Head of Finance and Administration in Middlesbrough

Application Process

Please find below details of the application process and further information to assist you in its completion.

Closing Date: Monday 20 July 2026

First Stage Interview: Thursday 30 July 2026

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview. Due to high application volumes, we regret that we cannot provide feedback to those who are not shortlisted.

Assessment: Applications are assessed against the ‘essential’ and ‘desirable’ criteria for the role, as set out on the person specification. Please ensure, therefore, that your application fully reflects how you meet these criteria.

Middlesbrough Football Club Foundation welcomes applications from all sections of the community. We welcome applications from disabled candidates. We are also seeking to diversify our workforce, particularly by gender and ethnicity.

Working Pattern: 22.5 hours a week (hours can be negotiated). Flexible hours Monday to Friday between 09:00-17:30

Contract Type: Permanent

Salary: £26,100 - £27,050 (£43,500-45,084 FTE)

Reports to: Head of Foundation

Responsible for: Finance Manager, Finance and Administration Coordinator, Administrators

Location: Southlands Community and Sports Hub, Middlesbrough

Overview of the role: The Head of Finance and Administration is a key Senior Leadership Team role responsible for ensuring the Foundation is financially sustainable, well-governed, and able to deliver its strategic ambitions. Working closely with the Head of Foundation, Board, and Committees, the postholder leads financial strategy aligned to Together 2024–28, overseeing budgeting, forecasting, and reporting while supporting income generation and demonstrating impact to funders. Alongside strategic leadership, the role provides overall management of the finance and administration function, leading a team of four to deliver high-quality financial operations, financial governance, and compliance. By embedding robust systems, controls, and processes, and providing clear financial insight to senior leaders and programme teams, the postholder enables effective decision-making, strong accountability, and efficient delivery across the organisation. At the Foundation we are committed to living and embedding our core values (quality, inspire, teamwork, inclusion and honesty and integrity).

Job Description

• Strategic Financial Leadership and Governance: Lead all aspects of financial management, ensuring accurate and timely reporting to the Board and funders, and providing clear analysis, insight, and forecasting to inform strategic decision-making and long-term planning.
• Hold overall accountability for organisational budgeting, leading the annual budget-setting process and ensuring financial performance aligns with strategic priorities and sustainability targets.
• Work in partnership with the Head of Foundation to develop and deliver the financial strategy, strengthening systems, policies, and processes to support growth and impact.
• Lead on financial governance, audit, and compliance, acting as key liaison with auditors and ensuring adherence to Charity Commission and regulatory requirements, alongside effective risk management and internal controls.
• Oversee the preparation of annual accounts and ensure high-quality reporting to the Finance and Governance Committee, Board, and senior leaders, with clear financial narratives and risk visibility.

• Leadership, Operations and Organisational Support: Lead the Finance and Administration function, overseeing a Finance Manager, Finance and Administration Coordinator, and administrators.
• Set direction and expectations for the team, delegating day-to-day financial operations to the Finance Manager while maintaining oversight, accountability, and performance management.
• Maintain oversight of all financial operations and technical accounting areas, ensuring strong controls, compliance, and accuracy across payroll, payments, reconciliations, and financial systems, with operational delivery led through the Finance Manager.
• Ensure financial systems and processes are efficient, robust, and scalable, supporting effective day-to-day operations and organisational growth.
• Act as a senior business partner, translating financial data into actionable insight and supporting programme leads with budgeting, performance, and funder requirements, including oversight of financial inputs to funding applications and reporting.
• Build and sustain a high-performing, values-led team culture, promoting accountability, development, inclusion, and continuous improvement, while ensuring compliance with health and safety, safeguarding, and data protection standards.

About The Candidate

• Essential: Proven experience leading organisational financial management, including budgeting, forecasting, and producing high-quality management accounts and Board-level reporting.
• Significant experience developing and implementing financial strategies, policies, and controls that ensure sustainability, compliance, and organisational effectiveness.
• Demonstrable experience of leading and developing finance teams, with the ability to delegate operational delivery while maintaining strategic oversight and accountability.
• Strong experience of audit management, statutory accounts preparation, and working effectively with auditors, Boards, and Committees.

• Desirable: Experience operating in the charity or not-for-profit sector, including knowledge of charity accounting and funding environments.
• Experience of charity accounting and knowledge of Charity Commission requirements.
• Experience improving or implementing financial systems and processes to enhance efficiency and reporting capability.
• Experience of charity governance including Charity Commission requirements, developing, and implementing policies and procedures (including online systems).

Qualifications: Good standard of general education including high levels of literacy and numeracy. Qualified ACA, ACCA, or CIMA accountant with extensive post qualification experience, and preferably a relevant degree in accounting, economics, finance, or related field.

Specific Skills and Knowledge: Ability to interpret complex financial information and translate it into clear, actionable insight to support senior leaders and non-finance stakeholders. Strong understanding of financial governance, risk management, and regulatory compliance frameworks. Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with experience influencing at senior leadership and Trustee/Board level. Evidence of leading culture, embedding organisational values, and driving continuous improvement within a team or function. High levels of integrity, professionalism, and discretion, with the ability to manage sensitive financial information. Strong IT and financial systems skills, with the ability to oversee efficient, scalable processes and digital approaches to finance operations. Track record of supporting organisational growth through financial planning, funding strategies, or income diversification. Understanding and experience of managing governance codes and frameworks.

Additional Requirements: Be eligible to work in the UK. A basic DBS check will need to be completed. Commitment to working occasional evening and weekends including match days for Middlesbrough FC Men and Women’s teams.

About The Club

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: Middlesbrough Football Club Foundation is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity. Alongside Middlesbrough Football Club, we are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion as highlighted by our RiversideBySide initiative. The Foundation is a place where inclusion is a core value and where everyone can be themselves in an environment where they feel safe and included, including being a Disability Confident Leader.

Safeguarding: Middlesbrough Football Club Foundation and Middlesbrough Football Club are fully committed to the safeguarding and welfare of children, young people, young players, and Adults at Risk. Promoting safeguarding and welfare of participants and staff is everyone’s responsibility and staff and volunteers are expected to share this commitment. As part of the Foundation’s commitment to safeguarding, any successful applicant, who will be working in regulated activity, will be required to undergo a DBS (Disclosure Barring Service) check or an enhanced DBS check. The successful applicant will not be able to start working for the Foundation until the DBS check has been completed. The Foundation will also seek the successful candidate's consent for obtaining two written references and to ask for documentary proof of qualifications and right to work in the UK. Any offer of employment will be conditional on these being satisfactory. Once in post, all new staff will receive a comprehensive safeguarding induction from our Designated Safeguarding Officer, as well as ongoing safeguarding training.