Future Directions CIC
Financial Controller

How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Financial Controller | Future Directions CIC | Chadderton | £60,000-£65,000 DOE | Office-based
Future Directions CIC is looking for a hands-on Financial Controller who can keep the organisation’s core accounting and payroll cycles running reliably while helping to modernise its systems, develop its people and improve the financial insight available to managers.
This is an opportunity to make a visible difference within a values-led organisation that supports people with learning disabilities. You will work closely with the Director of Finance and lead the finance and payroll teams through an important period of development and change.
The Opportunity
The role has three immediate priorities:
- Taking ownership of month end and ensuring accurate, timely and well-controlled management accounts.
- Leading the finance and payroll contribution to the implementation of Sona, Future Directions’ new workforce management and payroll system.
- Continuing to nurture and develop a committed but relatively junior finance and payroll team.
You will also:
- Lead the preparation of annual accounts and coordinate the statutory audit.
- Oversee Accounts Payable, Sales Ledger, credit control, Cash and Bank, and payroll.
- Improve management information and provide clearer insight into the performance of individual services and contracts.
- Work with operational managers, HR and business development colleagues on staffing costs, forecasts, contract uplifts, deferred income, costing and service-level analysis.
- Strengthen financial procedures, system controls and business continuity.
- Identify opportunities to automate manual processes and simplify how the finance team works.
- Help shape the future finance systems roadmap, including the organisation’s longer-term move away from Sage 50.
- Coach, delegate to and develop colleagues, creating a stronger and more resilient team.
Reasons to use Rodeo
I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.
Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme
Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
See breakdownIt searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Why you're a good match
You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.
Experience fit
Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
About You
You will be a rounded finance professional who combines technical credibility with a willingness to roll up your sleeves.
You are likely to bring:
- End-to-end ownership of month end and management accounts within an SME, charity, social enterprise or similarly operational organisation.
- Experience of implementing or significantly improving a finance, payroll, workforce or other business-critical system.
- Experience of translating financial information into useful operational and contract insight.
- Strong Excel, financial systems and data-handling skills.
- A calm, resilient and organised approach to competing deadlines.
A fully qualified ACA, ACCA or CIMA accountant would be preferred.
You will need an inclusive approach towards people with learning disabilities, autism and other complex support needs and a genuine commitment to the mission, values and strategic direction of Future Directions CIC.


Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
What’s on Offer?
- Salary of £60,000-£65,000, depending on experience and qualifications.
- 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays.
- NEST workplace pension.
- A visible and influential role working closely with the Director of Finance.
- The opportunity to lead a major workforce management and payroll transformation.
- A broad remit spanning financial control, payroll, systems, people development and business insight.
- Scope to develop your contribution as the organisation and finance function continue to evolve.
The position is based just off the M60 Junction at Chadderton and is an office-based role.
If you are looking for a role where you can combine hands-on financial control with meaningful systems change and people development, we would be pleased to hear from you.
Apply now or contact Bayman Atkinson Smythe for a confidential conversation.
This vacancy is being managed exclusively by Bayman Atkinson Smythe on a retained basis. We respectfully request that any third-party approaches or candidate submissions are directed to us. Unsolicited CVs sent directly to the client will not be accepted and will be forwarded to our retained consultant Claire Bayman.
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills