Head of Corporate Finance

Senior finance leadership role at the heart of policing Lead, influence and shape finance in a high-impact public service About Our Client South Yorkshire Police serves a diverse and vibrant region covering approximately 600 square miles and a population of almost 1.4 million people. With an annual budget of £380 million and a workforce of over 3,000 police officers and 2,200 support staff, the organisation plays a critical role in protecting communities and delivering essential public services across Sheffield, Barnsley, Rotherham and Doncaster.

At its core, South Yorkshire Police is focused on preventing crime and disorder, responding to the needs of victims and communities, and targeting those who cause the most harm. The Force is already high performing, with clear ambitions to build on this and drive future policing to an even higher standard. Working as part of a cohesive leadership team, the finance function plays a vital role in enabling these priorities, ensuring every pound is used effectively, efficiently and in the public interest.

This goes beyond managing budgets, requiring strong insight, influence and leadership to support confident decision-making at the highest levels of the organisation. South Yorkshire Police is entering an important period of transformation, with a clear focus on strengthening its financial capability, embracing innovation and continuous improvement, and enhancing the impact of recent investment in systems and infrastructure. Police staff work side by side with officers, united by a shared commitment to protecting and supporting communities.

This is an opportunity to join a purpose-led organisation at a pivotal moment, where inclusive, values-led leadership will play a key role in shaping the future of finance and supporting the delivery of safer communities across South Yorkshire.

Job Description Reporting to the Chief Finance Officer, this is a visible and influential leadership role at a pivotal point for South Yorkshire Police and the wider policing sector. This is not a traditional technical finance role. You will play a key part in shaping the future direction of the finance function, working closely with the CFO to lead the organisation through a significant period of transformation.

You will bring teams together, create clarity from complexity, and ensure finance is a trusted, forward-looking partner to the wider organisation.

Key responsibilities include:

Providing strong, values-led leadership to an established finance team, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement Acting as a key member of the senior finance leadership team, working in partnership with the CFO to shape the long-term direction of travel for the function Translating strategic priorities into clear, actionable financial plans, ensuring alignment between organisational objectives and delivery on the ground Building strong, credible relationships across the organisation, acting as the bridge between senior leadership, operational stakeholders and budget holders Driving a more outward-facing, business-partnering approach to finance, helping non-finance colleagues understand financial context and make informed decisions Supporting the organisation to navigate complexity, scale and pace, ensuring finance keeps up with the demands of a dynamic and evolving environment Leading through change, helping the organisation unlock the benefits of recent system investment and embedding more insight-led ways of working Developing and motivating teams to perform at their best, creating an environment where people feel engaged, supported and part of a shared purpose Championing the role of finance within policing, ensuring it is seen as a proactive, enabling function rather than a transactional service This is an opportunity to join at the start of a transformation journey, not to maintain the status quo, but to help build, shape and lead what comes next.

The Successful Applicant We are seeking a values-led, visible and engaging finance leader who brings people with them. This role is as much about leadership, influence and judgement as it is about technical expertise. You will be someone who can operate confidently at a senior level, translating strategic direction into meaningful action, and connecting finance with the wider organisation. This is an opportunity for an individual who is either operating at this level already or ready to step up, demonstrating the potential, self-awareness and ambition to grow into a critical leadership role within policing.

You will bring: A recognised professional accountancy qualification (e.g. CIPFA, ACA, ACCA, CIMA) Senior-level finance experience within a large, complex organisation (public sector or similarly complex environment highly advantageous) A leadership style that brings teams together, motivates performance and creates a strong sense of shared purpose The ability to operate at both a strategic and operational level,…