Overview
Director of Finance – Permanent – Full Time
ID: 288403
Job Specialism: Charity
Location: Birmingham
Salary: £90,000
Closing Date: Sunday, 21st September 2025
About the role
As director of finance, you’ll report directly to our chief finance and commercial officer (CFCO) and lead a team of finance professionals. You’ll provide the strategic financial leadership, insight and assurance that enables Sense to deliver on its ambitious goals.
This is a critical role at the heart of our organisation—ensuring robust financial strategy, governance and performance, while also driving digital transformation and innovation across the finance function. You’ll act as a trusted advisor to senior colleagues and the board of trustees, building financial confidence at every level of the organisation.
What you’ll do
- Develop and deliver Sense’s financial strategy in line with our overall strategic aims.
- Lead financial planning, budgeting, forecasting and long-term modelling.
- Provide clear, insightful financial advice to the CFCO, CEO, senior leadership and trustees.
- Ensure robust financial controls, policies and processes, including compliance with charity finance regulations, SORP and Companies Act requirements.
- Oversee statutory accounts, management reporting, audits, tax, pensions, treasury management and reserves.
- Lead, inspire and develop a high-performing finance team, fostering collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement.
- Partner on commercial strategy, income diversification and cost optimisation.
- Provide financial due diligence and support for strategic projects, tenders and partnerships.
- Drive digital transformation within the finance directorate, ensuring data is meaningful, accessible and efficient.
- Contribute to Sense’s active response to the climate crisis by embedding sustainability in financial leadership.
About you
- A professional accountancy qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA) with substantial post-qualification experience.
- A track record of success in senior finance leadership in a large, complex charity, public sector or comparable organisation.
- Strong knowledge of charity finance, including restricted/unrestricted funds and SORP.
- Experience of delivering strategic financial insight to boards and executive teams.
- Proven ability to lead high-performing teams through change and transformation.
- Excellent judgement, problem-solving skills, and the ability to influence at all levels.
- A commitment to equity, inclusion and the rights of disabled people.
Desirable experience:
- Knowledge of the social care, disability, health or education sectors.
- Understanding of commissioning and contract funding models.
- Experience with financial systems implementation and digital transformation.
About Sense
We believe that every disabled person should have the opportunity to connect with others and be included in the world. We use our knowledge and expertise to deliver personalised, creative and flexible support at every stage of life. Sense is proud to be a disability confident leader.
Working at Sense can be incredibly rewarding; we offer the opportunity to work in a large, diverse and successful charity where people can develop their skills, knowledge and careers in a supportive and flexible environment. In addition, we have excellent training and development, the opportunity for you to join our Group Personal Pension scheme and a generous annual leave entitlement.
To apply
Please use the link below to complete your application. We would recommend that you read the job description and person specification before applying.
Please note to avoid disappointment, we advise you to submit your application as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close recruitment at any time.
If you require any further assistance, please contact the Recruitment Team on 0121 415 6735 or recruitment@sense.org.uk
Sense is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of disabled children and adults and expects all employees to share this commitment. Therefore, all offers of employment, where appropriate, are subject to a DBS check; level dependent on the nature of the role.
For this role we particularly welcome applications from candidates from underrepresented ethnic minority backgrounds and disabled people.
Sense is committed to equality of opportunity, and to promoting and celebrating the diversity of staff, volunteers and the people we work with. Everyone’s contribution is valued and we ensure they’re given the opportunity to realise their potential. We welcome applications from talented people from all sections of the community who share our values a For more information please visit: https://www.sense.org.uk/jobs/equality-diversity-and-inclusion-in-recruitment/
Precise Location: 750 Bristol Road, , Birmingham, West Midlands, B29 6NA, United Kingdom
