Head of Finance - Home based working within the North West
The role holder will report to the Director of Finance, Procurement and Estates and will be responsible for:
- Operationalising the financial strategy of the Charity, providing stewardship of the financial assets of the Charity, and ensuring the integrity of financial information reported.
- Lead in the functional delivery of the Annual Business Plan as well as contributing to the wider delivery across the Charity.
- Work with the Director of Finance, Procurement and Estates in the provision of a truly value adding finance business partnering offering across the Charity.
- Ensuring a strong financial control environment is in operation across the Charity.
- Leading and developing a high performing finance team, ensuring the efficient and effective delivery of services.
- Ensuring the effective management of the corporate appointee‑ship service AFG provides, and work closely with operational colleagues in ensuring the effective operation and control of house account arrangements.
- Ensuring adherence to all financial reporting requirements, both internal and external.
Dimensions
- The role holder will have responsibility for 4 direct reports (Financial Accountant, Management Accountant, Financial Planning and Analysis Manager and Money Management Manager), although this may fluctuate depending upon the activities of the Charity at any point in time. The overall team size is circa 35 (Finance and Money Management).
Principal Accountabilities
Financial
- Support the Director of Finance, Procurement and Estates in ensuring the effective implementation of the agreed financial strategy of the Charity.
- Support the Director of Finance, Procurement and Estates in the provision of financial guidance to the Executive and Director group.
- Support the Director of Finance, Procurement and Estates and work closely with the Executive and Director group in the development of the financial budget and subsequent re‑forecast exercises.
- Support the Director of Finance, Procurement and Estates in the overall stewardship of the assets of the Charity and in accordance with the requirements of the Scheme of Reservation and Delegation and Standing Financial Instructions.
- Providing financial input to new commissioning opportunities, commissioner exit strategies and significant capex items.
- Ensure the integrity/accuracy of financial information distributed across the organization thus providing a solid financial basis for decision making.
- Ownership of the compilation of the Budget, Re‑forecast and 3‑year plan, in line with Committee deadlines and ensuring the inclusion and buy in of all budget holders.
- Undertake ad hoc financial project work as and when required.
- Direct responsibility for the Budgets and day to day management of Finance and Money Management departments.
- Ownership and development of AFG "Pricing Models".
- Responsible for day‑to‑day effective management of the working capital of the Charity, ensuring cash receipts and payments are optimised. Work closely with operational colleagues in the resolution of Trade Debtor issues.
- Ensure compliance of Money Management activities.
Customer
- The production of all performance information and reporting across the organization is both timely and accurate. This includes monthly reporting, reports for Committees and Board and external reports (e.g., CQC Market Oversight, Banks, external and internal audit).
- Provide support and guidance to those with budgetary responsibility. Where performance is adverse to Budget, the role holder should work closely with the budget owner to ensure plans to mitigate are in place. Support and guidance should include any required financial training requirements observed.
- Develop positive working relationships with key external stakeholders (e.g., banks, external and internal audit etc.).
- Effectively manage the conflicting and often competing demands on functions for which the role holder is responsible.
People
- Where required deputise for the Director of Finance, Procurement and Estates at key meetings including both internally and with external stakeholders. This may on occasion include the presentation of papers to Committees/Board on an ad‑hoc basis.
- Be an active member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), making contributions that further the aims of the Charity re. its strategic direction.
- Management of and providing direction to those departments under supervision on a day‑to‑day basis. This includes setting objectives, regular performance reviews, training and development.
- Create an environment where staff are given the opportunity to develop to their full potential, are encouraged to "solutioneer" problems and are focused on outstanding customer service.
Process
- Maintain and develop a strong internal control environment through the ownership of all finance policies and procedures, ensuring they are kept up to date and reflect both legislative and audit requirements.
- Ensure recommendations from both External and Internal audit within Finance and Money Management are acted upon in a timely manner.
- Be the system owner for all financial software, ensuring that data is stored accurately and securely, and that systems are developed in the pursuit of efficiency and the delivery of excellence and in accordance with the digital strategy of the organization.
Legal and Regulatory
- Keep abreast of updates in accounting standards/tax legislation and the impact on the financial performance of the Charity.
- Ensure AFG is compliant in its role as Corporate Appointee and changes in benefits legislation are reflected in working practices.
- Timely submission of all required returns (e.g., ONS returns, statutory financial statements, CQC Market Oversight, returns to banks, DWP and Local Authority reporting etc.).
Person Specification
Skills & Knowledge
- Excellent problem solver.
- Highly resilient and able to work at pace and manage competing priorities.
- Agile thinker able to take decisions.
- Highly numerate and excellent analytical skills.
- Excellent communication skills (both verbal and written) to both financial and non-financial individuals.
- High degree of IT literacy.
- Ability to influence senior stakeholders.
- FRS 102/Charity SORP accounting.
Values and Attitudes
- Commitment to developing self and others.
- Passion for making a positive difference in the lives of others
Experience
- At least five years post qualification experience of working at a Head Of level or similar in a large complex organisation.
- Experience in the preparation of both statutory and non-statutory financial returns (e.g. financial statements, reports to regulators, reports to banks).
- Demonstrable experience of leading, managing and developing multi-disciplinary teams.
- Experience of translating financial strategy into operational reality.
- Experience of managing in organisations undertaking significant change, whether as a consequence of market disruption or organisational re-engineering.
- Experience of working cross functionally as part of a senior leadership team.
- Worked closely with both external and internal audit.
Qualifications & Training
- Educated to degree level.
- CCAB membership with a minimum of 5 years post qualification experience.
With our extended flexible working options, you can also choose to work a 9‑day fortnight or a 4.5‑day week, supporting our employees with their work‑life balance.
This role is Band IV as per our structure.
Previous applicants need not apply
Interview Dates
- 1st Stage - 23rd January 2026 (Liverpool in person)
- 2nd Stage - Week commencing 29th January 2026
We’re Alternative Futures Group, a health and social care charity providing specialist support for people with a learning disability or mental health condition.
We’re proud to have been positively changing lives and enabling people to achieve amazing outcomes for over 30 years.
We have a vision to create a world where amazing people do amazing things every day. Our skilled and experienced teams work with every person we support to create a personalised, outcome‑focused plans to achieve their aspirations.
As a ‘values based’ employer, the people that work for us genuinely care about the people they support, and we are seeking likeminded people to join our team. If you are passionate about working in Health and Social Care and have a real desire to make a positive difference to the lives of the people we support then we would love to hear from you.
At AFG we also recognise the contribution and value that our staff make. We would not be able to provide the life changing support that we do without people like you!
In return for your contribution we will support you throughout your career and we provide a wide range of employee benefits, career development and lifestyle support services to ensure that you too feel supported, fulfilled and valued from day one of your employment with us.
Seniority level
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Industries
- Hospitals and Health Care
- Non‑profit Organizations
- Civic and Social Organizations
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