Assistant finance director jobs in birmingham
JOB TITLE: Director of Fundraising, Marketing & Communications
LOCATION: Flexible, with regular travel to London
RESPONSIBLE TO: Chief Executive
DIRECT REPORTS: Senior Trusts & Grants Manager, Marketing Manager, Fundraising Manager
HOURS OF WORK: Full time, 35 hours per week
DURATION: SALARY / GRADE: £65,000 to £75,000 (dependent on experience) plus benefits
TEAM SIZE: 6 FTE (with growth plans of up to 12 fte by 2030)
JOB PROFILE
ABOUT ADOPTION UK
Adoption UK is the leading national voice for adoptive families. We exist to ensure that every child and young person who cannot grow up with their birth parents gets the right support at the right time – from childhood into adulthood.
Every year, thousands of children in the UK are adopted – most having experienced trauma, loss, or neglect. Adoption transforms their futures, but it is rarely the end of the story. Adoptive families face unique challenges: children struggling to trust, thrive in school, or feel safe; parents battling to secure the right support; young people navigating identity and belonging. Without the right help, too many families reach breaking point. Adoption UK is there to change this. We are a lifeline for families – offering community, advice, advocacy, and practical support. We champion their voices with government and professionals, driving changes in policy and practice so that no adoptive family feels they are facing the journey alone.
With over 6,000 members, strong credibility with policymakers, and a powerful lived experience community, we are uniquely placed to influence change. Our mission is urgent and nationally significant: to ensure that every adoptive family can thrive, and every adopted child has the chance to fulfil their potential.
DIRECTORATE PURPOSE
The Fundraising, Marketing and Communications directorate is responsible for:
• Income generation across trusts and foundations, corporates, major donors, community fundraising, public donations, and legacies, alongside relationships with commissioners and public sector funders.
• Partnership development, engaging businesses, philanthropists, trusts, and volunteers.
• Marketing of services and membership to families, adoptees, commissioners, and professionals in health, education, and social care.
• Awareness raising and thought leadership, ensuring adoption and permanence issues have a strong voice nationally.
Currently a team of six, the directorate has strong ambitions to grow in size and scope, with scope to re-imagine its structure to meet future needs.
THE ROLE
This is a career-defining opportunity to shape the future of fundraising, marketing and communications at a charity of national importance.
As Director of Fundraising, Marketing & Communications you will:
• Build unrestricted income in a competitive funding environment
• Lead the transformation of Adoption UK’s income model, scaling from £500k to £2m+ contribution (by 2030) to organisational income growth from a £4.2m baseline.
• Develop and deliver a bold, integrated fundraising, marketing, and communications strategy.
• Build Adoption UK’s brand and profile with families, adoptees, commissioners, policymakers, funders, and the wider public.
• Inspire, coach, and grow a talented team, embedding a culture of confidence, creativity, and innovation.
• Personally cultivate and steward high-value donor, corporate, and foundation relationships, working with the CEO, Board of Trustees, and ambassadors.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic Leadership
• Lead the design and delivery of a multi-year fundraising, marketing, and communications strategy aligned to organisational priorities.
• Act as a cultural change leader, shifting from risk-averse to confident, outward-facing engagement.
• Contribute fully to the Senior Leadership Team, influencing strategy, governance, and financial planning.
Income Growth & Diversification
• Oversee all voluntary income streams – trusts, major donors, corporates, community/public fundraising, legacies – while also strengthening public sector and commissioning relationships.
• Oversee marketing and growth of membership as a core element of income and impact.
• Deliver long-term growth targets.
• Use and promote data-driven decision-making, supporter journeys, and digital fundraising/marketing effectively.
• Design and deliver a signature annual Showcase event, alongside new products such as a Giving Circle and Corporate Club, ensuring clear ROI and upgrade potential.
• Personally lead cultivation of transformational donor and partner relationships, supported by trustees, ambassadors, and patrons.
• Identify and test new funding streams and partnerships to diversify income and reduce risk.
Marketing & Communications
• Oversee a comprehensive marketing and communications strategy covering fundraising, membership, services, training, campaigns, and advocacy.
• Ensure a compelling and consistent case for support and brand identity across all channels.
• Raise Adoption UK’s national profile with media, commissioners, professionals, and the public.
• Lead digital transformation: CRM upgrade, supporter journeys, analytics, social media, and digital marketing.
• Manage media relations and reputation, including crisis communications alongside the CEO.
Team Leadership & Culture
• Lead, inspire, and grow a team of talented and motivated individuals.
• Model authentic, adaptive, and inclusive leadership – balancing ambition with staff wellbeing.
• Act as a coach and mentor, supporting professional growth and building the next generation of leaders.
• Champion Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and embed values-led behaviours across the team and all external engagement.
• Foster cross-organisational collaboration so fundraising and marketing are understood and supported across Adoption UK.
Financial & Governance
• Lead financial planning, budgeting, and ROI analysis for the directorate.
• Report regularly to CEO and Board of Trustees on progress, opportunities, and risks.
• Lead fundraising due-diligence and reputational risk processes, with regular reporting to Trustee-led committees (e.g. Finance & Risk).
• Ensure compliance with the Fundraising Code, GDPR, charity law, and safeguarding standards.
• Embed robust CRM, data, and analytics to support continuous improvement.
External Engagement
• Act as a visible ambassador for Adoption UK with donors, corporates, trusts and foundations, policymakers, and media.
• In collaboration with the CEO and Chair, direct ambassadors and patrons to open doors, advocate, and steward transformational relationships.
• Represent Adoption UK externally at events, forums, and national platforms.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential
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Significant experience leading multi-stream fundraising, with success in at least two of: trusts, corporates, major donors, public fundraising.
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Experience developing marketing and communications strategies beyond fundraising – including brand, service promotion, membership, campaigns, and digital engagement.
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Track record of delivering growth, innovation, or transformation in income and/or organisational profile.
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Strong people leadership skills: ability to coach, inspire, and develop staff, including senior managers.
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Exceptional relationship-builder – credible with philanthropists, corporates, trustees, commissioners, and media.
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Strategic thinker with financial acumen (budgets, ROI, investment planning).
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Authentic communicator with excellent storytelling ability.
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Commitment to Adoption UK’s mission and values, with an inclusive and collaborative leadership style.
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Demonstrates commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of role at all times.
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Contributes to an open and honest culture
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Supports, encourages, and motivates colleagues.
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Encourages challenge, creativity and innovation.
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Leads by example.
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Values transparency and consistency.
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Understands the role of individual and collective accountability.
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Actively contributes to Adoption UK’s mission.
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Has a clear understanding of other colleagues’ roles and responsibilities
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Shares skills and knowledge.
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Promotes Cross Functional team working.
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Offers outstanding service to members.
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Takes pride in Adoption UK and promotes its values in all interactions with external stakeholders.
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Identifies and uses the most appropriate form of communication.
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Communicates clearly, seeking clarity when unclear and valuing the opinion of others.
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Treats colleagues and other stakeholders with respect, honesty, fairness and courtesy
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Is responsive to colleagues, third party professionals and service users.
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Takes pride in own development.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
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Enthusiastic and committed to achieving high standards and meeting agreed objectives.
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Takes an active interest in recognising professional and personal development needs and priorities within Adoption UK.
Desirable
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Experience in child welfare, family support, education, or adoption.
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Evidence of leading digital transformation in fundraising, marketing, or CRM.
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Existing networks in philanthropy, corporate CSR/ESG, or foundations relevant to Adoption UK’s mission.
This role profile is a guide to the nature of the work required and may involve other such duties as deemed necessary by the Organisation. It is not wholly comprehensive or restrictive. The role profile will be reviewed with the post-holder at significant points for the Organisation.
Postholder is expected to abide by all organisational policies, codes of conduct and practice, and to work within a framework of equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practice.
The Opportunity
This is more than a fundraising role — it is an opportunity to lead transformational change for a cause of national importance. You will:
• Shape and lead a directorate spanning fundraising, marketing, and communications.
• Deliver transformational income growth and secure Adoption UK’s sustainability.
• Build Adoption UK’s brand and reputation as the national champion for adoptive families.
• Market services, membership, and campaigns so more families and professionals engage with our work.
• Lead cultural change, inspiring a confident, outward-facing, and innovative fundraising and marketing function.
Few roles offer such scope to combine fundraising growth, brand leadership, and culture change in a mission of such national importance. This is your chance to make a lasting impact – on Adoption UK, on your career, and on thousands of children and families across the UK.
Timetable:
The closing date for this role is 20th October 2025. However, Adoption UK reserves the right to end the application period sooner so we would recommend you complete the application form as soon as possible.
Shortlisting will be carried out on 22 to 24 October 2025 and you should be notified of an outcome within fifteen working days of the closing date.
The panel will shortlist based on those applicants who best meet the criteria for the role.
The date(s) scheduled for first interviews will be 3rd November 2025. These dates may be subject to change and applications will be advised in advance should this happen.
Registered Charity
51 - 100
Adoption UK is the leading charity for adopted and care experienced people and adoptive families.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Submit your application as normal and our system will anonymise it for you. Your personal information will be hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
At Viva, we want children everywhere to have life in all its fullness. Viva inspires, supports and connects networks of churches and community-based organisations to work together to make a bigger, better and longer-lasting impact in the lives of children.
We do this by providing coaching, supporting programme implementation, helping them access funding, creating tools to measure impact, and facilitating a global community of learning.
As Viva's Finance & Operations Manager, you will ensure the smooth running of the organisation’s finance and operational systems. You’ll be in a hands-on role, responsible for day-to-day bookkeeping, financial administration, and supporting core operational processes for the UK charity and overseas entities. Working alongside the COO and Finance Director, you will help ensure Viva remains financially sound, compliant and efficient. Through all this, you will play a vital role in making it possible for Viva to achieve its goal of enabling more children to live life in all its fullness.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Finance: undertaking and managing the efficient day-to-day operation of Viva’s finance function
- Operations: ensuring the effective operation of our logistics, IT infrastructure and data
This role will suit you if:
- you have a demonstrated track record of financial management experience
- you are experienced in managing operational systems, in particular IT and data protection
- you have an accountancy qualification e.g. minimum AAT Level 3
- you are a great problem solver with high levels of accuracy and attention to detail
- you are looking to join a welcoming, creative, supportive and international team
Location: this role can be remote, hybrid or office-based in Viva’s Oxford office with occasional travel to the office or other locations in the UK
Hours: 37.5 hours a week, Monday to Friday
Salary: £40,000 per annum
Reporting to: Chief Operating Officer
How to apply: Take a look at the full job description and person spec in the Job Information Pack and then click the CharityJob Apply button below. You’ll be asked to submit a CV and cover letter and answer a few short screening questions about your relevant skills. Please note that you will need the right to live and work in the UK to apply for this role.
Key dates: the closing date will be midnight on Sunday 26th October 2025. Interviews will be held online on Thursday 6th November 2025.
Registered Charity
21 - 50
Life in all its fullness! That's what we want for children everywhere.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Harris Hill is delighted to partner exclusively with Consumers International, the only global membership body for consumer organisations, to recruit their new Lead, Management Accountant on a permanent, part-time (2 days per week) basis. Consumers International unites over 200 member organisations in more than 100 countries. As the independent voice for consumers worldwide, it works with Members and partners to advocate for safer, fairer, and more sustainable markets, from energy to digital goods, from food systems to circular economy solutions.
The purpose of the role is focused on generating and developing monthly management accounts information and providing insight and direction to the Director General and Leadership Team. Reporting directly to the Head of Finance and Organisation Development, you will play a key role across the business in improving data capture and managing reporting across the team.
Please note, for this role you can be based remotely. Additionally, the salary on show is the FTE.
As Lead, Management Accountant, you will:
- Prepare monthly management accounts, including comparatives to budgets, trends and forecasts
- Compile Balance sheet reconciliations
- Prepare quarterly Project Income and Expenditure reports for Project Managers
- Prepare interim/final financial Project reports for submission to Funders
- Prepare quarterly VAT returns
- Provide accurate and timely financial information to support the organisational financial strategy and decision-making process
The successful applicant will:
- Have demonstrable experience in finance within the charity sector, in a similar role
- Be Qualified CIMA/ACCA/ACA or Part qualified on final stage
- Have a strong understanding of charity accounting principles, including SORP
- Have experience of managing financial ledgers, systems and processes
- Have strong IT skills, particularly in Excel, and the ability to manage large amounts of data
- Have excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
If this sounds like you and you're keen to hear more, please do get in touch ASAP!
Please note, only successful applicants will be contacted with further information.
As leading charity recruitment specialists and a certified B Corp™, Harris Hill is committed to high and ever-improving standards of equitable and inclusive recruitment. We actively welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality and other protected characteristics.
Thank you!
We’re looking for a super organised, efficient and supportive Operations Lead to make We Own It run smoothly so we can win public services for people not profit. This is a fast-paced role in a small team with a big mission!
You’ll lead on creating and maintaining effective systems and processes, and supporting the team on logistics so that everything runs like clockwork. You’ll also make sure we’re thanking the brilliant individual donors who fund 93% of our work. We’re looking for someone who has a track record of creating efficiency and order for themselves and other people - and can do so in a remote context! You'll need to be happy to carry out a variety of tasks and be flexible about your role.
This role is a crucial part of the We Own It team and central to increasing our impact. Part of a small, high performing team working mostly remotely and sometimes in London, you’ll need to be extremely self-motivated and able to work efficiently and autonomously.
Non Charity Employer
1 - 5
We Own It campaigns against privatisation and for 21st century public ownership. We believe public services belong to all of us.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Community Fundraiser - Home Counties
Are you ready to take on a new challenge with a leading charity making a real difference in brain tumour research?
Brain Tumour Research is seeking an experienced and motivated fundraiser to join our team. As a key part of our fundraising efforts in our high-performing East region, you will have the opportunity to drive income generation through a variety of initiatives, including challenge events, fundraising groups, and corporate partnerships such as charity of the year. You will also be responsible for driving initiatives to increase our profile and supporter base within Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Northamptonshire and Essex.
Key Responsibilities:
- Generate income across a range of community fundraising initiatives and events, with the opportunity to lead on key projects
- Steward supporters to help drive the charity’s fundraising activities and growth
- Work with the fundraising team to develop and maintain strong relationships with fundraisers, donors, partners, and key stakeholders
- Contribute towards the growth and success of fundraising efforts, ensuring a sustainable income stream for the vital ongoing funding of brain tumour research
Requirements:
- At least one year of fundraising experience, with a proven track record in income generation
- Strong experience in supporter stewardship
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to engage and inspire supporters and partners alike
- Passion for Brain Tumour Research and its mission to fund research and ultimately find a cure
If you are looking for a fulfilling and impactful role and have the level of experience and skill we are looking for, we welcome your application.
We will give preference to those candidates living in the Bucks, Beds and Northants areas of this region.
We reserve the right to close the application window early and advise candidates to apply in good time to avoid disappointment.
We are asking for a CV as the first step but applicants may be asked to provide a targeted covering letter as part of the selection process. Interviews will be conducted during the application window as appropriate, and will consist of a first interview via MS Teams, progressing, if successful to a face to face second interview, held at our offices in Milton Keynes.
Closing Date: 06th November 2025
We are looking for people who share our passion for finding a cure for brain tumours and who have the skills and experience to make a difference. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, cultures, genders, sexual orientations, abilities, and ages. We believe that diversity enriches our organisation and helps us achieve our mission. We are committed to providing an inclusive and supportive environment where everyone can be themselves and contribute to our vision.
Registered Charity
51 - 100
To find a cure for all types of brain tumours To increase the UK investment in brain tumour research
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.