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-centered services for children and adults throughout Cumbria. We are driven by our values and treat everyone with dignity, respecting and valuing difference.

The Head of Finance is the charitys 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.

• 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
• 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).
• 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).
• 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.
• 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
• 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…