Finance Director

Overview

For over 25 years, Oakdale has been transforming lives through evidence-based therapies and assessments for children, young people, and adults. As a values-driven, not-for-profit organisation, we work with the NHS, schools, local authorities, and private clients, always committed to making a real difference.

We’re looking for an experienced and visionary Finance Director to join our senior leadership team. In this pivotal role, you’ll help shape organisational strategy, inspire high-performing teams, and ensure we continue to deliver services that meet the highest standards. If you’re a strategic leader who wants to combine professional excellence with purpose-driven work, this is your opportunity to make a lasting impact.

Oakdale is going through a period of significant and rapid growth. We are looking for a Finance Director to join our team and keep our finances positioned for continued success. The Finance Director will have day-to-day, ongoing impact on company operations, helping us to analyse, strategise, and grow our financial position. They should understand current accounting practices and trends and, as a member of senior management, will be comfortable in a leadership role that requires clear and effective communication skills.

Because Oakdale has been growing from an SME into a substantial business with a national footprint we are looking for a Finance Director capable of making a substantial contribution to our group at the strategic level, whilst also taking direct responsibility for management of our finance function, providing day to day guidance and input on technical practice to colleagues in the team.

Oakdale group is made up of a number of companies and with dozens of public and private commissioners our finances are relatively complex for a mid size organisation. Much of our turnover is derived from ‘draw down’ on head contracts held with NHS bodies and local authorities, obligating us to closely account for invoices on a granular basis, underpinned by a broad suite of financial reporting and Management Information (MI).

As such, the post holder will also take on line management responsibility for Oakdale’s senior MI analyst and oversee Oakdale’s reporting arrangements, so that we are able to account to our commissioners for contract activity and benefit from a finance business partner function to improve the quality and economic performance of our operational services.

We are looking for someone who is interested in working in the healthcare field and whose values align with our own: knowledgeable, collaborative, flexible, innovative, principled, inclusive, and effective.

• Excellent leadership and communication skills, with steadfast resolve and personal integrity
• Ability to build solid, trusting relationships with colleagues, commissioners and suppliers
• Strategic thinker with ability to work with senior colleagues in setting the direction, structure and design of the group
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Understanding of finance matters and accounting, regulatory issues, tax planning and compliance
• Accountancy degree and professionally qualified (ACCA, CIMA etc) (essential)
• Proven experience as a Finance Director or similar role
• Strong understanding of corporate finance and performance management principles
• Excellent knowledge of financial forecasting, corporate finance, and data analysis
• Proficient in the use of financial management software.

• Take responsibility (either directly or via staff) for all cash management, investments, insurance, budgeting, and financial reporting, and help drive the company’s financial strategy and recruitment needs
• To improve and maintain Oakdale’s financial controls systems
• Coordinate development of annual operating, capital, and program budgets, as well as managing the process of in year reporting against these budgets
• Work with the management team to ensure cash flow is compatible with operations by overseeing day-to-day accounting, recording, reporting, and internal control activities of the organisation
• Develop and implement best…