Head of Finance

The Head of Finance is a key member of the senior management team, responsible for leading the day-to-day financial management of the charity while supporting the Director of Finance in delivering the organisation's strategic objectives.
The postholder will ensure robust financial controls, high-quality financial reporting, effective budgeting and forecasting, and compliance with all statutory and regulatory requirements. They will lead and develop the finance team, provide expert financial advice to managers and budget holders, and contribute to organisational decision-making and sustainability.

Financial Leadership
•    Lead and manage the finance function, ensuring efficient and effective operations. 
•    Deputise for the Director of Finance when required. 
•    Support the development and delivery of the organisation's financial strategy. 
•    Contribute to organisational planning, risk management and business transformation initiatives.

Management Accounts and Reporting
•    Prepare and review monthly management accounts. 
•    Produce financial reports and variance analysis. 
•    Present financial information to senior management and trustees. 
•    Monitor financial performance against budgets and forecasts.

Budgeting and Forecasting
•    Lead the annual budget-setting process. 
•    Prepare rolling forecasts and long-term financial projections. 
•    Support managers in understanding and managing their budgets. 
•    Identify financial risks and opportunities and recommend corrective actions.

Financial Control and Compliance
•    Maintain strong financial controls and procedures. 
•    Ensure compliance with Charity Commission requirements, Companies House obligations, HMRC regulations and other statutory requirements. 
•    Review reconciliations and control accounts. 
•    Manage cash flow and treasury activities.

Payroll Management and Approval
•    Oversee the end-to-end payroll process for all employees, ensuring accuracy, confidentiality and compliance with relevant legislation. 
•    Review and approve monthly payroll submissions, salary changes, overtime, enhancements, deductions and final payments. 
•    Ensure compliance with HMRC requirements, pension regulations, National Minimum Wage legislation and employment-related statutory payments.
•    Monitor payroll costs and provide analysis and reporting to support organisational decision-making. 
•    Ensure robust payroll controls are in place to minimise financial and operational risk. 
•    Manage relationships with external payroll providers and pension administrators where applicable.
•    Lead payroll-related audits and ensure payroll records are maintained in accordance with organisational and statutory requirements.

Audit and Statutory Accounts
•    Lead the annual external audit process. 
•    Prepare statutory accounts and supporting schedules. 
•    Act as the principal contact for external auditors and regulatory bodies.

Charity and Fund Accounting
•    Ensure accurate accounting for restricted, unrestricted, and designated funds. 
•    Support compliance with Charity SORP and relevant accounting standards. 
•    Monitor grant income and expenditure, ensuring funder requirements are met. 
•    Support and complete funders' financial reporting requirements.

Team Leadership
•    Lead, motivate and develop the finance team. 
•    Set objectives and monitor performance. 
•    Identify training and development needs. 
•    Promote a culture of continuous improvement and accountability.

Stakeholder Management
•    Build strong working relationships with operational managers. 
•    Provide financial advice and support to budget holders. 
•    Work collaboratively with external stakeholders including auditors, funders, banks and professional advisers.

Systems and Process Improvement
•    Identify opportunities to improve systems and processes. 
•    Lead finance-related projects and digital transformation initiatives. 
•    Ensure financial systems remain fit for purpose and support organisational growth.

General
•  Actively promote the organisational mission, values, aims and objectives, ensuring all Policies and Procedures, to include the Code of Conduct and Practice are adhered to at all times. 
•    Be a cultural carrier for Threshold 
•    Ensure compliance with all legal and regulatory requirements.
•    Adhere and comply with all Threshold’s Health and Safety Policies and Procedures including reporting and recording of all relevant incident, contributing to the overall physical cleanliness and general condition of the facilities of the service.  
•    Act as a Deputy Fire Warden and / or First Aid Person if designated. 
•    Actively promote a working environment where equality of opportunity, anti-discriminatory practice, individual rights and choice are promoted in accordance with Threshold’s established Principles, Policies and Procedures. 
•    The above summary of the main roles and responsibilities is not intended to be exhaustive. This role may develop in accordance with the Threshold’s Strategic Corporate Plan. However, you will from time to time be required to undertake other duties that are appropriate to your role and nature of your post. 
 

Threshold is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on any of the protected characteristics. Our hiring decisions are based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs. We encourage all qualified candidates to apply and join us in creating a welcoming environment for everyone.

Guidance

Threshold will undertake a shortlisting exercise based solely upon the written information contained within your application form, to satisfactorily demonstrate how and to what extent you meet the above specified criteria.  The shortlisting exercise will be based upon the identified criteria from the personnel specification.

The shortlisting panel will not make assumptions as to your circumstances, qualifications, and experience. 

Threshold reserves the right to supplement these shortlisting criteria using additional essential and / or desirable criteria from the personnel specification at subsequent stages of the shortlisting process.

Canvassing

Please note that any form of canvassing, either oral or written, directly or indirectly, in connection with this appointment shall disqualify a candidate from the recruitment and selection process.

Supplementary Information

1. Please note that this is a regulated post and will be subject to an Enhanced Access NI Check. For more information on the background check process, please refer to our policy titled Inclusive Hiring and Rehabilitation. This will be dealt with in line with our Privacy Policy.