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Head of Finance Job Description

What does a Head of Finance do?

A Head of Finance is a leadership role overseeing financial staff and a company’s financial strategies. Head of Finance responsibilities include ensuring finances are used beneficially, developing the financial strategy, assessing investments, and ensuring legal and regulatory compliance. The Head of Finance reports to the Chief Executive Officer or the Chief Operations Officer.

Our Head of Finance job description includes the Head of Finance responsibilities, duties, skills, education, qualifications, and experience.

Head of Finance Example


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If you need an example job description for a Head of Finance download the one below, alternatively we have many other Finance job description samples and a job description library with over 3000 job descriptions templates that you can download for free.

What does a Head of Finance do?

Heads of finance oversee the financial activities of an organisation. Heads of finance forecast financial results, manage budgets and conduct risk management.

Head of Finance Role

We are recruiting for a Head of Finance to oversee all financial activities. The responsibilities of Head of Finance include managing financial tasks and ensuring that finances are used beneficially. You should also ensure that investments and finances comply with regulations.

To succeed as a Head of Finance, you should demonstrate excellent leadership qualities and experience in modelling financial strategies. Suitable candidates should maintain the finances of the organisation effectively and increase profitability.

Head of Finance Duties

  • Experience as a Head of Finance or similar position.
  • Solid understanding of financial management and accounting.
  • Knowledge of accounting software.
  • Strong analytical and decision-making abilities.
  • Effective leadership qualities.
  • Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Accounting, or related field.

Head of Finance Requirements

  • Forecast financial results.
  • Conduct risk management.
  • Oversee the budgets.
  • Evaluate and initiating investments.
  • Allocate resources and managing finances.
  • Recommend cost reduction strategies.
  • Experience as a Head of Finance or similar position.
  • Solid understanding of financial management and accounting.
  • Knowledge of accounting software.
  • Strong analytical and decision-making abilities.
  • Effective leadership qualities.
  • Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Accounting, or related field.

Head of Finance Qualifications

The education and qualifications of a Head of Finance might include the following:

  • A Master’s Degree or Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Accounting, Maths, Business Management, or Business Studies
  • Three A Levels
  • Five GCSEs/High School Diploma

Head of Finance Desired Experience

The relevant experience of a Head of Finance might include working as a Finance Officer, Treasurer, or Finance Accountant, where the individual could build their business acumen, financial strategic thinking, and leadership skills.

Head of Finance Training

Possible training of an excellent Head of Finance candidate might include:

  • Accountancy and Taxation Professional Higher Apprenticeship
  • Professional Accountancy Technician Higher Apprenticeship
  • T Level in Accounting
  • The London Institute of Banking and Finance Membership
  • Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy Qualification

How to write a Head of Finance Job Advert

Use our job advert template to write a job advert for posting on job sites and job boards. Our job advertising templates are carefully created to help you reach your audience and beat the competition to the best talent.

A job description informs the reader about a job, whereas a job advert’s main objective is to sell the job opportunity to attract as many suitable applicants possible. A job advert maybe the first touch-point a candidate has with your company so it is important to create a great impression.

Job Advertisements should enticing, so considering using short, exciting language which get the reader’s attention.

How to write a Head of Finance Job Description

To write a job description, we recommend starting with a job description template from our job description library, which contains examples for 800+ positions and professions. Our job description examples include a job summary with duties and responsibilities and skills and requirements, which can be personalised for your job vacancy.

Job Description Advice - Guidance on How to Personalise a Head of Finance Job Specification

The hiring process and recruiting new employees to fill your key roles requires a degree of personalisation if you are to attract the best employees in a competitive employment market. The right person for a crucial role or more senior roles will likely have other employers targeting them. As your job description will be the first point of contact, you need to nail your pitch and provide the best possible service.

Job Description Tips - Help on formatting a Head of Finance Job Specification

When creating your bespoke description and advert, you should cover and promote these points:

Job title: This should accurately reflect the role and include keywords that top talent might be using to search for jobs.

Job duties: The day to day duties, such as administrative tasks, which vary depending on the company and inform the candidate if they can complete the role.

Technical skills: These are the hard skills required through training, such as proficiency with Microsoft Office.

Soft skills: These include the interpersonal skills and general abilities the right candidates will possess. For example, the competency to prioritise multiple tasks, handle customer queries and customer complaints, work alone, or build a good relationship with coworkers.

The company's culture: Highlighting your company culture and values ensures employees thrive and find outstanding job satisfaction. Candidates that are not the right fit won’t waste their time completing the application process, meaning you can focus on qualified individuals and hire in a more timely manner.

Career progression: Including the career path will entice candidates looking for career growth. 

Training and development programs: Smaller companies may need employees with previous experience or provide educational assistance over internal training offered by larger organisations with more significant resources. 

Employee benefits: Compensation and benefits often fail to appear in job ads and while you may want to hold your cards close to your chest, failing to include them is a mistake. Consider answering common questions, such as working hours and paid leave. Researching the average salary for the role in these early stages will ensure you don’t waste your interviewer’s and the candidate’s time.

Skill gaps: Your company may need to bring in new skills beyond those required to complete the key role and duties. Thinking on an organisational level can be beneficial when contemplating skills diversity.

Legal requirements: Ensure your job advert and description does not ask for inappropriate or discriminatory personal details, such as age, marital status, or religion.

How to Hire a Head of Finance

Once you have selected your Job Description download it or convert it to a Job Advert. From here you can post/advertise your job across our network of job boards. If you wish to use the job description for a CV Template click through for advice and Convert to a CV

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