Head of Financial Accounting

Head of Financial AccountsFinance, Full-time, with part-time consideredAre you an experienced qualified accountant who enjoys bringing clarity, confidence and control to complex financial environments? This is an excellent opportunity to step into a senior finance role where your technical expertise, leadership style and ability to build trusted relationships will make a genuine impact.Our client is a values-led organisation within the higher education sector, with a clear commitment to strong governance, continuous improvement and high-quality financial stewardship. As Head of Financial Accounts, you will play a central role in ensuring the organisation's statutory reporting, balance sheet management, treasury, taxation and financial control activities are delivered to a consistently high standard, whilst managing an established team of seven support staff.
The opportunityThis is a broad, visible and influential role reporting to the Deputy Director of Finance. You will lead on statutory financial reporting and audit, oversee key regulatory returns, strengthen the financial control environment and provide clear, practical advice to senior stakeholders and governance committees.You will also provide leadership to the financial transactions function through the Financial Transactions Manager, helping to create a positive, service-focused and improvement-minded finance team.What you'll be doing

Leading the year-end close-down process and preparing high-quality annual financial statements within agreed deadlines.
Acting as the main point of contact for internal and external auditors, coordinating audit activity and ensuring accurate information is delivered on time.
Keeping pace with accounting standards, regulatory requirements and sector developments, assessing their impact and leading implementation where needed.
Preparing and submitting statutory and regulatory returns, including HMRC, ONS, Education and Skills Funding, carbon reporting, Charity Commission and Office for Students requirements.
Overseeing balance sheet governance, reconciliations, fixed asset accounting, capital reporting and depreciation forecasts.
Managing treasury activities, cash flow forecasting, banking arrangements, credit cards, loans, investments and related facilities.
Leading taxation reporting, including VAT and partial exemption calculations.
Supporting finance systems, processes and the Chart of Accounts so reporting remains accurate, efficient and fit for purpose.About youWe are looking for a technically strong, collaborative and credible finance professional who can combine attention to detail with the confidence to lead, advise and influence. You will enjoy working with others, explaining complex financial matters clearly and creating the conditions for a finance team to perform well.You will bring a professional accountancy qualification such as ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA or equivalent, alongside significant experience in statutory financial reporting, annual accounts preparation and year-end close. Experience of external audit, balance sheet management, reconciliations, financial control, treasury, cash flow forecasting and taxation matters will also be very useful.Just as importantly, you will be someone who leads with integrity, supports and develops others, takes a proactive approach to problem-solving and is comfortable working to multiple deadlines in a complex organisation.What we're looking for

A qualified accountant with strong technical accounting knowledge, including UK accounting standards FRS 102 and regulatory requirements.
A track record of leading statutory reporting, audit coordination and financial control activity.
Experience of treasury management, cash flow forecasting, taxation and VAT, with partial exemption experience is advantageous.
Strong financial systems and data capability, including advanced Excel skills.
Excellent communication skills, with the ability to build confidence with finance and non-finance stakeholders.
Line management experience and the ability to motivate, support and develop colleagues.
A collaborative, solutions-focused approach and a continuous improvement mindset.Why this role?This is a chance to take ownership of a key finance leadership role where your work will support effective decision-making, strong governance and long-term financial sustainability. You will be trusted to lead important reporting and compliance activity, while also shaping better processes, stronger controls and a positive experience for colleagues across the organisation.The role is offered on a 35-hour working week, with part-time work considered. It would suit someone who wants meaningful responsibility, professional variety and the opportunity to contribute to a purpose-driven environment.Interested?If you are a qualified finance professional who enjoys leading through complexity, building confidence in financial information and supporting a team to deliver high-quality work, we would be pleased to hear from you.To apply or find out more, please get in touch for a confidential conversation.

Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and employment business for the supply of temporary workers. By applying for this job you accept the T&C's, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers which can be found at (url removed)