Head of Finance

The Opportunity

Shape the future of financial leadership at Durham Constabulary

This is a senior finance opportunity with genuine organisational impact. Durham Constabulary is seeking an accomplished Head of Finance to strengthen financial control, modernise its finance operation and provide the insight needed to support confident, sustainable decision-making.

About Durham Constabulary

Durham Constabulary is entering an important period for its finance function. With a budget of approximately £200 million and a broad team spanning accountancy, payroll, pensions, accounts payable and accounts receivable, the organisation requires strong financial leadership to support its future priorities.
The successful candidate will join at a point when there is real scope to improve systems, strengthen planning and reporting, develop greater consistency across the function and help shape its future structure. It is an opportunity to establish robust foundations while contributing to decisions that matter across the organisation.

The Role

Reporting to the Assistant Chief Officer, the Head of Finance will lead the operational finance agenda and play a central role in developing the medium-term financial plan.

Your immediate focus will be to establish a clear view of financial performance, strengthen control and support leaders and budget holders in making well-informed decisions. You will lead the production of statutory accounts, oversee a complex year-end timetable and manage the relationship with external audit.

Beyond the core accounting responsibilities, this role carries a significant improvement mandate. You will:

• Strengthen financial planning, budget monitoring and management reporting.
• Develop clear financial policies, procedures and controls.
• Reduce reliance on individual knowledge by improving documentation and cross-training.
• Review finance processes, systems and team responsibilities.
• Provide constructive challenge around expenditure, savings and resource allocation.
• Build effective relationships with senior leaders, commanders and collaborative partners.
• Lead, motivate and develop a sizeable, multidisciplinary finance team.
• Help determine the future shape and capability of the finance function.
• Support wider projects and potential changes affecting financial operations.

This appointment will enable the Assistant Chief Officer to concentrate more fully on strategic priorities, while you take ownership of a high-quality, dependable and increasingly forward-looking finance operation.

About You

You will be a professionally qualified accountant and an experienced finance leader with a strong record of managing complex accounts, statutory reporting and demanding year-end programmes.

Experience in policing, local government or the wider public sector would be valuable, particularly alongside knowledge of public-sector accounting. However, applications are also welcomed from senior finance professionals in other complex organisations who can demonstrate the ability to adapt, learn quickly and lead change effectively.

You should bring:

• Membership of a CCAB-recognised professional accountancy body, with CIPFA particularly relevant.
• Substantial professional finance experience and a proven management background.
• Strong technical accounting and statutory accounts production capability.
• Experience of leading and developing a broad finance team.
• The confidence to challenge constructively and influence senior stakeholders.
• Evidence of improving financial controls, processes, reporting or systems.
• The ability to translate detailed financial information into clear organisational insight.
• A practical, visible and inclusive leadership style.
• Sound judgement, resilience and the highest standards of integrity.

This role will suit someone who combines technical credibility with an appetite for improvement. You will be comfortable getting close to the operational detail, but equally capable of identifying priorities, creating structure and helping senior leaders look ahead.