Director of Finance

Chelmsford (Central Location) Hybrid Working - 4 Days in Office £75,000 + Benefits We are excited to be partnering with a forward-thinking organisation in Chelmsford to appoint a Director of Finance in a newly created leadership role. This is an excellent opportunity to shape and elevate the finance function while joining a well-established senior leadership team. The OpportunityReporting directly to an experienced Chief Operating Officer, this role has been created to strengthen financial leadership, enhance reporting standards, and drive continuous improvement across the finance function.You will lead a small but capable team, consisting of 1 direct report and 7 indirect reports, with the autonomy and support to implement change and make a lasting impact.There is also clear long-term progression potential, with scope for this position to evolve into a future COO pathway for the right individual. Key Responsibilities • Provide strategic financial leadership across the organisation • Enhance and elevate financial reporting, controls, and governance • Lead, develop and mentor the finance team • Partner with senior stakeholders to support commercial and operational decision-making • Drive process improvements and efficiencies within the finance function • Support long-term planning, budgeting, and forecasting About You • Proven track record in a senior finance leadership role (Head of Finance or above) • Experience within Further Education is highly desirable • Candidates from Charities, Not-for-Profit, Education, Public Sector, or Commercial sectors will also be considered • Strong leadership skills with experience managing and developing teams • Ability to influence at senior level and drive change This role would suit a locally based candidate in the Mid Essex region seeking their next career step, including individuals looking to transition from Head of Finance into their first Director-level position. Why Apply? • Newly created role with genuine scope to shape the function • Clear progression and long-term career opportunity • Highly visible position within the senior leadership team • Central Chelmsford location with hybrid flexibility If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now. If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career. Hays EA is a trading division of Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited and acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and employment business for the supply of temporary workers. By applying for this job you accept the T&C's, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers which can be found at hays.co.uk