Financial Controller

Financial Controller | Future Directions CIC | Chadderton |£60,000-£65,000 DOE| Office-based

Some Financial Controller roles operate at arm’s length from the detail. This is not one of them.

Future Directions CIC is looking for a hands-on Financial Controller who can keep the organisation’s core accounting and payroll cycles running reliably while helping to modernise its systems, develop its people and improve the financial insight available to managers.

This is an opportunity to make a visible difference within a values-led organisation that supports people with learning disabilities. You will work closely with the Director of Finance and lead the finance and payroll teams through an important period of development and change.

The Opportunity

The role has three immediate priorities:

• Taking ownership of month end and ensuring accurate, timely and well-controlled management accounts.
• Leading the finance and payroll contribution to the implementation of Sona, Future Directions’ new workforce management and payroll system.
• Continuing to nurture and develop a committed but relatively junior finance and payroll team.

You will also:

• Lead the preparation of annual accounts and coordinate the statutory audit.
• Oversee Accounts Payable, Sales Ledger, credit control, Cash and Bank, and payroll.
• Improve management information and provide clearer insight into the performance of individual services and contracts.
• Work with operational managers, HR and business development colleagues on staffing costs, forecasts, contract uplifts, deferred income, costing and service-level analysis.
• Strengthen financial procedures, system controls and business continuity.
• Identify opportunities to automate manual processes and simplify how the finance team works.
• Help shape the future finance systems roadmap, including the organisation’s longer-term move away from Sage 50.
• Coach, delegate to and develop colleagues, creating a stronger and more resilient team.

About You

You will be a rounded finance professional who combines technical credibility with a willingness to roll up your sleeves.

You are likely to bring:

• End-to-end ownership of month end and management accounts within an SME, charity, social enterprise or similarly operational organisation.
• Experience of implementing or significantly improving a finance, payroll, workforce or other business-critical system.
• financial information into useful operational and contract insight.
• Strong Excel, financial systems and data-handling skills.
• A calm, resilient and organised approach to competing deadlines.
• A fully qualified ACA, ACCA or CIMA accountant would be preferred

You will need an inclusive approach towards people with learning disabilities, autism and other complex support needs and a genuine commitment to the mission, values and strategic direction of Future Directions CIC.

What’s on Offer?

• Salary of £60,000-£65,000, depending on experience and qualifications.
• 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays.
• NEST workplace pension.
• A visible and influential role working closely with the Director of Finance.
• The opportunity to lead a major workforce management and payroll transformation.
• A broad remit spanning financial control, payroll, systems, people development and business insight.
• Scope to develop your contribution as the organisation and finance function continue to evolve.

The position is based just off the M60 Junction at Chadderton and is an office-based role.

If you are looking for a role where you can combine hands-on financial control with meaningful systems change and people development, we would be pleased to hear from you.