Head of Finance
Crystal Palace
8 hours ago
Full-time
On-site
Selhurst Park Stadium, London, London, SE25 6PU, GB
Job Location:Selhurst Park Stadium, SE25 6PU
Contract Type:Full-time
Deadline:4th October 2026
Who we are:
We are Crystal Palace Football Club, a Premier League Football Club with more than 160 years of proud history. Spread across three different sites - brand new main offices at Selhurst Park Stadium, our London office, and our Training Ground/Academy, we offer the best atmosphere and culture for our fans and our employees.
We strive for excellence in the workplace with a philosophy of high standards, professionalism, and a strong work ethic from our employees. We are constantly trying to grow, diversify and build with not only our team on the pitch, but also our team in the offices and on the ground.
About this role:
Reporting to the CFO, the Head of Finance will be responsible for overseeing and managing the Finance Team's day-to-day operations, ensuring the smooth and efficient delivery of all transactional and financial activities across the Club. The postholder will provide accurate, timely and commercially focused financial insight, support sustainable decision-making, and ensure effective financial controls, planning, reporting and compliance across the Club and its associated entities.
Responsibilities:Financial Planning, Control, Compliance and Risk
- Lead and oversee the annual budgeting & forecast process, working collaboratively with budget holders and stakeholders.
- Lead financial analysis and planning to support strategic decision-making and business planning.
- Provide financial modelling, scenario analysis and recommendations for strategic initiatives.
- Ensure financial controls, processes and delegated authorities are maintained.
- Support compliance with applicable statutory, tax, accounting and football regulatory requirements.
- Identify, assess and mitigate financial risks, escalating material issues appropriately.
- Oversee the preparation, monitoring and management of the Club’s cash flow forecasts, ensuring sufficient liquidity to meet operational commitments and supporting effective working capital management.
- Lead and oversee the preparation and submission of accurate and timely financial compliance reports to the Premier League and UEFA, ensuring adherence to applicable financial regulations, reporting requirements and deadlines.
- Coordinate with external auditors and support the timely completion of audits.
- Ensure financial practices are ethical, transparent and consistent with Club policies.
Budgeting, Forecasting and Management Reporting
- Review monthly management accounts and analyse performance against budget and forecast.
- Prepare clear variance analysis and coordinate corrective actions with budget holders.
- Develop and maintain annual forecasts and reforecasting processes.
- Produce weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual KPI reports relevant to the Head of Finance remit.
- Provide timely financial performance reports to the Executive Team, Board and relevant committees.
- Identify financial opportunities and risks through proactive engagement with budget holders.
- Monitor the impact of payroll, margins, overheads and other key drivers on financial performance.
Finance Team & Day-to-Day Operations
- Manage and oversee the day-to-day operations of the Finance Team, ensuring the timely and accurate delivery of financial reporting, ensuring high standards within the finance team.
- Ensure appropriate financial controls and processes are maintained across all transactional activities.
- Support, develop and provide guidance to the Finance Team, ensuring operational efficiency, accountability and adherence to Club policies and procedures.
- Lead, support, mentor and develop the finance team.
- Set clear objectives, standards and development plans for direct reports.
- Other duties and responsibilities as required by line manager.
- Upholding and promoting the Club’s policies and procedures, including Health and Safety, Safeguarding and Equal Opportunities policies and procedures.
Experience, Skills and Qualifications:
Essential
- Professional accounting qualification such as ACA, ACCA or CIMA.
- Experience within professional football, sport, entertainment or another comparable industry.
- 3 years’ post-qualified experience in relevant finance roles.
- Extensive experience in financial planning, budgeting, forecasting and management reporting.
- Strong knowledge of financial controls, accounting principles, risk analysis and compliance.
- Experience working in a fast-paced, complex or commercially focused environment.
- Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Excel and financial/accounting systems, including ERP platforms.
- Strong analytical, data interpretation, communication and presentation skills.
- Ability to influence and collaborate with senior stakeholders and budget holders.
Desirable
- Experience managing capital, construction, stadium or redevelopment projects.
- Knowledge of Premier League, UEFA, FA or other relevant football financial regulations.
- Experience managing or developing a finance team.
- Experience negotiating or reviewing contracts with suppliers, partners or other third parties.
Benefits:
- Complimentary match day ticket
- Reward and Discount Scheme through our Tech Scheme and Simple Health app
- Health and Wellbeing benefit scheme
- 20% Discount in our Retail Stores
- Discounts in various gyms through GymFlex
- Volunteering Day - 1 Workday off to support a charity of your choice.
- Travel Season Ticket loan
- Holiday allowance: 25 Days
Our commitment to Equality
At Crystal Palace Football Club, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion is spirited and continues to grow due to the working environment, which makes all staff feel appreciated and welcomed. Crystal Palace Football Club do this by encouraging good relations and practices towards different groups and are committed to promoting employment opportunities that celebrate diversity.
We are committed to attracting, recruiting, and retaining the most talented candidates and the club intends to ensure that everyone who wishes to engage with the club, whether as matchday fans, staff, players, board members, participants in Foundation programmes and any other person engaged with the club's activities, has a real and equal opportunity to do so.
Reasonable Adjustment
We are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. We guarantee an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role, ensuring equitable opportunities for everyone.
If you require disability-related adjustments during the recruitment process, please contact DLO@cpfc.co.uk (DLO inbox is for disability-related queries only, if you wish to gain further information regarding this vacancy, please contact cpfc.recruitment@cpfc.co.uk). We are here to help you through the whole recruitment process including trying to apply for a vacancy, getting in touch with us through the process, and/or helping with access in case you are required to come in for an interview.
Safeguarding
Crystal Palace Football Club is committed to safeguarding and ensuring the welfare and protection of children and vulnerable people and expects all staff to share this commitment. As such, the post holder will be required to undergo any relevant security checks, including a comprehensive background check, Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) to ensure the safety and protection of children and vulnerable individuals.
Contract Type:Full-time
Deadline:4th October 2026
Who we are:
We are Crystal Palace Football Club, a Premier League Football Club with more than 160 years of proud history. Spread across three different sites - brand new main offices at Selhurst Park Stadium, our London office, and our Training Ground/Academy, we offer the best atmosphere and culture for our fans and our employees.
We strive for excellence in the workplace with a philosophy of high standards, professionalism, and a strong work ethic from our employees. We are constantly trying to grow, diversify and build with not only our team on the pitch, but also our team in the offices and on the ground.
About this role:
Reporting to the CFO, the Head of Finance will be responsible for overseeing and managing the Finance Team's day-to-day operations, ensuring the smooth and efficient delivery of all transactional and financial activities across the Club. The postholder will provide accurate, timely and commercially focused financial insight, support sustainable decision-making, and ensure effective financial controls, planning, reporting and compliance across the Club and its associated entities.
Responsibilities:Financial Planning, Control, Compliance and Risk
- Lead and oversee the annual budgeting & forecast process, working collaboratively with budget holders and stakeholders.
- Lead financial analysis and planning to support strategic decision-making and business planning.
- Provide financial modelling, scenario analysis and recommendations for strategic initiatives.
- Ensure financial controls, processes and delegated authorities are maintained.
- Support compliance with applicable statutory, tax, accounting and football regulatory requirements.
- Identify, assess and mitigate financial risks, escalating material issues appropriately.
- Oversee the preparation, monitoring and management of the Club’s cash flow forecasts, ensuring sufficient liquidity to meet operational commitments and supporting effective working capital management.
- Lead and oversee the preparation and submission of accurate and timely financial compliance reports to the Premier League and UEFA, ensuring adherence to applicable financial regulations, reporting requirements and deadlines.
- Coordinate with external auditors and support the timely completion of audits.
- Ensure financial practices are ethical, transparent and consistent with Club policies.
Budgeting, Forecasting and Management Reporting
- Review monthly management accounts and analyse performance against budget and forecast.
- Prepare clear variance analysis and coordinate corrective actions with budget holders.
- Develop and maintain annual forecasts and reforecasting processes.
- Produce weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual KPI reports relevant to the Head of Finance remit.
- Provide timely financial performance reports to the Executive Team, Board and relevant committees.
- Identify financial opportunities and risks through proactive engagement with budget holders.
- Monitor the impact of payroll, margins, overheads and other key drivers on financial performance.
Finance Team & Day-to-Day Operations
- Manage and oversee the day-to-day operations of the Finance Team, ensuring the timely and accurate delivery of financial reporting, ensuring high standards within the finance team.
- Ensure appropriate financial controls and processes are maintained across all transactional activities.
- Support, develop and provide guidance to the Finance Team, ensuring operational efficiency, accountability and adherence to Club policies and procedures.
- Lead, support, mentor and develop the finance team.
- Set clear objectives, standards and development plans for direct reports.
- Other duties and responsibilities as required by line manager.
- Upholding and promoting the Club’s policies and procedures, including Health and Safety, Safeguarding and Equal Opportunities policies and procedures.
Experience, Skills and Qualifications:
Essential
- Professional accounting qualification such as ACA, ACCA or CIMA.
- Experience within professional football, sport, entertainment or another comparable industry.
- 3 years’ post-qualified experience in relevant finance roles.
- Extensive experience in financial planning, budgeting, forecasting and management reporting.
- Strong knowledge of financial controls, accounting principles, risk analysis and compliance.
- Experience working in a fast-paced, complex or commercially focused environment.
- Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Excel and financial/accounting systems, including ERP platforms.
- Strong analytical, data interpretation, communication and presentation skills.
- Ability to influence and collaborate with senior stakeholders and budget holders.
Desirable
- Experience managing capital, construction, stadium or redevelopment projects.
- Knowledge of Premier League, UEFA, FA or other relevant football financial regulations.
- Experience managing or developing a finance team.
- Experience negotiating or reviewing contracts with suppliers, partners or other third parties.
Benefits:
- Complimentary match day ticket
- Reward and Discount Scheme through our Tech Scheme and Simple Health app
- Health and Wellbeing benefit scheme
- 20% Discount in our Retail Stores
- Discounts in various gyms through GymFlex
- Volunteering Day - 1 Workday off to support a charity of your choice.
- Travel Season Ticket loan
- Holiday allowance: 25 Days
Our commitment to Equality
At Crystal Palace Football Club, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion is spirited and continues to grow due to the working environment, which makes all staff feel appreciated and welcomed. Crystal Palace Football Club do this by encouraging good relations and practices towards different groups and are committed to promoting employment opportunities that celebrate diversity.
We are committed to attracting, recruiting, and retaining the most talented candidates and the club intends to ensure that everyone who wishes to engage with the club, whether as matchday fans, staff, players, board members, participants in Foundation programmes and any other person engaged with the club's activities, has a real and equal opportunity to do so.
Reasonable Adjustment
We are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. We guarantee an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role, ensuring equitable opportunities for everyone.
If you require disability-related adjustments during the recruitment process, please contact DLO@cpfc.co.uk (DLO inbox is for disability-related queries only, if you wish to gain further information regarding this vacancy, please contact cpfc.recruitment@cpfc.co.uk). We are here to help you through the whole recruitment process including trying to apply for a vacancy, getting in touch with us through the process, and/or helping with access in case you are required to come in for an interview.
Safeguarding
Crystal Palace Football Club is committed to safeguarding and ensuring the welfare and protection of children and vulnerable people and expects all staff to share this commitment. As such, the post holder will be required to undergo any relevant security checks, including a comprehensive background check, Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) to ensure the safety and protection of children and vulnerable individuals.