Head of Finance

Head ofFinanceRecruitment PackJob Title:                   Head of FinanceReporting to:           Chief Executive OfficerLine Management Responsibilities:     Finance Officer and (outsourced) Payroll Hours:                        Full time is 37.5hrs pw. This role is 2 days, so 15 hrs/week.Salary:                        £50,000 pro rata. Annual Leave:         20 days pro rata + bank holidays + 1 extra day per year of                                     service (up to 5). Location:                  Hybrid - mainly remote, with occasional meetings at                                      The Wave Project locationsNon-Contractual   Staff are awarded additional holidays during Christmas Benefits:                    shut down period, flexible working, Employee Assistance                                     Programme, Cycle to Work Scheme.Deadline:                  Thursday 5 March 2026 thTo apply:                   Please email your completed application form to                                      recruitment@waveproject.co.uk with the subject line                                     “Head of Finance”. We encourage you to also record a short                              video (about 3 minutes) summarising your motivations. The Wave Project is a values-led organisation, and we live and breathe ourvalues everyday: Care, Safe, Brave, Integrity, Inclusive, Impactful and Thrive. Outline of the roleJob DescriptionWe are looking for an experienced Head of Finance, ideally with experience inthe charity sector.The Wave Project is an innovative, expanding and award-winning charity thatuses surf therapy and the healing powers of the ocean to help childrenovercome trauma and mental health challenges. The Wave Project transformsyoung lives - in 2025 we supported more than 2,600 surfers through our SurfTherapy, Surf Club and Adaptive surfing programmes. The charity, with headquarters in Newquay (Cornwall), was founded in 2010and has expanded to become the UK’s leading ‘surf therapy’ charity. We nowemploy nearly 35 staff at 16 sites around the UK, and have nearly 1,400amazing volunteers. Contributing to our impact doesn’t just happen on the beach and in the sea.This role is a great opportunity to use your skills, experience and passion tohelp transform young lives. We are  a small but highly driven and creativeteam who are making a genuine difference in the lives of children and youngpeople. We are strongly values-led: Care, Safe, Brave, Integrity, Inclusive, Impactful, ThriveWe take our Safeguarding responsibilities seriously. All our volunteers andstaff team work hard to ensure that everybody who comes into contact withThe Wave Project is safe. Before applying for any of our roles, please have alook through our Safeguarding policy, especially our code of conduct, toensure you are the right fit for our organisation.Principal purpose of the role1.Lead the charity’s financial strategy and day-to-day finance operations,ensuring compliance, sustainability, and robust governance and to provide aneffective, professional and co-ordinated service.2.Lead the charity’s financial reporting, ensuring robust planning, forecasting anddecision-support that underpins organisational performance, sustainability andimpact, enabling evidence-based decision-making by the CEO, Trustees, andSenior Leadership Team (SLT).3.As a member of the SLT to (jointly) lead on the execution of our strategicobjectives across the charity.Area of responsibility/tasksFinance LeadershipOversee budgeting, forecasting, cashflow management, and long-term financialmodelling.Ensure accurate and timely production of management accounts, statutoryaccounts, and other reports.Lead audit preparation and liaison, ensuring smooth delivery of statutoryaccounts and effective resolution of recommendations.Ensure strong financial governance, maintaining strong financial controls, riskmanagement, and compliance with charity regulations.Ensure restricted funds are accurately allocated, monitored and reported,proactively highlighting risks, variances and compliance issues to the CEO,Trustees and SLT.Manage relationships with auditors, banks, and regulatory bodies.Oversee payroll, purchase ledger, credit control, and VAT returns.Financial Reporting Produce and communicate clear, insightful financial information andrecommendations that inform performance management, support challenge, andenable effective decision-making at CEO, SLT and Trustee level.Develop and maintain flexible financial models that support scenario planning,sensitivity analysis and long-term financial sustainability, enabling the charity torespond effectively to changing internal and external conditions.Provide high-quality financial analysis and insight (including quarterlyregions/locations reporting, costings, trends and financial KPI’s) to support servicedevelopment, funding bids, investment decisions and cost-improvement initiatives.Deliver robust financial appraisal of new opportunities and proposals, ensuringdecisions are evidence-based, financially sound and aligned with the charity’sstrategy and desired impact for children and young people.Work closely with the CEO, SLT and other managers to develop and refine thecharity’s financial plan, providing forward-looking insight that supports growth,resilience and strategic delivery.Provide feedback and reporting to the CEO and senior leadership on theperformance, capacity, development and future needs of the finance team.Ensure data quality, governance, and integration across systems (CRM, financeplatforms, etc.).Champion a data-driven culture, empowering teams to use information effectively.Leadership & People ManagementRecruit, train, and develop finance staff, fostering a culture of accuracy,accountability, and continuous improvement.Communicate effectively across departments, ensuring transparency andcollaboration.Strategic ContributionSupport major projects, service developments, and investment decisions withfinancial and analytical leadership.Deliver robust financial appraisal of opportunities to ensure alignment withorganisational strategy.Vision and ValuesDemonstrate and promote behaviours that underpin the charity’s values: Safe,Caring, Brave, Integrity, Inclusive, Impactful, Thrive.OtherBe innovative and forward thinking and take responsibility for the implementationof a resilient and comprehensive departmental strategy and budget, rigorouslychallenging normal ways of working and meticulously reviewing contracts andprocurement to deliver efficiencies while creating consistently high service levels.To always look for, develop and implement improvements.Be an advocate for The Wave Project. You may be required to undertake other reasonable duties which are compatible withthe overall scope of this appointment and, in addition, all employees are expected towork within the terms of their contract of employment and adhere to the Wave Projectpolicies and the Values and Behaviours. Watching them soar high above the wavesbrought great pride too. The ‘therapy’ didnot just end there, my boy would comehome feeling contented, at peace, high onconfidence, his wellbeing restored from atough week at school. He slept more soundlyin that six weeks than ever before.We continue our journey with the WaveProject, even though the initial six weekshave now finished. We were invited to joinSurf Club. Each month we go along and meetup with familiar faces, all the weather proofkit is provided. Most recently, we had opportunity toexperience Flow Rider. Wow what anamazing time my boy had, he was absolutelyin surf heaven. Loving every second of itlearning new skills, and experience. Testingout new skills, learning to take risk in a safespace. Each month he now gets excitedabout what Surf Club have to offer, and weare now booked into the next Flow Rider andlooking forward to Christmas Surf. I highlyrecommend this experience for all ages itwas a wonderful opportunity that we arevery privileged to be able to take part in andcontinue.Surf Therapy parent The Wave Project has been an invaluablelife changing experience for my foster son. He has always loved and been confident inthe water. However, Surf Therapy offeredsomething more than that, they created alittle family with friendship, security andsmiles all round. Their encouragement and100% dedication as a group of volunteersleft a positive lasting impression upon myfoster son. What started as an apprehensive journeyeach week to our favourite beach for TheWave Project soon turned into anadventure of sheer excitement andenjoyment. He came alive in the sea,laughed and smiled abundantly. He tookrisk, learning to first kneel and then standup, riding the waves.My wonderful boy who really struggles withfriendship and communication built arelationship with his Wave Project buddy,an unbreakable trust as my boy rodethrough the waves.I cannot thank them enough for that. Thiswas not only my foster son’s journey, I alsoenjoyed being part of group, watching andnoticing all the other children and youngpeople come alive, overcome their fears ofwater and other new things. HOW SURF THERAPY CHANGEDA LIFE IN POLZEATHPerson SpecificationEducation, vocational training and qualifications:Qualified Accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, or equivalent)             Experience:                                                                                                         Proven experience in financial management and team leadership. Track record of delivering management information and performance targets,encompassing activity in excess of £1.5M.Proven experience with setting and achieving high standards. Technical skills and abilities:Strong analytical skills and ability to and translate numbers into action. Dedication to accuracy and detail alongside strong commercial acumen.A driven problem solver and innovator who is organised, and results focused.Experience with accounting software (e.g. Xero), and MS Office - specificallyExcel to an advanced level. Interpersonal skills and other characteristics:                                   Ability to build strong relationships both internally and externally.Flexibility and a willingness to embrace change.Flexible and able to quickly respond to the charity’s needs.Motivation and commitment:                                                                      Energetic and self-motivated. Be able to, and enjoy, working strategically one moment and operational thenext.Other desirable experience:Charity finance experience and knowledge of sector regulations. Knowledge of VAT regulation and reporting.Experience developing management information tools and dashboards.Experience with digital transformation or data-integration projects.The Wave Project 6 Fore StreetNewquayTR7 1LNTelephone: 01637 820830Email: info@waveproject.co.ukWebsite: waveproject.co.ukTHANK YOUFOR YOUR INTEREST Follow us@WaveProjectUK© The Wave Project 2024. Registered England and Wales Charity Number 1163421,Registered Scottish Charity Number SC046500