Job Description

Head of Financial Control

Application Deadline: 18 October 2026

Department: Finance, Procurement, and Risk

Employment Type: Permanent

Location: East Sussex - Lewes

Compensation: £57,530 / year

Description

Location: Lewes (hybrid)

Salary: £57,530 per annum

Hours: 37 per week

What you’ll be doing:

Southdown is a Sussex based not-for-profit specialist provider of care, support and housing services. Our mission is ‘to provide exceptional community support services which enable people to live well’.

We achieve this through the delivery of specialist, person-centred support:

• 24-hour care & support
• Mental and physical wellbeing
• Peer support
• Homelessness prevention
• Learning & employment
• Social landlord

With a turnover of £33m, we support 11,000 clients and tenants each year, employing 850 colleagues.

We’re looking for a professionally qualified accountant with experience in managing core finance functions, financial analysis and planning, to manage a team supporting Southdown’s operational divisions to deliver excellent services and achieve strategic objectives.

The role of Head of Financial Control (known internally as Manager, Financial Control) reports to the Chief Financial Officer, acts as subject matter expert on financial accounting and manages four direct reports. It is a member of the Southdown Leadership Management Team, responsible for a £400k annual budget.

Perks and benefits:

• Health cost cash-back scheme: access to our health insurance scheme which covers dental, optical, physical therapies and other medical treatments with the option to add greater levels of cover.
• Interest-free loans: assistance with larger costs that arise such as tenancy deposits, season travel tickets or buying a car.
• Access to the Easit Network: discounts and incentives on train, bus and car journeys such as 15% off eligible daily and season rail tickets.
• Blue Light card: access to discount services for the social care sector with savings across thousands of online shops, restaurants, and high-street vendors.
• Free advice and counselling service: confidential emotional support and practical guidance from our independent telephone service.
• 27 days paid holiday plus bank holidays.

Knowledge, skills and experience

What you’ll need for the role

Knowledge of:

• Accountancy software and tools.
• Financial statements, reporting standards and disclosure requirements.
• Banking and audit processes and risk assessment.
• Tax laws and regulations.
• Analysis of costs, budgets and performance metrics.

Experience in:

• Financial function management (min. 3-5 years).
• Financial analysis, budgeting, and forecasting.
• Financial and management accounting practices.

Qualifications: Professional Accounting Certification (ACCA, ACA or CIMA).

What would be nice:

• Experience in the non-profit health and social care sector
• Experience in the housing or property sector

Training:

You’ll receive an initial induction, followed by regular in person training and supervisions to invest in your development and provide all the tools needed to succeed in this role. We’ll help you to gain valuable experience, continually develop your skills and build a great career with the largest provider of housing, care and support in Sussex.

How to apply:

Please click on the ‘Apply Now’ button and fill out our simple one-page application form.

The application closing date is Sunday 18 October. Interviews will be held by arrangement.

Please note, if we receive a large number of applications then this position may close before the advertised application closing date. We encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible.