Vacancy | Head of Finance
Vacancy: Head of Finance
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer
Location: Home Park Stadium, Plymouth
The Role
As Head of Finance, you will have full responsibility for financial leadership across Plymouth Argyle, setting and delivering the financial strategy, ensuring strong governance, and enabling high-quality decision-making. A key member of the Executive Leadership Team, you will work closely with the CEO and Board to shape long-term plans, monitor performance, manage risk, and ensure the club operates with financial discipline and agility.
The role goes beyond finance alone. You will also lead key areas such as IT, legal governance, strategic planning, infrastructure oversight, and investment support. You’ll play a critical part in enabling club-wide transformation through data-led analysis, efficient procurement, and intelligent capital allocation, ensuring the club can thrive sustainably both on and off the pitch.
Key Responsibilities
Finance:
• Lead the club’s long-term financial strategy aligned with Argyle’s mission, strategic goals, and evolving business model.
• Oversee all financial planning, forecasting, and reporting across the organisation.
• Lead the budgeting process across departments, ensuring robust cost control and financial accountability.
• Prepare, review, and present monthly management accounts to the CEO and Board.
• Manage cash flow forecasting and ensure short- and long-term liquidity.
• Develop and maintain financial models to support strategic decisions (e.g., investment proposals, capex, player trading).
• Lead the preparation and audit of statutory accounts and Companies House filings.
• Manage banking relationships and oversee treasury activities, loan facilities, and investments.
• Ensure compliance across all taxes (corporation tax, VAT, PAYE/NIC), including optimisation of claims such as R&D tax credits.
• Own all football finance regulatory compliance: SCR (Squad Cost Rules), P&S (Profit & Sustainability), and SCMP (Squad Cost Management Protocol).
• Implement and maintain governance frameworks (e.g., authorisation limits, internal controls, procurement policies).
• Lead monthly board reporting and KPI analysis.
• Oversee payroll processes and ensure accuracy and compliance.
• Conduct impairment assessments and asset valuations as required.
• Support and advise on player wage structures, amortisation planning, and transfer fee strategy.
• Approve all purchase orders, payments, and invoice workflows.
• Lead monthly budget reviews with department heads to track performance.
• Maintain full financial oversight of Plymouth Argyle Women Football Club.
• Manage business rates, energy procurement, and insurance coverage for cost efficiency and risk mitigation.
• Provide financial input to shareholder, Board, and external stakeholder communications.
• Run scenario planning and modelling for key club situations (e.g., promotion, relegation, infrastructure investment).
• Lead on sourcing and structuring new investment into the club, where appropriate.
• Oversee and design KPIs across financial, commercial, and football metrics.
Capital Projects & Infrastructure
• Take financial and strategic ownership of major projects, including Foulston Park.
• Oversee project timelines, budgets, financial controls, and reporting on capital expenditure.
• Evaluate investment returns and risks on infrastructure development.
• Support funding applications and grant submissions linked to major facilities.
IT & Digital Transformation
• Lead the club’s technology and IT strategy across departments.
• Oversee internal and outsourced delivery of IT operations and digital infrastructure.
• Manage the IT budget, ensuring value for money and contract performance.
• Lead procurement and vendor management of core systems (ticketing, retail, CRM, CMS, Wi-Fi, access control).
• Maintain policies covering cybersecurity, data protection, and user access.
• Propose and evaluate AI and other technology solutions to drive performance and efficiency.
Legal, Risk & Governance
• Act as first-line reviewer of all club contracts, ensuring commercial value and risk mitigation.
• Draft and manage supplier agreements, NDAs, sponsorship contracts, and standard terms.
• Liaise with external counsel on complex legal matters (e.g., property, litigation, player contracts).
• Ensure legal and regulatory compliance across GDPR, employment law, and general governance.
• Maintain a live contract register and documentation processes.
• Oversee risk register in collaboration with CEO and Club Secretary.
• Monitor and maintain the club’s IP portfolio (e.g. trademarks).
• Benchmark financial/operational performance against peer clubs to drive insight.
• Lead strategy sessions and planning days, linking decisions to operational and financial outcomes.
• Build and assess business cases, investment decks, and scenario models.
External Representation & Leadership
• Represent the club in key relationships with Plymouth City Council and external funding partners.
• Present at fan forums, public events, and shareholder meetings as needed.
• Provide commercial and financial leadership during sponsorship discussions and partnerships.
• Be an active member of the Executive Leadership Team, offering challenge, support, and direction.
• Lead annual salary reviews and benchmarking in collaboration with HR.
• Encourage and enable strategic alignment across football, commercial, and operations teams.
Key Skills & Experience
We are looking for a dynamic, commercially astute finance leader with a strong track record in shaping and executing financial strategy. The successful candidate will demonstrate:
• Proven success in a senior finance role O, FD, within football, sport, or a similarly regulated, dynamic environment.
• Deep technical expertise in financial control, reporting, modelling, budgeting, and audit management.
• Experience leading investment cases, scenario planning, and infrastructure financing.
• Strong understanding of football-specific regulations (e.g., P&S, SCR, SCMP) and player cost management.
• Demonstrated ability to lead at pace, adapt quickly to business needs, and manage intense periods of activity.
• Strategic mindset with strong commercial awareness and business judgement.
• Experience managing IT transformation and overseeing digital infrastructure.
• Legal literacy and experience drafting, negotiating, or reviewing commercial agreements.
• Highly collaborative approach and the ability to influence at Board, executive, and operational levels.
• Commitment to high standards of governance, accuracy, and financial discipline.
• ACA, ACCA, or CIMA qualified (or equivalent).
To Apply
Send a CV and covering letter via email, to HR@pafc.co.uk
Deadline
Tuesday, 17 June.
