Recruitment: Interim Head of Finance (Maternity Cover)

Interim Head of Finance (Maternity Cover)

Contract: Fixed Term

Salary: £75,000+ per annum (Dependent on experience)

London

HTA Design LLP is an award winning multi-disciplinary design partnership of specialist teams working collaboratively in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Urban Design, Interior Design, Sustainability, Planning and Communication Design.

The Interim Head of Finance will lead and oversee HTA’s financial management and strategy, acting as a trusted advisor to the Board and Partners. You will ensure the delivery of timely, accurate, and meaningful financial insight to support informed decision-making at the highest levels of the business. This role carries responsibility for maintaining strong financial controls and ensuring full statutory and regulatory compliance across the UK business and its international entities. You will drive continuous improvement in financial processes and reporting, provide strategic financial guidance to the Management Partner and Board, and lead on audit and tax compliance matters.

What you will do:

Leadership and Team Management

• Leading, managing, coaching, and developing the Finance Team to ensure high performance and continuous professional development.
• Setting clear objectives for the team and monitoring delivery against agreed priorities.
• Promoting a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and excellent internal service delivery.

Financial Strategy and Board Support

• Acting as a trusted advisor to the Managing Partner and Board, providing strategic financial insight and guidance.
• Preparing and presenting high-quality Board reports, including financial performance analysis, forecasts and key risk indicators.
• Contributing to strategic planning, financial modelling, and long-term business planning.
• Advising on financial risks, opportunities, and operational efficiencies to support sustainable growth.

Financial Management and Reporting

• Overseeing the preparation of accurate and timely monthly management accounts with meaningful analysis and commentary.
• Overseeing the budgeting and forecasting processes, including working closely with budget holders and challenging variances where appropriate.
• Monitoring financial performance, cash flow and working capital, ensuring appropriate controls are in place.
• Developing and enhancing financial reporting frameworks to provide clear insight into business performance.

International Group Accounting

• Overseeing financial reporting and compliance requirements for international entities within the Group, including a new entity in Australia.
• Ensuring appropriate consolidation of Group accounts where required.
• Managing relationships with overseas advisors and ensuring compliance with local statutory and tax regulations.

Audit and Compliance

• Leading the year-end process, including preparation of statutory accounts and acting as the primary contact for external auditors.
• Ensuring compliance with all relevant financial, statutory and regulatory requirements.
• Maintaining and continuously improving financial controls, policies and procedures.
• Overseeing Partner tax compliance and liaising with external tax advisors as required.

Payroll, Pensions, and Partner Affairs

• Overseeing the accurate and timely processing of payroll, including review and reconciliation processes.
• Ensuring compliance with pension regulations and managing relationships with pension providers.
• Overseeing Partner remuneration processes, tax reserve calculations and related compliance obligations.

Operational Finance Oversight

• Maintaining oversight of purchase and sales ledgers, credit control and cash management activities, with support of the management accountant.
• Ensuring effective credit control procedures are in place to manage working capital and minimise risk.
• Driving efficiencies through system improvements and finance process automation.

Financial Performance and Analysis

• Providing detailed financial performance reporting, identifying trends, risks and opportunities.
• Undertaking financial analysis to support investment decisions, cost management initiatives and business cases.
• Developing meaningful KPIs and dashboards to enhance financial visibility across the company.

The successful candidate will have:

• ACA / ACCA / CIMA qualified.
• 10+ years’ relevant professional finance experience, with a strong track record in senior leadership roles.
• Extensive experience in financial strategy, including business planning, financial modelling, and providing decision support at Board level.
• Proven experience managing international group accounting, statutory reporting, and multi-jurisdictional tax compliance (including Australia).
• Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, and develop high-performing finance teams.
• Experience overseeing payroll, pension schemes, and complex partner remuneration and tax structures.
• Ability to act as a trusted advisor, using data-driven insights to guide strategic decision-making and support sustainable growth.
• In-depth knowledge of statutory accounts, year-end audit processes, and internal control frameworks.
• Strong understanding of working capital management, credit control, and cash flow forecasting.
• Advanced Excel skills are essential, along with high levels of IT proficiency and the ability to leverage technology to improve reporting and process efficiency.

Please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification for full details.

If you have what we are looking for and want a role with excellent career development opportunities and a supportive environment, then why not apply.

Closing date for applications: Friday 1^st May 2026

To apply, please click ‘Apply for this Job‘.

1. Answer all pre-application questions accurately.
2. Upload a brief letter of introduction.
3. Upload your CV formatted as a PDF file.

By submitting your application to us via our secure online applicant portal, you are providing HTA with your consent to process, manage and retain your personal information for the purpose of considering you for potential current and future employment. Please refer to our Job Applicant Privacy Notice for details:

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Candidates must be eligible to live and work in the UK.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

HTA is committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and we actively encourage applications from under-represented groups. We value the differences, needs and contributions a diverse workforce represents and we strive to embed this ideal across all our people related activities and to create a culture of belonging.

HTA is a Disability Confident signatory – If you have a disability and would prefer to apply in a different format, or would like us to make reasonable adjustments to enable you to apply or attend an interview (whether virtually or in person), please contact us at: ​ quoting ‘Reasonable Adjustment Request‘ and we will be in touch to discuss how we can assist.