Finance Manager

Teesside Mind is looking for an experienced Finance Manager to provide clear, confident financial leadership at the heart of our charity. This is a senior, hands-on role, reporting to the Chief Executive Officer and working closely with trustees, the Senior Leadership Team and our Finance Officer. You will lead budgeting, forecasting, management accounts, financial reporting, compliance and day-to-day finance operations, helping us make sound decisions and use every pound well to improve mental health across Teesside. We are looking for someone with strong finance experience, who can combine strategic insight with practical problem-solving. You will be accurate, approachable and improvement-focused, with the ability to explain financial information clearly to non-finance colleagues. This permanent role is based in Middlesbrough. Full-time or part-time hours are available.

Overview

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the Finance Manager will lead the finance function and provide trusted advice across the organisation. They will ensure financial information is accurate, timely and easy to understand; charity funds are well governed; and day-to-day finance is reliable, responsive and able to support our scale, complexity and ambition.

The postholder will be a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, contributing to organisational planning, risk management, service sustainability and continuous improvement. They will line manage the Finance Officer and work alongside them on core routines including ledgers, income recording, payments, reconciliations, payroll checks, month-end preparation, reporting schedules and finance queries.

Outcomes

• The Chief Executive, trustees and Senior Leadership Team receive accurate, timely and meaningful financial information that supports good governance and confident decision-making.
• Budgets, forecasts, cash flow and reserves are actively monitored, with risks, pressures and opportunities identified early and clearly communicated.
• Financial controls, policies and processes are robust, proportionate, accessible and consistently followed across the charity.
• Restricted and unrestricted funds, grants, contracts and funder reporting are managed with accuracy, transparency and strong stewardship.
• Budget holders feel supported, understand their financial position, plan ahead and use resources effectively.
• The finance function is well organised, responsive and improvement-focused, with reliable day-to-day processing, reconciliations, payment routines, records and reporting schedules.
• The Finance Officer is well supported through clear priorities, supervision and regular hands-on collaboration so that operational finance work is continuously improving.
• Finance queries, processing issues and month-end tasks are dealt with promptly and constructively, helping colleagues experience finance as approachable and reliable.

Qualifications & Experience Required

Essential:

• Recognised professional finance qualification or equivalent senior finance experience, with a demonstrable commitment to continuing professional development and to maintaining up-to-date charity finance knowledge.
• Strong practical experience of preparing management accounts, budgets, forecasts, cash flow information and financial reports for senior leaders, boards or committees.
• Sound understanding of charity or not-for-profit finance, including restricted and unrestricted funds, reserves, cost allocation, grant or contract reporting and funder requirements.
• Experience of maintaining effective financial controls, audit trails, risk management arrangements and good financial governance.
• Experience of day-to-day finance operations, including reconciliations, ledgers, payment processes, income recording, payroll checks and month-end preparation.
• Experience of supporting, supervising or working closely with finance staff or colleagues to deliver accurate, timely and well-organised finance processes.
• Confident use of finance systems, data and Excel to support reporting, forecasting, controls and decision-making.
• Experience of working constructively with senior leaders, managers, auditors, funders or external advisers.

Desirable:

• Experience of charity accounts, charity SORP, statutory reporting or working directly with auditors on annual accounts.
• Experience of improving finance systems, processes, reporting tools or digital ways of working.

Main Responsibilties

Financial strategy, reporting & governance

• Prepare timely, accurate and meaningful management accounts, quarterly reports, annual budgets, and longer-term forecasts for the Chief Executive, Board of Trustees, and Senior Leadership Team.
• Provide clear analysis, insight and advice so leaders and trustees can understand performance, manage financial risk, and make confident decisions in line with the charity’s strategy and values.
• Lead on charity financial governance, including reserves monitoring, restricted and unrestricted fund reporting, funding compliance, audit preparation and preparation of the annual report and accounts.
• Prepare costings for tenders, grants, contracts and new service developments, ensuring assumptions are transparent, and full costs are recouped.
• Support income generation, contract management and service sustainability through practical financial modelling, scenario planning, and advice.

Operational finance

• Oversee and contribute to day-to-day financial processing, reconciliations, approvals and controls, ensuring accurate records, clear audit trails, and good stewardship of charitable funds.
• Maintain robust internal financial controls, so funds and assets are protected and delegated responsibilities are clear.
• Manage payroll preparation and oversight, currently outsourced, including pensions, payroll checks, and related reporting.
• Manage cash flow, banking arrangements and investments, balancing security, liquidity and value for money.
• Ensure statutory financial reporting and Charity Commission; Companies House and HMRC obligations are met, working closely with auditors.
• Ensure appropriate processing of Gift Aid, tax, payroll-related returns and other financial compliance matters, keeping clear records of decisions and assumptions.

People, systems & continuous improvement

• Provide line management and support for the Finance Officer, creating a positive, well-organised and learning-focused finance function.
• Work collaboratively with managers and budget holders to build financial confidence, improve budget ownership, and help services use resources effectively.
• Lead the development of a positive finance culture where information is timely, understandable, and used constructively to improve planning, accountability, and impact.
• Maintain, review and improve financial policies, procedures and systems so they remain proportionate, accessible, compliant and fit for a growing charity.
• Lead finance-related change projects, ensuring improvements to systems, reporting and processes are well planned, communicated and embedded.

Compliance, risk and stewardship

• Maintain financial arrangements that support safe and compliant service delivery, including insurance, and ensure any financial risks that could affect services or organisational stability are raised promptly.
• Support proportionate procurement, supplier management and value-for-money decisions that balance quality, cost, risk, and social value.
• Support the development, review and monitoring of reserves, cash management and investment approaches, helping trustees balance sustainability, risk and mission delivery.
• Keep up to date with relevant charity finance, governance, accounting and regulatory developments, including charity SORP requirements, and advise the Chief Executive on implications and improvements.
• Undertake other tasks to commensurate with the position as required.

Working Hours

Full-time 36.5 hours per week, or part-time 30 hours per week

Salary Range

£50,000 pro rata for part-time

Full Job Specification

View Full Job Specification PDF