Head of Finance

Job title: Head of Finance

Salary: £46,350 per annum (pro rata)

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Contract: Permanent

Location: Unit J3, Kingmoor Park, Carlisle, CA6 4SN

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Direct reports: Accounts Administrator

Carlisle Mencap is a not-for-profit membership organisation which strives to empower people with a learning disability, their families and carers to live happy and healthy lives. From our base in North Cumbria, we provide a range of person centred services for children and adults throughout Cumbria. We are driven by our values and treat everyone with dignity, respecting and valuing difference.

Purpose of the job

The Head of Finance is the charity's lead finance professional, providing strategic and operational leadership to ensure strong financial management, effective controls, compliance, and long term sustainability. The postholder will lead budgeting, forecasting, management reporting, statutory accounts and audit, and provide clear, actionable financial insight to the CEO and Trustees to support good decision making.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic financial leadership & business partnering

• Act as the lead finance professional, providing proactive strategic advice to the CEO, Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and Trustees to support organisational sustainability and impact.
• Lead the annual budget-setting process, ensuring budgets reflect operational plans, contractual commitments, and risk appetite.
• Develop multi year forecasts and scenario plans (e.g., best/worst case, funding changes, commissioning pressures) to support strategic decisions and reserves planning.
• Embed financial literacy across the organisation by coaching budget holders and improving understanding of financial responsibilities.

2. Management accounts, reporting & insight

• Produce timely monthly management accounts (P&L reporting as appropriate, balance sheet, cashflow, budget vs actual) with clear narrative and actionable analysis.
• Develop and monitor financial KPIs and dashboards aligned to organisational objectives and contract performance.
• Ensure accurate project, service and contract reporting (including restricted funds where applicable).

3. Statutory accounts, audit & regulatory compliance

• Lead preparation of the annual statutory accounts and supporting schedules, ensuring compliance with relevant accounting standards and recommended charity reporting practice (SORP where applicable).
• Manage the external audit process and act as the primary liaison with auditors, ensuring a well planned timetable and high quality evidence trail.
• Ensure compliance with relevant tax and statutory obligations (e.g., HMRC returns as applicable, payroll submissions, pensions, and statutory reporting deadlines).

4. Financial controls, governance & stewardship

• Maintain and continuously improve robust financial policies, procedures and internal controls across the organisation, ensuring appropriate segregation of duties and strong oversight through the procurement to payment cycle.
• Oversee payrolls including administration of the pension schemes (process in the absence of the Accounts Administrator).
• Ensure timely and accurate reconciliations (bank, key balance sheet accounts), resolving discrepancies and strengthening control assurance.
• Oversee day to day financial operations including income processing, supplier payments, credit control and management of debtors/creditors (proportionate to charity size and team structure).
• Maintain oversight of delegated authority levels and ensure financial decision making aligns with Trustee approved policies and risk appetite.

5. Cashflow & reserves

• Lead cashflow forecasting and active account management to ensure liquidity and resilience, including oversight of banking arrangements and payment processes.
• Support the CEO and Trustees with reserves reporting and planning, linking reserves to risk, commitments, and strategic needs.

6. Risk management

• Maintain the finance risk register (or relevant finance and organisational risk inputs), identifying financial risks and developing mitigation plans for SLT/Trustee oversight.
• Contribute to organisational risk management and business continuity planning, ensuring financial implications are understood and planned for.

7. Systems, processes & continuous improvement

• Lead improvements to finance systems, reporting processes and ways of working to deliver accurate information efficiently (including automation where appropriate).
• Ensure financial data is accurate, auditable and appropriately stored, supporting good governance and effective decision making.

8. Leadership & people management

• Lead, manage and develop the finance function, setting clear priorities, providing coaching, and ensuring resilience and cover for key processes.
• Build strong relationships across the organisation, promoting a customer focused finance service that supports delivery teams.

9. Governance support & Trustee engagement

• Prepare high quality finance papers and present financial performance, risks and forecasts to the Board and relevant sub committees (e.g., Finance/Audit/Risk), supporting Trustees to meet their governance responsibilities.
• Work closely with the Treasurer/Finance Committee Chair to ensure appropriate oversight and timely escalation of issues.

What we can offer you

• A welcoming, supportive, and highly motivated team.
• The opportunity to make a significant impact within a valued local charity.
• Access to an office base in Carlisle with flexibility for some remote working.
• Full training on all internal systems.
• Ongoing development and progression opportunities.

Employee Benefits

• Wellbeing support
• Supportive and inclusive team culture
• Strong and effective leadership
• Professional development opportunities
• Competitive salary
• Paid training
• Blue Light Discount Card
• 25 days' annual leave plus bank holidays
• Company Pension

Closing Date 27/03/2026

Interview Date 02/04/2026

Essential Experience Required

• Experience in an organisation of similar size and complexity.
• Developing and maintaining strong professional networks.
• Senior management experience in the third sector, including experience of supporting trustees and working with volunteer.

Desirable Experience

• Improving business processes.
• Relevant professional qualification or degree.

Essential Skills

• Organisational skills to a high level.
• Team leadership.
• Strong communication, including written, verbal, interpersonal and presentational skills to a diverse range of audiences.
• Business planning.
• Financial management.
• Ability to analyse complex data and report on it concisely.

Desirable Skills

• IT Skills including electronic diary, e mail, MS Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint & Databases.

Essential Knowledge

• An understanding of the issues facing people with learning disabilities and their families and carers.
• Understanding of the third sector and the specific pressures and requirements on third sector organisations.

Desirable Knowledge

• Understanding of the social care sector and policies.
• Xero accounting system.

Commitments

• Improving the lives of people with learning disabilities and their families and carers.
• Creating a supportive and inclusive organisation.
• Consistently identifying and developing ways to make the organisation better.