Location: Midlands – Leicester or Birmingham (hybrid working)
Salary: £48,500 per annum, FTE 37.5 hours (we will also consider a 4-day / 30-hour week)
Contract: Permanent (we will consider interim-to-permanent arrangements)
Join a charity fighting hunger, tackling waste and creating opportunities
We are a forward-looking regional charity working across the Midlands to fight hunger, tackle food waste and create opportunities for people and communities. We believe no one should go hungry when good food is going to waste, and that everyone deserves the chance to thrive.
We are now looking for a Head of Finance to join our Senior Leadership Team and play a central role in ensuring our financial strength, sustainability and growth – so we can maximise our social impact.
The role
As Head of Finance, you will be the organisation’s lead financial expert, reporting directly to the Chief Executive and working closely with fellow senior leaders and Trustees. You will provide the financial insight and leadership that underpins strategic decisions and day-to-day operations.
You will:
- Lead the development and delivery of the organisation’s financial strategy, ensuring long-term sustainability and supporting our strategic priorities and business plans.
- Oversee all aspects of financial management, including budgeting, forecasting, management accounts and statutory accounts.
- Lead on financial reporting and liaison with the Trustee Board, including servicing and advising the Trustee Finance Committee.
- Ensure strong financial controls, including procurement, credit control, cash flow management, payroll and systems that support growth.
- Take responsibility for statutory and regulatory financial compliance, including HMRC requirements and charity/company reporting.
- Provide clear, insightful financial analysis to support decision-making, funding applications and operational improvement.
- Work closely with budget holders across the organisation, building financial understanding, ownership and accountability.
- Lead, support and develop a small Finance team of two (Finance Officer and Finance Assistant).
About you
We are looking for a values-led finance leader who is motivated by using their skills for positive social impact.
You will bring:
- Significant experience in a senior financial and management accounting role, with responsibility for budgets, management and statutory accounts, controls and reporting.
- Experience of leading a finance function, including oversight of payroll and pensions.
- Strong skills in financial planning, analysis, forecasting and budgeting, and the ability to communicate clearly and confidently with senior leaders and Trustees.
- Experience of working with or supporting a Board or Finance Committee, providing clear, insightful information and advice.
- Confident use of Excel and finance systems to produce robust, timely and accurate information.
- A proven ability to lead and develop a team, building a positive, inclusive and high-performing culture.
- Excellent interpersonal skills – able to influence, challenge and support colleagues at all levels.
- A collaborative, solutions-focused approach and the ability to manage competing priorities.
- Professionally qualified in accountancy or who can demonstrate equivalent experience.
- From any sector – charity experience is not essential. We are very open to candidates bringing transferable skills from commercial, public or other not-for-profit environments, with a commitment to learning charity-specific requirements (such as charity/SORP accounting) as part of your induction.
- A Midlands base in either Leicester or Birmingham, with hybrid working.
- Salary of £48,500 per annum (FTE, 37.5 hours), with 4-day / 30-hour week options considered.
- The expectation of a cost of living increase from April.
- The opportunity to be part of the Senior Leadership Team, shaping the future direction and impact of the organisation.
- A chance to use your finance expertise to directly support people facing hunger, poverty and barriers to work, while reducing food waste.
We are committed to building a team that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve and to creating an inclusive working environment where everyone can be themselves and perform at their best. We warmly encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and sectors, including those who may not have worked in a charity before.
We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability and potential; please contact us if you require any assistance or adjustment so that we can help with making the application process work for you.
We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability and potential; please contact us if you require any assistance or adjustment so that we can help with making the application process work for you.
ABOUT THE ORGANISATION
Join one of the UK's largest and most impactful charities - an organisation delivering life-changing services across communities nationwide. With a long history of social mission, they operate at scale across social welfare, community development, education, homelessness and support services.
THE ROLE
You will lead the provision of full management accounting support for a portfolio of key business areas, offering financial insight, analysis and proactive business partnering. Working closely with a Mission Management Accountant, you will help operational leaders understand performance, make informed decisions and plan effectively.
Key responsibilities include:
* Delivering management accounts, forecasts, variance analysis and commentary.
* Supporting budget holders with budgeting, planning and monthly monitoring.
* Providing financial advice, insights and training to non-finance stakeholders.
* Preparing journals, accruals, prepayments and month-end schedules.
* Supporting staffing/establishment analysis and headcount monitoring.
* Assisting income streams through invoice management.
* Producing financial modelling and strategic planning reports.
* Preparing year-end schedules and handling audit queries.
ABOUT YOU
* Significant experience in management accounting, budgeting and financial analysis within a large complex organisation.
* Fully qualified accountant.
* Strong Excel and data analysis skills.
* Ability to run full month-end independently.
* Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
* Organised, proactive and solutions-focused.
Desirable experience: charity accounting, VAT/Gift Aid, KPI development, strong excel ability.
WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU
* Hybrid working: two days per week in the London office.
* 35-hour working week with a strong work-life balance.
* Pension: Matched pension contribution
* On-site café with discounts.
* Minimum 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays and Christmas closure.
Please apply now for the opportunity to work with a large, purpose-led charity making a real difference across communities every day.
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Head of Academic Representation
Salary: £46,323
Location: Oxford, Headington - we ask staff to spend at least 60% of their time on-site
Contract: Full time. Fixed-term contract (24 months) This role is offered on a fixed-term basis for 24 months. Subject to funding, there may be the potential for the role to become permanent in the future.
Are you ready to champion student voice and drive meaningful change across higher education?
Oxford Brookes Students’ Union is seeking a strategic, values-led Head of Academic Representation to lead their academic voice, representation and influence work, ensuring students are at the heart of decision-making and institutional change at Oxford Brookes University.
About Oxford Brookes SU
Oxford Brookes Students’ Union is an independent education charity led by, and for, students.
The Students’ Union is central to the University experience and works to support all aspects of student life for the 26,000 plus students studying at Oxford Brookes University. Located in a bustling city, the Students’ Union is an ambitious and diverse organisation, committed to supporting every student at Oxford Brookes University in achieving personal success.
Oxford Brookes Students’ Union sits at the heart of a thriving student community, with activities and initiatives inspired by students themselves. The Students’ Union is committed to promoting the interests and welfare of its members, representing their needs, and offering opportunities for personal development through a wide range of social, cultural, sporting and recreational activities.
At the heart of everything the Union does, is a commitment to amplifying student voice and ensuring students can meaningfully influence the decisions that affect their education.
About the Role
Oxford Brookes Students’ Union is excited to be recruiting a Head of Academic Representation, a senior leader who will drive forward education, policy and influence work.
Operating at senior manager level and as a member of the Union’s Senior Leadership Team, this role will lead the student representation system, oversee academic policy and influence activity, and support elected officers to deliver high-impact, evidence-led campaigns.
The role will work closely with academic and professional services colleagues across the University, developing trusted partnerships at faculty and school level, embedding student voice into academic processes, and positioning the Union as an expert in student experience and academic representation.
The ideal candidate will be both strategic and delivery-focused, confident in leading teams, influencing senior stakeholders and using insight and data to drive change.
The successful candidate will not necessarily come from the Higher Education sector but will be able to demonstrate a strong understanding of the trends, challenges and opportunities that shape student life and the Students’ Union sector. They will bring a sound understanding of charity governance and democratic decision-making, alongside the strategic and operational capability required to lead student representation, policy development and institutional influence within a democratic, student-led organisation.
Oxford Brookes Students’ Union offers an inclusive and engaging working environment and is passionate about developing its people. The organisation is committed to ensuring its workforce reflects the diversity of the community it serves, respecting individual identity and celebrating differences. Applications are encouraged from all candidates regardless of their background.
It’s a genuinely exciting time for Oxford Brookes Students’ Union and we look forward to receiving your application.
Key Dates
Closing Date: Monday 16th March, 9am
Interviews (In-person): Thursday 26th March
How to Apply
Please click 'Apply' to be redirected to our website, where you can download the Candidate Information Pack and apply.
For an informal conversation about the role and the application process, please contact our recruitment partners at Atkinson HR Consulting. Their contact details can be found in the candidate job pack.