed, quality and usefulness of management information and dashboards
- Acting as Finance lead on commercial workstreams within an ERP implementation
- Leading and developing a small but capable commercial finance team
This is a role where you’ll be expected to challenge constructively, influence senior operational leaders, and help drive improved performance, sustainability and resilience across the organisation.
Who This Role Will Suit
You’ll be a fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA) with strong commercial finance experience and the confidence to operate in a complex, multi-activity environment. You may come from:
- Manufacturing
- Housing / supported living
- Social enterprise
- A highly commercial charity or not-for-profit
- Or a broader commercial background with strong values alignment
What matters most is your ability to:
- Translate complexity into clear, actionable insight
- Partner effectively with non-financial leaders
- Build credibility quickly
- Balance rigour with pragmatism
- Lead change, not just report numbers
Prior charity experience is helpful but not essential, this organisation is open to strong commercial talent who want to apply their skills in a purpose-led environment.
Why Apply?
- A senior, visible role with real influence
- Exceptional organisational breadth and challenge
- A chance to shape finance capability at a critical point of transformation
- A values-driven organisation doing genuinely meaningful work
- Hybrid working, with the role based in Kent
About Charity Recruit: Charity Recruit is a specialist recruitment partner to charities, social enterprises and purpose-led organisations across the UK. We recruit senior finance, executive and leadership roles, combining deep sector knowledge with strong commercial insight. We work closely with our clients to ensure roles are positioned honestly and attractively, and we take pride in delivering a high-quality, transparent experience for candidates and organisations alike. If you’re a senior finance professional looking for a role with impact, complexity and purpose we’d love to hear from you. Apply via Charity Recruit or contact us directly for a confidential conversation.
Head of Commercial Finance in Aylesford employer: Charity Recruit
Contact Detail:
Charity Recruit Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Commercial Finance in Aylesford
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the finance sector, especially those who have experience in charities or social enterprises. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings that aren't even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the organisation's mission and values. Show us how your commercial finance skills align with their goals. Tailor your examples to demonstrate how you can drive insight-driven decision making in a complex environment.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how you can lead budgeting and forecasting while improving management information. We want to hear how you can translate complexity into actionable insights that will help the charity thrive.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, we’re here to support you every step of the way in landing that dream role.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Commercial Finance in Aylesford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Head of Commercial Finance role. Highlight your commercial finance experience and any leadership roles you've held, as this will show us you're ready for the challenge.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about this role and how your values align with our mission-driven organisation. Be specific about how you can contribute to our financial transformation.
Showcase Your Achievements: When detailing your past roles, focus on achievements rather than just responsibilities. Use metrics where possible to demonstrate your impact, like improvements in budgeting processes or successful team leadership.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. This ensures your application gets to us quickly and efficiently, and you'll be one step closer to joining our mission-driven team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Charity Recruit
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Head of Commercial Finance, you'll need to demonstrate your financial acumen. Brush up on key financial metrics relevant to the charity sector, such as budgeting, forecasting, and margin analysis. Be ready to discuss how you've used these insights to drive decision-making in previous roles.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
This role involves leading a small finance team and influencing non-financial leaders. Prepare examples that highlight your leadership style and how you've successfully partnered with other departments. Think about times when you’ve driven change or improved performance through collaboration.
✨Understand the Organisation's Mission
Since this charity is values-led, it's crucial to align your personal values with theirs. Research their mission and services thoroughly. Be prepared to discuss how your commercial expertise can support their goals and enhance their impact in the community.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills in complex situations. Prepare for scenario-based questions where you might need to analyse a financial challenge or propose a pricing model. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses effectively.