Finance Manager

Finance Manager - Railway Housing Association
Location: Darlington (Hybrid working – 3 days onsite)
Salary: £55,000

Ever wondered what it takes to keep the financial wheels turning at a purpose-driven housing association? One that genuinely puts residents first and isn't just paying lip service to the concept?

We're Railway Housing Association, established in 1919 and serving the community across 20 different local authority areas while ensuring that we are providing an equitable and fair service to all, and we're looking for a qualified accountant to join us as Finance Manager. Someone who can translate complex financial data into actionable insights and lead a team of Senior Finance Assistants while they're at it. Whilst we have a very well-established finance team with years of experience and knowledge, this is a brand-new position within the organisation.

What you'll be doing:

Crafting monthly management reports that have meaning to non-finance people
Leading the annual budget process and keeping our 30-year financial plans firmly grounded in reality
Managing a team that handles everything from payroll to rent accounting
Ensuring our procurement strategy delivers genuine value for money (not just the cheapest option)
Keeping our financial controls robust without creating unnecessary bureaucracy You'll need to be:

A qualified accountant (any CCAB qualification welcome including ACA / ACCA / CIMA CIPFA or equivalent)
Experienced in leading and developing teams
Tech-savvy, particularly with financial systems and Excel and being a champion of innovation, technology and efficiency
Comfortable challenging the status quo when it needs challenging
Understanding of the regulatory requirements and operating environment of the social housing sector   
What's in it for you?

£55,000 for a 35 hour working week
Defined contribution pension scheme with 8.3% contribution from the employer (rising to 9% as of April 2025)
30 days holiday (including 3 for Christmas closure) plus statutory days increasing by an additional day after 3 years’ service, and a further additional day after 5 years’ service.
The chance to make a real difference in social housing
Leadership role with autonomy and as a newly created role the ability to build on the previous track record of success of the finance team
Opportunity to shape financial strategy
Hybrid working with 3 days on site in Darlington with free on-site parking and 2 days wherever you work best If you're looking for a finance role where you can make a genuine impact beyond the bottom line, and you're ready to help drive cultural change while maintaining financial excellence, we should talk.

To apply, please send in your CV to or get in touch with Lucy Rider at Broster Buchanan, we anticipate on completing first stage interviews in the next few weeks with the final stage either December or January 2025, so please apply as soon as you can