Full Time Head of Finance and Sustainability

Based in Peterborough or Cambridge with hybrid working option

Monday to Friday, 37.5 hours per week

SalarySalary Scale point 33 £42,525.00 per annum (April 2025)

Main Objective

As a key part of CPSL Mind’s Senior Leadership Team, this role will provide strategic and operational leadership for the organization financial management, ensuring robust governance, financial sustainability and informed decision making across the charity.

You will lead the finance function, ensuring the highest standards of financial control, compliance, reporting and operational efficiency, while driving a culture of financial accountability throughout the organization.

Alongside this, you will oversee our income generation portfolio, including fundraising, training and events, ensuring these functions contribute to a diversified and sustainable income base. You will also lead our broader approach to financial sustainability, identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, strengthen commercial decision making, maximise value for money and ensure every pound delivers the greatest possible impact for the communities we serve.

This post will:

Provide expert financial advice and insight to the Executive Leadership Team
Support strategic decision making through robust financial analysis, forecasting and business planning
Lead annual budgeting, financial planning, statutory accounts and audit and multi year forecasting and reporting
Oversee day to day finance functions, ensuring strong financial governance, internal controls and regulatory compliance
Lead the development of robust contract costing and pricing models, working closely with internal colleagues to support the development of a diverse and sustainable income portfolio
Provide strategic oversight and leadership of fundraising, training and events
Drive a culture of cost awareness, value for money and responsible financial stewardship
Build strong relationships with internal colleagues, commissioners, funders, auditors and external partners

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

Finance Strategic Management

Provide expert financial advice and insight to the Executive Leadership Team
Support strategic decision making through robust financial analysis, forecasting and business planning
Lead annual budgeting, financial planning and multi year forecasting
Oversee day to day finance functions, ensuring accurate and timely financial processing
Produce high quality monthly management accounts and financial performance reports
Sustainability
Strategic oversight of the Training and Consultancy and Fundraising teams both internally and externally
Lead initiatives to reduce operating costs
Lead the development of robust contract costing and pricing models
Ensure all bids and tenders are fully costed and financially sustainable
Support managers to understand full cost recovery and the financial implications of operational decisions
Support the development of a diverse and sustainable income portfolio
Drive a culture of cost awareness, value for money and responsible financial stewardship
Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement and commercial awareness
Governance and Compliance
Ensure strong financial governance, internal controls and regulatory compliance
Oversee statutory accounts, annual audit and all financial requirements
Ownership of Finance and Resources-related risks and policies, including Pensions and Investments
Ensure compliance with Charity Commission, Companies House, HMRC and all financial regulations
Maintain effective financial policies, procedures and delegated authorities
Report to Board of Trustees and Committee meetings as appropriate.

People

Lead, develop and inspire the finance and income generation teams
Build strong relationships with internal colleagues, commissioners, funders, auditors and external partners
Work collaboratively with Senior Management Team colleagues to embed sustainability in existing service delivery

PERSON SPECIFICATION:

Education

Qualified accountant (for example ACA, CIMA, ACCA)

Experience

Managing budgets and detailed reporting on financial performance/forecasting
Familiarity with year-end routines including Audit and preparation of the published Annual Report & Accounts
Working with, and presenting to, Trustees/Directors and Senior Leaders
Working with and managing a computerised Accounting system (e.g. Sage, Xero)
Financial management within the third sector
Leading on budgeting/modelling for tender submissions or funding bids
Experience of managing income generating projects

Competencies

Strong management accountancy skills
Demonstrable ability to work collaboratively with a range of stakeholders
Continuous improvement approach
Strong organisational skills, including planning and problem-solving.
Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal, with ability to present and detailed financial information in a clear format to managers, senior leaders and Trustees
Strong Excel skills and, preferably, familiarity with a range of financial systems
Understanding / experience of completing finance reports for a variety of grant funders
Understanding of Charity Governance relating to financial management.
Line management experience, including coaching & mentoring staff

CPSL jobs

Head of Finance and Sustainability