Head of Finance in Huyton

Head of Finance Merseyside (St Helens area) £60,000 Permanent Full-time Initially predominantly office-based, with greater flexibility once established Are you a qualified finance leader who enjoys improving things, developing people and having the freedom to shape a finance function? Charity Recruit is partnering with an established, community-focused charity to appoint an experienced Head of Finance at an important point in its development. This is much more than a reporting role.

The organisation is going through a period of positive change, with new leadership appointments and a genuine opportunity for the incoming Head of Finance to influence how the finance function develops. Some of the groundwork has already begun. An experienced interim has identified key areas for improvement, introduced positive change and built a strong relationship with the existing finance team.

You'll therefore inherit good foundations and an initial plan – but importantly, you'll have the autonomy to assess what's working, challenge what isn't and shape the next phase yourself. The opportunity As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, you'll be the organisation's senior finance specialist, working closely with the Executive Leadership Team, Board of Trustees and Directors of its Trading Company.

You'll need to be equally comfortable discussing long-term financial sustainability with senior stakeholders and getting close enough to the detail to understand what needs improving operationally. You'll lead annual budgeting and five-year financial forecasting, providing the insight senior leaders and trustees need to make informed decisions about future priorities and financial sustainability.

You'll take ownership of timely and accurate management accounts, with an ambition to deliver these within 10 working days of month end, alongside cash-flow forecasting, analysis of income and expenditure and clear reporting on liquidity.

You'll also work directly with budget holders, helping non-finance colleagues understand their numbers, identify opportunities and take greater ownership of financial performance. A broad finance leadership remit Alongside planning and reporting, you'll oversee the organisation's wider financial infrastructure and statutory responsibilities. This includes annual financial statements, financial controls, assets and liabilities, debtors and creditors, VAT, Corporation Tax and other statutory returns.

You'll oversee an accurate monthly payroll service and relationships with external auditors, accountants, banks, advisers, HMRC, the Charity Commission, Companies House and other professional and regulatory bodies. There is also exposure to investment reporting, business cases and providing financial advice across the organisation. Fundamentally, this role is about making financial information useful – translating the numbers into clear insight that helps people make better decisions.

Leading people through change The people element of this appointment is just as important as the technical remit. The finance team has experienced change, and the organisation wants a leader who understands that successful transformation is about bringing people with you. You'll need the confidence to improve systems, controls and ways of working, but also the emotional intelligence to listen, understand why things have historically been done a certain way and recognise what already works.

This isn't about arriving with a predetermined transformation blueprint. There are identified priorities and an initial implementation plan, but the organisation genuinely wants its new Head of Finance to have a voice. You'll be encouraged to bring your own ideas and influence the direction of travel. Why join now? The timing makes this a particularly interesting opportunity.

You'll be joining as the organisation develops its wider leadership team, giving you the chance to build relationships with other leaders bringing fresh perspectives and help shape how the senior team works together. There is also continuity. An experienced interim remains in place and has developed an excellent relationship with the finance team, creating a strong platform for the permanent appointee to build upon. Initially, the role will require a significant office presence.

Building relationships with the team and wider organisation is important. Once established, there will be greater scope for flexibility. Who are we looking for? You'll be a qualified accountant with substantial financial management experience and the credibility to operate at senior leadership and Board level. You'll bring strong experience across budgeting and forecasting, management accounts, cash-flow management, statutory reporting, financial controls and systems, alongside experience of leading and developing a finance team.

Experience within a charity, healthcare or similarly regulated environment would be particularly valuable, as would knowledge of charity SORP and experience of implementing change. Technical competence, however, is only part of what we're looking for. You'll be approachable, pragmatic and collaborative – someone who can challenge constructively, communicate complex financial information simply and build trusted relationships with finance and non-finance colleagues alike.

You'll be strategic without becoming removed from the detail, confident without being overly corporate, and ambitious about improving the function while respecting the people already within it. Above all, this is an opportunity for someone who wants to use their financial expertise within a purpose-led organisation where their contribution will genuinely matter. About Charity Recruit Charity Recruit is a specialist recruitment partner dedicated to the UK charity and not-for-profit sector.

We recruit leadership and senior management professionals for purpose-led organisations across the UK, combining specialist sector knowledge with proactive search and an extensive professional network. We believe successful charity recruitment goes beyond matching a CV to a job description. We take the time to understand an organisation's purpose, culture and ambitions, alongside the leadership style and values needed to succeed.

If this sounds like the kind of challenge you've been looking for, apply today or contact Emily Formby at Charity Recruit for a confidential discussion.