Head of Finance in Newton Aycliffe

Are you ready to lead a finance function and play a pivotal role in shaping this organisation’s future?

Contract type: Permanent

Working hours: Full Time - 37 hours per week

Salary: Circa £45,000 per annum

Location: Head Office - Newton Aycliffe, DL5

About the Employer

Our client is a long established environmental and community charity with over 30 years of experience creating greener, healthier and more resilient places across the region. Their mission centres on Creating Better Places, Improving People’s Prospects, and Promoting Greener Living, helping communities thrive no matter the challenges they face. They deliver hundreds of locally led projects each year, including initiatives that support young people and adults into education, training and employment, helping them overcome barriers, build life skills, and reach their full potential.

About You and The Role

Our client is now seeking a strategic, forward thinking Head of Finance to lead their finance function and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of their organisation.

Job Purpose

This is more than a finance role, it’s an opportunity to guide, influence and strengthen the financial sustainability of a charity creating meaningful, lasting change. The organisation is seeking someone with strong financial management experience, including statutory reporting and VAT. Experience of charity accounting and SORP is desirable, but candidates from the private sector with the ability to learn charity‑specific requirements are welcome.

As the Head of Finance, you will:

• Provide strategic financial leadership across the organisation, working closely with the Chief Executive, Trustees, and Senior Leaders.
• Lead on financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and financial risk management.
• Ensure robust financial controls, compliance with charity accounting standards (SORP), and oversee VAT, statutory requirements, and audits.
• Manage and motivate the finance team, fostering a culture of excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Strengthen financial systems, reporting, and automation to support operational efficiency.
• Support project managers with financial planning, grant management, and contract delivery.
• Drive improvements that support long term organisational sustainability.

This is a high impact role that blends hands on leadership with strategic influence. They are looking for an experienced and dynamic finance leader who brings:

Essential

• A recognised accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA or equivalent).
• Experience delivering a wide range of finance duties, including management accounts, budgeting, strategic analysis, and year end processes.
• Experience managing finance teams.
• Outstanding analytical, organisational, and financial planning skills.
• Excellent communication skills, able to present complex information clearly to colleagues and trustees.
• High integrity, professionalism, and commitment to the values and mission of the charity.

Desirable

• Experience in community based or grant funded projects.
• Experience strengthening financial controls and supporting fundraising or contract bidding.
• Knowledge of procurement procedures or state aid regulations.
• Familiarity with Sage Intacct.

Closing Date: Thursday, 30th April 2026

Interview Details: To be confirmed after the closing date.

Please note: should a high volume of applications be received, this employer may look to close the role early, therefore an early application is recommended.

This role is subject to an Standard Disclosure endorsed by the Disclosure and Barring Service.

The employer want you to be yourself and they value everything that makes you unique. They recognise and celebrate your difference and together you will make the organisation a special and great place to work.

As a Disability Confident employer they offer a guaranteed interview to applicants with a disability who meet the essential criteria for the role.

The employer ensures that they provide a safe environment for adults, children and young people to take part in any activity or service that they organise. They are committed to creating a culture that promotes safeguarding and the welfare of all children, young people and adults at risk. Their safer recruitment practices support this by ensuring that there is a consistent and comprehensive process of obtaining, collating, analysing and evaluating information from and about candidates to ensure that all the people they appoint are suitable to work with children, young people and adults.

This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship – the successful applicant will need to have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment contract.

No agencies please.