Finance Manager in Huddersfield

Salary: £47,022
Hours: 37.5 hours, Monday - Friday
Location: Huddersfield
Responsible to: Finance & Corporate Services Director
Responsible for: Finance Team
Benefits: Entry into Peoples Pension, death in service benefit (3 × salary), out of pocket expenses, free on‑site parking, free access to confidential and extensive wellbeing support, generous holiday entitlement (26 days plus bank holidays rising to 31 days after 5 years for a full time employee, pro rata for part time), free tea / coffee, sight tests and flu jabs and excellent learning and development opportunities.

Overview of role

In this key role at Forget Me Not Children's Hospice, where every penny helps us support children with life‑shortening conditions and their families, you’ll lead the finance function, delivering accurate monthly management accounts and ensuring strong financial control, governance and compliance across our children's hospice and trading company. As a member of the senior management team, you’ll lead on budgeting, forecasting and financial planning, and provide clear insight to support decision‑making across the organisation.

Job Description

Role Summary: The Finance Manager leads the organisation's finance function, ensuring accurate reporting, strong financial control, and clear insight to support decision‑making and sustainability.

Person Specification

• Lead and manage the finance function to deliver an efficient, compliant and high‑quality service
• Develop and support the finance team, ensuring clear accountability, performance and continuous improvement
• Contribute financial expertise to Senior Management Team discussions and organisational decision‑making
• Lead budgeting, forecasting and financial planning processes, ensuring robust financial oversight
• Provide clear analysis, insight and constructive challenge to budget holders and senior leaders
• Support value for money and sustainable decision‑making across all areas of the organisation
• Produce accurate and timely monthly management accounts and financial reports
• Lead financial reporting to the Senior Management Team, Trustee Board and Sub Committees
• Ensure compliance with all statutory, regulatory and reporting requirements
• Maintain strong financial controls and governance frameworks across the organisation
• Own and lead on the audit processes and the preparation of year‑end accounts
• Ensure effective management of cashflow, balance sheet integrity, and financial risks
• Oversee payroll delivery to ensure accuracy, timeliness and full compliance with statutory requirements
• Ensure appropriate payroll controls, reconciliations and alignment with HR processes
• Drive improvements to finance systems, processes and reporting
• Identify opportunities for efficiency, automation and improved data quality

We also expect all staff to undertake any other duties within the scope, spirit and purpose of the job, the title of the post and its grading, as requested by your line manager or their higher level of authority.

Essential criteria

• Fully qualified accountant (e.g. CCAB or equivalent)
• Significant experience in a finance management role, including budgeting, forecasting, payroll and management accounts.
• Strong technical knowledge of financial controls, audit and statutory reporting
• Experience leading or managing a finance function or team
• Ability to analyse and clearly communicate financial information to non‑financial stakeholders
• Experience supporting senior leaders with financial insight and decision‑making
• Strong organisational skills, with ability to manage deadlines and competing priorities
• Proficient in finance systems and Excel

Desirable criteria

• Charity / not-for-profit experience
• Knowledge of SORP and charity finance
• Experience working with Boards or Committees
• Experience improving systems or processes

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Equality and Diversity

• We will actively encourage and support under‑represented groups to join us as employees
• We will always interview you if you are an applicant with disability who meets the essential requirements of the job and will provide adjustments to the recruitment process if required.
• We are committed to supporting part time and flexible working; we will consider part time working requests for all our roles

Please click here to view our full equality, diversity and inclusion pledge