Robertson Bell

Robertson Bell are supporting a Canterbury-based client to recruit an interim Finance Business Partner on a six month contract, to support the organisation through a period of change. This is a hybrid role, with a requirement to be on site 2-3 days per week. Our client is looking for a fast start so, you will need to be available immediately or at short notice. The Finance Business Partner will be responsible for; Setting subsidiary budgets as well as the organisations overall budget. Working closely with the Director of Finance in short-medium-term financial planning. Ensuring the business is adequately supported from a financial standpoint; managing budgets, updating forecasts and providing guidance on spend. Preparing financial reports for subsidiaries, as well as consolidated financial reports for the group. Supporting the transition away from a management reporting-orientated business partnering function. Our client is looking for; A qualified finance business partner with an accounting practice, or private sector, background. Proven experience driving process improvement and a competent user of ERP systems and MS Excel. Strong interpersonal skills. The ability to working proactively and autonomously in a fast-pace environment. Please don't hesitate to apply now, applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis.

A recruitment agency is seeking an Interim Finance Business Partner to support a Canterbury-based client for a six-month contract. The role requires setting subsidiary and overall budgets, working with the Director of Finance, and preparing financial reports. Ideal candidates will be qualified finance business partners with a strong background in process improvement and ERP systems, along with excellent interpersonal skills. This hybrid role mandates being on site 2-3 days per week, and candidates must be available immediately.

A leading recruitment agency is seeking an Interim Finance Consultant to manage the production of consolidated statutory accounts for a housing provider after a significant business combination. The role involves technical leadership in acquisition accounting, working with finance teams and auditors, ensuring accurate financial statements, and developing consolidation models. Candidates should be fully qualified accountants with hands-on experience in acquisition accounting and the ability to work independently in a fast-paced, changing environment.

Northampton College are working with Robertson Bell to recruit to a Finance Business Partner position on a permanent basis. As one of the top 10 colleges in the UK, with significant strengths in health and social care, engineering, creative industries, construction, catering and digital, Northampton College is an inspiring place to work. This role has been created to strengthen financial support to budget holders and improve financial decision making across the organisation. With a turnover of £40m, the College continues to expand, making this an exciting opportunity to join a financially stable and ambitious organisation. Key Responsibilities Include: Support financial planning, budgeting, and forecasting, ensuring accurate analysis of income, expenditure, and departmental budgets. Monitor and control departmental and college wide budgets, identifying efficiencies and contributing to procurement and expenditure plans. Provide financial guidance and training to academic staff and budget holders, ensuring compliance with policies and procurement processes. Generate financial reports, dashboards, and modelling, supporting decision making and financial oversight at all levels. Support the year end process, VAT returns, and audits, ensuring accurate financial reporting and compliance with regulations. Assist in maintaining financial systems, cash flow forecasting, and payroll processes, ensuring effective financial management and contingency support. The Organisation: At Northampton College, our students are at the heart of everything we do, ensuring they receive an outstanding education that enables them to succeed. Our students come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds, not just because it's the right thing to do, but because it makes our organisation stronger. The successful candidate will: Be part qualified and looking to continue their studies (study support is provided) Have experience in a business partnering role, working with budget holders to support financial decision making. Possess strong communication skills, with the ability to explain financial information to non finance stakeholders. Have experience in budgeting and forecasting (or be eager to develop in this area). This role offers flexible working, requiring the successful candidate will be based at our Booth Lane Campus in Northampton. Local Government Pension Scheme (a defined benefit scheme including an employer contribution rate of 22%) and 35 days' annual leave including bank holidays Free parking & EV charging On site gym & wellbeing facilities and discounts on hair & beauty treatments NUS & Blue Light Card discounts Applications will be under constant review before the closing date so please submit your application to our agent Robertson Bell. Apply now to be considered!

Interim Finance Consultant - Acquisition Accounting Sector: Social Housing Date Posted: 16/12/2025 Are you looking for a rare opportunity to navigate complex business combinations and acquisition accounting? Can you take the technical lead on year-end consolidation in a rapidly changing environment? Do you thrive when deadlines are tight, information is evolving, and multiple stakeholders need clarity? A Housing provider is seeking an Interim Finance Consultant - Acquisition Accounting to lead the production of its first consolidated statutory accounts for year ending 31 March 2026, following a significant business combination that completed in FY25/26. This is a hands-on, technically challenging assignment requiring someone who can provide structure, pace and technical assurance across a sensitive and high-profile project. This will start as a six month contract. You'll act as the project manager and technical lead for all aspects of the acquisition accounting, consolidation modelling and audit engagement - working closely with internal finance teams across both organisations, external valuers, and the external auditors. Key responsibilities include: Act as project manager and technical lead for the year-end consolidated accounts following the recent business combination. Deliver the audited financial statements, including: Ensuring the merger accounting note is correct Ensuring the fair value and acquisition position is correct Handling the consolidation of the acquired organisation with the appropriate fair value adjustments Developing the business combination model and producing the Group's opening position at acquisition. Work closely with the audit partner to agree on the accounting principles and approach upfront Provide technical expertise in areas such as accounting policy differences between the two legacy organisations, determining the appropriate consolidation adjustments, and navigating the complexities of the acquisition accounting Be able to work independently and hit deadlines, as the organization is currently very busy with the merger, acquisition, and restructuring. You'll play a pivotal role in one of the most strategically important events this organisation has undertaken in recent years. The technical complexity, the need for project discipline, and the importance of getting the consolidation right will give you a highly visible and career-defining assignment. You'll also have the autonomy to shape processes, impose structure where it's needed, and provide real clarity in an environment where stakeholders - especially auditors - are presenting evolving demands. To be considered, please meet these criteria: Be a fully qualified accountant with technical and hands on experience in acquisition accounting and fair-value adjustments (if you don't have this experience but believe you can demonstrate the nous for figuring it out, then I'm still keen to hear from you) Demonstrable experience preparing consolidated year-end statutory accounts within Housing. Exceptional reconciliation skills and comfort being hands on with large, complex datasets. Highly organised, with proven project-management ability in pressured environments. Excellent communication skills to engage confidently with internal teams, external auditors, and third-party valuers. Ability to work independently and bring structure, pace, and clarity into a changing scope of work. If you're available at short notice and can bring the technical assurance and leadership this project needs, please apply immediately - interviews are taking place quickly.

A national organisation is seeking an Interim Head of Payroll to take full ownership of payroll delivery across multiple organisations. This 3-month interim role offers a stable environment to lead an experienced team, ensuring payroll accuracy and compliance. The ideal candidate has extensive experience running large-scale payrolls, effective management capabilities, and strong knowledge of payroll systems like iTrent. This position allows for flexible working and potential for permanent appointment.

Take a pivotal role in strengthening financial leadership and shaping the future of a high impact for a national charity tackling homelessness and social exclusion as their new Financial Controller. This is a rare opportunity to step into a senior finance leadership role within a fast-moving, mission-driven organisation delivering vital housing and support services across England. Reporting to the Executive Director of Finance & IT, you'll play a central role in embedding strong financial controls, leading a growing finance team, and supporting both core charitable operations and an expanding housing subsidiary. This role offers genuine development potential - ideal for someone looking to broaden their leadership exposure, deepen their technical expertise, and position themselves for future Director-level responsibilities. What you'll gain: Strategic leadership exposure - work closely with executive leadership, trustees and internal committees, contributing to organisation-wide decision making. People leadership - lead, mentor and develop a busy finance team in a complex, multi-entity environment. Systems and transformation experience - take a leading role in embedding a new finance system and driving greater automation and efficiency. Group-level complexity - gain hands on experience across consolidated accounts and a growing housing subsidiary. Clear progression potential - a genuine platform to develop into broader finance leadership within the charity sector (or beyond). What you'll do as the Financial Controller: Lead group year-end reporting, the statutory audit, and high-quality trustee reporting. Embed strong financial controls, policies and processes, driving continuous improvement. Play a key role in finance system implementation and increased automation. Act as a trusted technical advisor, providing accounting expertise across the organisation. Deliver timely, insightful management accounts for a growing housing subsidiary. Oversee month-end close, reconciliations, payroll and transactional finance with confidence. Represent finance at internal forums, influencing decision-making at a senior level. What you'll need: A full recognised accounting qualification (or be in the final stages). Strong experience operating in a robust internal control environment, with ownership of month end and/or year end processes. Proven ability or desire to lead, motivate and develop a finance team. Excellent relationship-building skills, with confidence working across a senior leadership group. Experience in the charity, housing or public sector is desirable but not essential. Candidates looking to make their first move from practice into a senior in-house role are strongly encouraged to apply. The role is based in Manchester , with a flexible hybrid working model (typically two days per week in the office). Ready to take the next step? Applications for this Financial Controller are reviewed on a rolling basis, so early submission is encouraged to avoid missing out on this standout opportunity to grow your finance leadership career while making a genuine social impact.

A prestigious recruitment partner is seeking a Deputy Director of Finance located in Ilford, UK. The successful candidate will lead the financial strategy, optimize resources, and drive continuous improvement in financial systems. Applicants should be qualified accountants with extensive senior financial leadership experience and strong stakeholder engagement skills. Attractive benefits and competitive salary are offered in this role that requires one day a week in the office.

A recruitment agency is seeking a detail-oriented Senior Finance Officer (Cash) to manage cash flow forecasts and support payment processes. The ideal candidate will have experience in accounts payable, receivable, and strong analytical skills to interpret financial data. This role is crucial for supporting government financial submissions and ensuring compliance with robust cash management controls. A collaborative approach in a dispersed team is essential, as is the ability to build effective relationships across various stakeholders.

The Government Property Agency is the largest property holder in government, with more than £2.1 billion in property assets and over 50% of the government's office estate. We are transforming the way the Civil Service works by creating great places to work, leading the largest commercial office programme in the UK, working towards halving carbon emissions from government offices, and achieving greater value for taxpayers. We are looking for innovative, solutions-focused people to join our team. Representing the best covenant in the UK - His Majesty's Government - we are leading ground-breaking programmes such as the Government Hubs Programme, Whitehall Campus Programme and Net Zero Programme, as well as delivering modern and cost-effective real estate service solutions. Innovation and progress are at the heart of our behaviours. We foster a culture of lifelong learning, where curiosity and self-improvement are encouraged, and we're dedicated to becoming a leading, inclusive employer both in the external market and throughout the Civil Service. Our strong emphasis on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) is not just about driving inclusion across our organisation, it is also about ensuring our services meet the needs of government departments and the civil servants who use our spaces. Join our dynamic and diverse team that leads with purpose, improving sustainability, nurturing social value, driving inclusivity and flexibility, and kickstarting economic growth. We are driven by purpose, and you can be part of it too: where you make a meaningful impact; where you influence; where your voice really matters; where you help to shape our future direction. The responsibilities of the Senior Finance Officer (Cash) will include: Preparing cash flow forecasts to support cash management, and support the payment run process Providing cash flow reports to the Cabinet Office to support the monthly group submission to HM Treasury Working with the Cabinet Office Treasury team in relation to funding requests Supporting the payroll and staff costs recording, ad-hoc recharging and purchase to pay processes Supporting continuous process efficiencies and improvements across the function, delivering maximum value for the GPA and ensuring robust controls are in place Preparing and processing journals Acting as contact for external and internal auditors of cash and associated controls Building relationships with key staff across Finance and the business in order to maintain effectiveness. Working with stakeholders, especially the Property Partner, to ensure key information is provided to aid robust forecasting Key Skills & Experience Good experience of accounts payable, receivable and cash management Strong attention to detail and ability to analyse and interpret significant amounts of financial data Ability to develop productive relationships and effective networks with stakeholders across government organisations Good experience of systems and reporting e.g. Oracle Ability to work in a geographically dispersed team For more information, please apply using the link, or contact Emma Fuller at our retained search agent, Robertson Bell at . The GPA is committed to representing the communities we serve by making Diversity, Equality and Inclusion part of everything we do. To ensure that we are always recruiting and retaining a diverse mix of talent, we are particularly inviting applications from candidates who are disabled, ethnically or gender diverse, and people who identify as being part of the LGBTQ+ community.

Are you confident running large, complex payrolls without hand-holding? Can you lead an experienced team and keep everything running smoothly from day one? Do you enjoy being fully accountable for payroll delivery in a shared-service environment? A large national organisation operating a shared payroll service is seeking an Interim Head of Payroll to take full ownership of payroll delivery across multiple organisations. This is a 3-month interim role with a clear view to permanent appointment, stepping into a stable, well-run function following the departure of a long-standing postholder. The shared service delivers payroll for c. 3,500-3,600 employees across multiple payrolls, including permanent staff and contractor populations. The team beneath you is experienced and capable - this role exists to provide confident leadership, oversight and accountability. Key responsibilities include: Taking full operational ownership of end-to-end payroll delivery across multiple payrolls. Leading and managing an established payroll team (Payroll Manager, Supervisors and Administrators). Acting as the senior point of accountability for payroll accuracy, controls and compliance. Ensuring continuity and stability following the transition of the previous postholder. Overseeing monthly payroll cycles, including contractor and timesheet-based payrolls. Acting as the main escalation point for complex payroll queries and decision-making. Maintaining strong relationships with HMRC and ensuring ongoing compliance. Using iTrent effectively to manage payroll operations and reporting. This is a rare opportunity to step into a senior payroll leadership role where the fundamentals are already strong. You won't be firefighting historic issues or inheriting broken processes - instead, you'll be trusted to take control, provide calm leadership, and keep a large shared-service payroll running efficiently. The organisation offers flexible working, a supportive culture, and strong long-term development opportunities for those moving into the permanent role. To be considered, please meet these criteria: Proven experience running large-scale payrolls with full end-to-end accountability. Experience managing multiple payrolls or operating within a shared services environment. Confident people manager, comfortable leading experienced payroll professionals. Strong hands-on payroll knowledge - able to run payroll personally if required. Experience with payroll systems (iTrent experience highly advantageous). Experience and capability valued over formal payroll qualifications. This role requires an immediate or near-immediate start. Interviews are taking place on a rolling basis, and high-quality profiles will be considered even after the initial closing date. Apply now to avoid missing out.

Are you a commercially minded finance professional who thrives on partnering with senior stakeholders? Do you enjoy using financial analysis to drive strategic decision-making? Are you looking for an opportunity to develop your career in business partnering and take on a role with outstanding potential for future growth and progression? If yes, this could be your next role! This commercially-minded, innovative organisation is seeking a Finance Business Partner to join their high-performing team and play a key role in supporting their strategic objectives. As a Finance Business Partner, you will act as a trusted advisor, providing strategic insight and financial expertise to key stakeholders. You will work closely with senior leaders across multiple directorates, ensuring that financial data is accurately reported, analysed, and used to drive effective decision-making. The key duties of this Finance Business Partner are as follows: Act as a key financial advisor to senior stakeholders, providing strategic insight and financial analysis. Ensure the provision of accurate and timely financial reporting, enabling informed decision-making. Drive financial planning, forecasting, and budgeting processes for key functions. Provide robust challenge to budget holders to ensure effective budget management and value for money. Deliver high-quality management information and continuous improvement of finance reporting. Provide insightful commentary on month-end reports, highlighting key trends and opportunities. This role has been designed as a developmental opportunity, offering significant scope for career progression, whilst working for a purpose-driven organisation. It provides the perfect platform for a finance professional looking to enhance their strategic and commercial skill set while gaining invaluable experience in a dynamic and supportive environment. This role is also being offered on a hybrid working basis, with only two days required in the office per week. The successful candidate will have: Achieved their full accountancy qualification. Strong financial analysis skills, with experience in financial reporting and data management. Proven ability to build strong relationships with senior stakeholders and influence decision-making. Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate financial data into actionable insights for non-finance colleagues. A strategic and commercially aware mindset, with a focus on value for money and continuous improvement. If you are a proactive and strategic finance professional who enjoys partnering with stakeholders to drive financial success, we would love to hear from you!

An innovative organization is seeking a Finance Business Partner to join their dynamic team in London. This role offers a unique opportunity to work closely with senior stakeholders, providing strategic insight and financial expertise. You will play a key role in driving financial planning, forecasting, and budgeting processes, ensuring that financial data is accurately reported and analyzed. This position is designed for a proactive finance professional looking to enhance their strategic skill set while enjoying the benefits of hybrid working. With only two days required in the office, this role provides the perfect blend of collaboration and flexibility, making it an ideal opportunity for those aiming for career progression in a supportive environment.