Head of Finance - Health and Social Care in Essex

Are you a qualified accountant ready to take full ownership of a finance function within a growing, acquisitive care business?

We are working with a specialist provider of supported living, residential and community support for adults with learning disabilities, autism, mental health needs and complex care requirements. The organisation is growing organically and through acquisition, and it needs a senior finance leader who can hold the strategy and the detail at the same time.

This is a broad role. You will sit on the Senior Leadership Team, work directly with the Chief Executive, Managing Director and Board, and have a genuine say in where the business goes next.

What you will be doing

Strategy and performance

• Develop and deliver the financial strategy in line with long term business plans
• Provide strategic financial advice to the Chief Executive, Managing Director, Board and wider leadership team
• Lead financial modelling and scenario planning to support growth, investment and service development
• Own the annual budgeting and long term financial planning cycles
• Produce monthly management accounts, forecasts, cash flow projections and performance analysis
• Track developments in adult social care commissioning, funding and regulation, and advise on the financial impact

Growth and acquisitions

• Lead the financial appraisal, modelling and due diligence of acquisitions, mergers and new services
• Work alongside external advisers throughout acquisition processes
• Support post acquisition integration, embedding effective controls, reporting and performance monitoring

Board and governance

• Prepare board level reports, forecasts and business cases
• Present complex financial information clearly enough to drive good decisions
• Support the Board in meeting its governance, assurance and risk responsibilities

Control, compliance and commercial

• Maintain robust financial controls, policies and governance arrangements
• Lead the preparation of statutory accounts and manage the external audit
• Oversee tax, VAT, payroll and statutory reporting
• Provide financial oversight of local authority and NHS/ICB contracts, private income and commissioned services
• Monitor occupancy, staffing costs, agency spend and service profitability
• Build the annual fee uplift strategy, using analysis and benchmarking to strengthen negotiations with commissioners
• Oversee cash flow, working capital, banking arrangements and debtor management
• Manage relationships with auditors, lenders, insurers and professional advisers

Systems and team

• Lead the development of finance systems, reporting and internal processes with a bias towards automation
• Lead, develop and motivate the finance team, supporting succession planning and professional growth
• Build commercial awareness and financial accountability across operational teams

About you

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or CIPFA) with evidence of continuing professional development
• Significant experience in a senior finance leadership role
• Background in health and social care
• Experience reporting to a Board or Trustees and presenting strategic financial information
• Strong track record across budgeting, forecasting, statutory reporting and financial control
• Experience managing external audit and regulatory compliance
• Confident with financial modelling, business planning and commercial decision support
• Experience supporting acquisitions, organisational growth or major business change
• Experience leading and developing finance teams
• Knowledge of CQC regulation and social care funding
• Acquisition due diligence and post acquisition integration
• Experience within a private equity backed or high growth organisation

You will be commercially astute, comfortable translating numbers into clear recommendations, and able to balance strategic priorities with hands on delivery. Integrity, sound judgement and a collaborative style matter here as much as technical skill.

The Role

You will have real influence at board level rather than simply reporting upwards. The acquisition agenda gives the role genuine breadth, and you will see the direct link between the financial decisions you make and the quality of care people receive. For the right person this is a role with room to grow as the business does.

All enquiries are handled in complete confidence.

Please only apply if you are in the position to work with a service based in Essex, are currently living in England and have full rights to live and work in the UK.