Head of Finance & IT

Job Title: Head of Finance & IT (Flexible / Part-Time)

Hours: 25 hours per week (Permanent)

Working Pattern: Flexible (e.g.3 full days or spread over 5 mornings)

Location: Belfast (Hybrid / Flexible options available)

Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience + Excellent benefits package

About Us

We are a well-established, Belfast-based Trade Association managing three independent, standalone not-for-profit entities. We pride ourselves on a collaborative, supportive workplace culture. We are fully committed to progressive, modern working practices, offering a high-quality role that balances a professional career with life outside of work.

The Opportunity

We are seeking an adaptable, systems-savvy Head of Finance & IT to join us on a permanent, part-time basis.

As a core member of the Senior Management Team (SMT), you will play a pivotal role in the strategic governance of the association. You will act as a trusted advisor to the Chief Executive and Board, bridging the gap between high-level financial strategy, digital systems transformation, corporate risk, and robust financial performance.

While you will oversee our core finances across all three standalone entities—supported by an existing experienced part-time Senior Finance Officer—you will also be leading our digital transformation. We are ready to move away from legacy setups (Sage 200 and manual Excel/journal workarounds) to implement a modern, cloud-based ERP system, currently identified as Sage Intacct, integrating it directly with our internal CRM and membership database systems. Additionally, you will serve as our primary internal anchor for technology infrastructure and cyber security governance, managing our relationship with our outsourced IT partner.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Leadership & SMT Governance

• Act as an active member of the Senior Management Team, contributing to strategic decision-making and risk management.
• Lead the annual and long-term budget setting processes across all three standalone entities, collaborating with department heads to align financial resources with strategic goals.
• Develop, track, and report on key organizational performance metrics and financial KPIs to ensure institutional targets are met.
• Prepare and present high-level financial dashboards, cash flow forecasts, and strategic risk evaluations at SMT and Board meetings.
• Directly manage, mentor, and support the existing part-time Senior Finance Officer, ensuring they have the guidance needed to succeed.

2. Financial Control & Year-End Audit

• Produce distinct quarterly management accounts, variance analyses, and year-end compliance filings for our three individual non-profit entities.
• Manage non-profit accounting logic, specifically around deferred subscription income.
• Take full ownership of the year-end audit preparation for all three entities, building clean, reconciled electronic audit files and supporting schedules.
• Act as the primary point of contact for external auditors, managing the fieldwork timeline and ensuring timely statutory filing.
• Manage and run the end-to-end payroll operations.
• Oversee, review and support the data inputs of our part-time Senior Finance Officer, ensuring accurate ledger entry.

3. Systems Migration & Automation

• Act as our internal project manager and lead contact for the software vendor during our upcoming migration to Sage Intacct.
• Streamline our workflows, moving from manual CRM/database batch exports to a live cloud integration.

4. IT Partner & Infrastructure Governance

• Act as the strategic internal point of contact and contract manager for our outsourced IT managed service provider (MSP), ensuring our technical infrastructure securely supports the data needs of the association.
• Act as the internal oversight lead for all hardware provision and software asset management; overseeing our external IT partner’s management of licenses, you will audit renewals, verify user seat accuracy across the three entities, and ensure licensing matches actual needs.
• Take overall responsibility for data protection and cyber security governance, coordinating with the outsourced IT provider to maintain robust security protocols (e.g., Cyber Essentials compliance, multi-factor authentication, and staff training).

Who We Are Looking For

• Qualified or Highly Experienced: You are ACA, ACCA, or CIMA qualified, or possess an equivalent track record of Qualified-by-Experience (QBE) in a senior finance or controller role.
• SMT Gravitas: Proven experience operating at SMT, Board, or Director level, with the communication skills required to explain complex financial data to non-financial stakeholders.
• Tech & Systems capability: You have practical exposure to a core accounting system upgrade or migration (e.g., Sage Intacct, Xero, NetSuite) and enjoy improving digital workflows. Experience with Sage 200 or complex data sheets is highly advantageous.
• CRM Data Familiarity: You are comfortable working with data transfers or reconciliations between commercial CRM databases (such as iMIS, Salesforce, Dynamics, HubSpot, or similar systems) and core financial ledgers.
• IT Vendor & Audit Governance: Experienced in managing external IT partners and technical contracts, with the ability to audit software procurement lists for accuracy, alongside a proven track record of managing external year-end audits.
• Organised & Autonomous: You can confidently structure your 25 hours to keep monthly/quarterly and annual reporting running smoothly alongside the system upgrade, budget setting, and IT governance.
• Team-First Mindset: A proactive team player who values positive workplace dynamics. While you will operate with a high degree of autonomy in your finance and IT remit, you are someone who enjoys supporting colleagues, sharing insights, and contributing to a cohesive Senior Management Team.

What We Offer

• Flexibility: once stablished in the role, we can develop a working schedule that meets the business needs and balances in person and remote working to ensure appropriate levels of interaction and team working.
• Engaging Project Work: The chance to shape, own, and deliver a modern cloud system implementation and keep abreast of emerging technologies to ensure systems are always fit for purpose.
• Collaborative Environment: A stable role with a dedicated team and an experienced colleague already handling baseline data entry.