Head of Finance (London)

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Application Deadline: 30 June 2025

Department: Finance and Business Services

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: London, UK

Compensation: GBP 60,000 - GBP 75,000 / year

Description Role: Head of Finance

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Location: London (Hybrid Working)

Salary: GBP 60,000-GBP 75,000

Department: Finance

Contract: Permanent

Are you a strategic and detail-oriented finance professional who thrives on driving innovation, enhancing operational efficiency, and influencing key decisions at a senior level? NatCen is the UK's leading independent social research centre and we are looking for a dynamic and forward-thinking Head of Finance to join our senior team and play a pivotal role in shaping the financial health and resilience of our organisation.

Reporting directly to the Director of Finance & Chief Commercial Officer, you will lead a talented finance team, oversee statutory accounting and audits, and be a key contributor to high-impact decision-making. This is more than a technical role - we’re seeking a change-maker. You’ll drive innovation in finance systems, champion best practice, and act as a trusted advisor across departments. With your strong background in financial controls, stakeholder engagement, and contract review and negotiation, you’ll help us uphold our reputation for integrity, transparency, and excellence in the not-for-profit sector.

Key Responsibilities:

• Financial Accounting: Responsible for draft statutory accounts and audit working papers for the organisation. Ensure that statutory accounts disclosures are as agreed with Director of Finance and kept up to date. Ensure accounting policies are documented and correctly reflected in the financial statements. Maintain additional records and information as required in order to meet the reporting and filing obligations of the organisation. Be responsible for statutory filings including VAT returns, tax returns, ONS & Companies House; including monitoring compliance within the organisation. Maintain the fixed asset register and ensuring depreciation and amortisation are correctly input each month.
• Financial Controls: Uphold and improve the financial control environment of the organisation, updating and implementing all necessary processes and procedures to ensure compliance and best practice is maintained. Provide the Director of Finance with a monthly control account report, commenting on any significant movements or variances in the balance sheet.
• Production of Financial Reports: Responsible for the production of a monthly balance sheet report, commenting on significant movements and variances. Produce a cashflow report and reserves reconciliation.
• Contract Management and Negotiation: Prepare and negotiate contracts with clients and suppliers. Maintain an organised contract management system, monitor contract performance, and ensure compliance. Manage changes, extensions, and terminations of contracts. Identify and mitigate risks associated with contracts. Build and maintain strong relationships with clients and suppliers. Effectively communicate with stakeholders about contract-related matters.
• Stakeholder Management: Build and maintain strong relationships with senior internal and external stakeholders to understand their needs and expectations. Have a flexible approach both to the type of work undertaken and working hours as required to meet team objectives and ultimately the organisation's needs.
• Technology and Innovation: Leverage technology to enhance service delivery and operational efficiency. Stay abreast of industry trends and innovations to drive continuous improvement. Implement new technologies and systems as needed. Oversee maintenance and continual improvement of all financial tools including ERP system, Purchase to Pay and Order to Cash processes and all staff training materials provided.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise:

• Qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA) with minimum 5 years post qualification experience. Charity (including SORP) or SME experience preferable.
• Significant experience in financial accounting including preparation of annual accounts and managing annual audit process.
• Experience of VAT and Tax returns plus other statutory filings including ONS & Companies House returns.
• Experience of grant and contract VAT statuses and partial exemption recovery method beneficial.
• Experience of Purchase to Pay and Order to Cash processes and management.
• Experience of accounting for defined benefit pension scheme beneficial.
• Experience of contract review (supplier and customer), able to challenge and agree contract terms and working with external legal support to review.
• Experience of annual insurance renewal process and negotiations.
• Excellent balance sheet management including fixed asset register, debtors and creditors and all reconciliations.

Skills and Ability:

• Advanced working knowledge of Microsoft Excel including advanced formulas, pivot and data table creation and manipulation.
• Knowledge of reporting platforms such as Power BI an advantage.
• Able to manage multiple objectives and see things through to completion within set deadlines, keeping team members updated on progress at the appropriate intervals.
• Be a proven champion of upholding high standards and quality of work in others and in oneself.
• Delivery focused, ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure highly desirable.
• Good stakeholder engagement and ability to lead conversations with non-finance people (both internal and external).
• Able to apply high level of technical knowledge and expertise.

Benefits:

As well as a competitive salary, an excellent working environment (including a home/office hybrid working environment), you will be working for the largest independent social research organisation in the UK. We are proud of the benefits we offer our employees which include: 25 days holiday (plus 8 bank holidays) and flexible working, generous company pension scheme, life insurance and health cash plan, cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan, career development, professional subscriptions support and mentoring support from industry-leading experts.