At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead finance strategies, optimise project costing, and enhance financial reporting for a charity.
- Company: A nationally recognised charity focused on social impact and sustainability.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid work, extensive benefits, and meaningful contributions to society.
- Other info: Join a dynamic team and gain strategic leadership exposure in a supportive environment.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in a purpose-driven organisation while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Fully qualified accountant with experience in business partnering and financial modelling.
The predicted salary is between 65000 - 70000 £ per year.
Our client, a well-established and nationally recognised charity, is seeking an experienced Head of Finance to lead its commercial finance and business partnering function. This is a strategic and hands-on leadership role, focused on strengthening financial modelling, project costing, forecasting, reporting, and systems improvement. The position plays a critical role in supporting income generation activities, ensuring financial sustainability, and partnering closely with senior stakeholders across service delivery, business development, and fundraising. The successful candidate will combine strong technical accounting expertise with commercial insight and the ability to influence decision-making across non-finance teams.
As Head of Finance, you will lead the commercial finance agenda, ensuring robust financial governance across projects and commissioned services. A strong emphasis will be placed on bid support, margin and cost recovery optimisation, cashflow oversight, and enhancing financial reporting systems. This role is ideal for a commercially minded finance leader who thrives in a purpose-driven organisation and enjoys translating financial data into meaningful operational insight.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead commercial finance support across project and income-generating activities
- Provide insight on profitability, cost recovery, and cashflow, identifying risks and recommending actions
- Partner with Business Development and Fundraising teams on financial bid inputs, from development through to submission
- Own and continuously improve the project costing model, ensuring governance and timely sign-off
- Deliver bespoke financial modelling for complex commissioning and funding requirements
- Produce monthly project reporting, analyse variances, and support budget holders in managing performance
- Lead forecasting through to end-of-contract and consolidate into the rolling organisational forecast
- Improve ledger integrity for projects, including journals and adjustments where required
- Deliver accurate commissioner and donor reporting within strict deadlines
- Support finance systems improvements, including self-serve reporting, dashboards, and coding accuracy
- Conduct financial due diligence as required
Essential Requirements
- Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent)
- Proven experience business partnering with senior non-finance stakeholders
- Strong track record of systems and process improvement
- Advanced Excel skills and confidence handling large datasets and complex reporting
- Demonstrated experience in financial modelling and supporting bids/tenders
- Strong communication skills with the ability to translate financial data into practical, commercial decisions
Desirable Experience
- Experience within charity and/or non-profit environments
- Exposure to Sage or similar reporting tools and dashboards
- Experience supporting regional or national service delivery models
What’s on Offer
- Competitive salary (£65K–£70K)
- Hybrid working arrangement
- Extensive benefits package
- Opportunity to contribute to a mission-driven organisation delivering meaningful social impact
- Strategic cross-functional leadership exposure
Head of Finance employer: Success Matcher Recruitment
Join a leading AI communications company in London, where innovation meets opportunity. With a competitive compensation package and a culture that fosters collaboration and growth, you'll have the chance to engage with top-tier clients while advancing your career in a dynamic environment. Our commitment to employee development and success makes us an exceptional employer for those looking to make a meaningful impact in the tech industry.
Contact Details:
Success Matcher Recruitment Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Finance
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the charity sector and let them know you're on the hunt for a Head of Finance role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on opportunities or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your financial modelling skills and understanding the specific challenges faced by charities. Be ready to discuss how your expertise can help improve their financial governance and support income generation.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your commercial insight during interviews. Use examples from your past experiences where you've influenced decision-making across non-finance teams, especially in project costing and cashflow management.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Finance
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV speaks directly to the Head of Finance role. Highlight your experience in commercial finance, project costing, and financial modelling. We want to see how your skills align with what our client is looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about working in a charity environment and how your background makes you the perfect fit for this strategic role. Let us see your personality!
Showcase Your Technical Skills:Don’t forget to mention your accounting qualifications and advanced Excel skills. We’re looking for someone who can handle large datasets and complex reporting, so make sure these skills are front and centre in your application.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves. Good luck!
How to prepare for a job interview at Success Matcher Recruitment
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Head of Finance, you’ll need to demonstrate your financial acumen. Brush up on key financial metrics relevant to the charity sector, such as cash flow management and cost recovery. Be ready to discuss how you've used financial modelling in past roles to drive decision-making.
✨Showcase Your Stakeholder Skills
This role requires strong business partnering with non-finance teams. Prepare examples of how you've successfully collaborated with senior stakeholders in previous positions. Highlight your ability to translate complex financial data into actionable insights that support their objectives.
✨Demonstrate Systems Savvy
Familiarise yourself with financial systems and reporting tools like Sage. Be prepared to discuss any experience you have with improving financial processes or implementing new systems. Showing that you can enhance reporting accuracy will set you apart.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills in real-world scenarios. Think about challenges you've faced in financial governance or project costing and how you overcame them. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses effectively.
