Depaul UK is exclusively partnering with Robertson Bell in their search for a new Financial Controller to join their team on a permanent basis. Depaul UK is a national charity that delivers a wide range of support and housing services for young people and adults at risk of homelessness.
Reporting into the Executive Director of Finance & IT, this Financial Controller role at Depaul UK is a rare opportunity to take a pivotal leadership position in a fast-moving, high-impact charity. You will lead a busy finance team, embed a new finance system, and ensure robust financial controls, while gaining exposure to both the charity’s consolidated operations and its rapidly expanding housing subsidiary. This role offers exceptional potential for growth and a clear pathway into broader finance leadership.
The organisation:
Depaul UK has worked for 30 years to support people facing homelessness. Depaul UK delivers a wide range of support and housing services for young people and adults at risk of homelessness. We specialise in the provision of services that prevent homelessness, increase the resilience of those we work with, and energise opportunities for employment, education, training and volunteering in the communities in which we work. Our service provision reaches from Newcastle to Greater Manchester to London - with plans to grow our business in response to increasing need.
Homelessness is a complex and constantly evolving challenge. There is no ‘one-size fits all’ solution and Depaul UK believe no one should have to sleep in an unsafe place or be held back from achieving their potential. Each year, they support and empower thousands of young people to find a safe place to call home, a chance to thrive and a brighter future.
The key duties of the Financial Controller will be as follows:
- Lead on the preparation of year-end financial reporting across the group
- Support the preparation of Depaul UK Trustees report and lead on the annual statutory audit process
- Develop and maintain a full set of financial policies and procedures which support the charity to deliver its aims
- Review and streamline controls and processes, including greater automation/ integration with other business systems
- Act as a finance subject matter expert, providing accounting advice to the team and wider organisation
- Prepare monthly management accounts for Depaul Housing Services
- Ensure the interests of the function are represented at internal committees
- Supervise the processing of all financial transactions and payroll, ensuring adequate documentary support, correct coding and appropriate authorisation
- Ensure month end timetable is adhered to, making sure that all bank and control account reconciliations have been carried out
- Ensure all income and expenditure is appropriately analysed and restricted and designated funds are correctly accounted for
The successful candidate will have:
- A full, recognised accounting qualification, or be in the final stages
- Ideally, a background working in the charity or social housing sectors, but this is by no means essential
- Demonstrable experience working in a strong internal control environment and driving effective month and/or year-end routines
- The ability to lead and develop a high performing team
- Excellent relationship management skills, and the ability to work within a cross-functional Leadership Team to continuously improve the service
Candidates who are looking to make their first move from practice into industry are also strongly encouraged to apply!
This role can be based in either London, Manchester or Whitley Bay, with hybrid working policies in place, requiring only two days per week to be worked from the office, with the rest from home. Please note that salary differs by location:
- London: £64,282
- Manchester: £63,782
- Regional: £60,782
Applications are open until Sunday 18th January, with first stage interviews due to take place the week commencing 26th January. CVs will be under continuous review in advance of this date so please submit your application today to make sure you don’t miss out!
Registered Charity 
101 - 500
Thank you!
Chief Executive Officer - FoodCycle
Location: Vauxhall, London (flexible working; regular travel to Projects and for meeting with key stakeholders required)
Salary: circa £75,000
Contract: Permanent, full-time (35–37.5 hours per week)
Are you ready to lead FoodCycle through a period of consolidation and sustainable growth, protecting its volunteer-led, guest-centred model while building reliable income streams and scaling proven pilots?
About FoodCycle
FoodCycle is a national charity running volunteer-powered community dining projects that combine rescued surplus food, spare kitchen space and local volunteers to deliver free, hot, sociable three-course meals. Our work sits at the intersection of food-waste reduction, food-poverty relief and loneliness prevention. Nationally scaled but locally delivered, FoodCycle has grown rapidly, enjoys strong volunteer goodwill and is developing promising trading and schools pilots to strengthen sustainability.
As our next CEO you will:
• Shape strategy & impact - co-create and implement a clear 3–5 year strategy and a focused 12-month operational plan with measurable milestones.
• Stabilise leadership & culture - provide visible, warm and practical leadership across Projects; develop the senior team and protect volunteer trust.
• Secure financial sustainability - own the income strategy, diversify revenue across trusts, individual giving, corporate partnerships and trading, and present credible cashflow plans to the board.
• Build commercial & trading capacity - drive Manor House and other trading pilots towards viable, repeatable income models.
• Safeguard quality & risk - ensure robust safeguarding, food-safety and operational thresholds for opening new Projects.
• Raise profile & partnerships - act as FoodCycle’s principal ambassador to corporates, funders, local authorities and policy audiences.
Who you are
• A senior leader with experience stabilising and growing people-facing, delivery-focused organisations.
• Proven at generating income from multiple streams, with commercial fluency to develop simple trading models and convert corporate engagement into lasting partnerships.
• Financially literate - comfortable owning budgets, forecasting and discussing risk with trustees.
• Excellent at people and change management - able to build and motivate small national teams and large volunteer cohorts.
• Data-driven, curious and pragmatic - tests pilots, embeds what works and sets clear go/no-go criteria for scale.
• Values-driven and visible - passionate about food justice, guest dignity and volunteer leadership.
• Right to work in the UK and satisfactory DBS checks required.
Why FoodCycle?
• Lead a nationally recognised, volunteer-led movement tackling food waste, food poverty and social isolation.
• Play a pivotal role growing promising trading and schools pilots to create sustainable income.
• Work with an engaged Chair and committed board, and a small, passionate national team.
• Be part of a friendly, non-hierarchical culture where leaders are visible in Projects.
For full details of the role including how to apply, please download the full appointment brief. For an informal and confidential conversation about this position, please contact Jenny Hills at Harris Hill at via the apply button with times to speak and (optional but appreciated) a CV or professional profile which will be treated with the strictest confidence.
Closing date for applications: 9am, Monday 19th January 2026
As leading charity recruitment specialists and a certified B Corp, Harris Hill is committed to high and ever-improving standards of equitable and inclusive recruitment. We actively welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality and other protected characteristics.
