Associate director major gifts jobs
How's your job search on our site?
The Director of Finance will lead on all aspects of the Museum’s financial management, including producing monthly accounts and strengthening internal controls and processes. They will oversee treasury functions, including the management of the Museum’s cash holdings and endowments. Serve as Company Secretary, ensuring full compliance with Charity Commission requirements and the Companies Act.
As part of the Leadership Team, they work closely with our board of trustees to manage the Museum’s finances in line with the forward plan and wider Museum strategies.
Key Accountabilities
- Prepare annual budgets, working with managers to achieve realistic targets and review figures throughout the year.
- Prepare monthly management accounts including cash-flow forecasts for presentation to the Director and Trustees.
- Prepare monthly management accounts to report and analyse any significant variance between actual and budget result.
- Prepare year-end draft accounts ready for audit and assist the audit team with any queries.
- Manage the Finance Team.
- Organise and oversee the daily and monthly accounting procedures in respect of banking, cash handling, data entry, bill payments etc.
- General financial and business management as well as co-ordination of Museum affairs including Investments, Banking, Legal, and Insurance, Contracts, Licence Agreements and other associated matters.
- Provide the accounting function for fundraising projects including Heritage Lottery, Arts Council, other grants and any other fund providers.
- Provide financial and textual information in support of major capital expenditure projects being an active and crucial team member.
- Preparing Month Gift Aid returns and Quarterly VAT returns and providing advice on VAT and Gift Aid or any other tax matters.
- Oversee the preparation of monthly Pension contributions to Scottish Widows.
- Provide statistical information and returns to various local and national bodies.
What you'll bring
Experience:
- Proven experience of leading a finance function at a senior level is essential, along with extensive experience shaping and delivering financial strategy, including budgeting, forecasting and long-term financial planning.
- Experience of managing partial exemption VAT calculations and compliance is vital, along with a track record of establishing and maintaining strong relationships with auditors, regulators, trustees and external stakeholders.
- We would particularly welcome candidates with experience of working within the charity, not-for-profit, or a similarly regulated sector.
Knowledge & Skills
- You will be an excellent people manager, who has exceptional attention to detail and a robust understanding of accounting principles and practices.
- Able to demonstrate strong initiative and accountability in delivering work to a high standard.
- Knowledge of restricted/unrestricted fund accounting and Gift Aid.
- You will have comprehensive knowledge of the full MS Suite, but will excel at Excel.
- Knowledge and experience of using Iplicit and Sage accounting and payroll is preferred.
Qualifications
- A fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA or equivalent).
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Help shape the future of dance.
Some fundraising roles support great organisations. This one helps shape an art form.
Sadler's Wells is one of the world's leading dance organisations; commissioning, producing and presenting more dance than anywhere else. From contemporary to hip hop, ballet to Bollywood, their work reaches millions of people across the UK and internationally while creating opportunities for artists and communities to thrive.
As they continue an exciting new chapter following the opening of Sadler's Wells East, they're looking for an exceptional fundraising leader to join them as Deputy Director of Philanthropy.
This newly created role offers a rare opportunity to build transformational relationships with philanthropists who believe in the power of dance to inspire, connect and create lasting change.
The opportunity
Working closely with the Director of Development, you'll lead the Major Gifts team, driving strategy and personally securing significant support from high-net-worth individuals. You'll develop and grow a portfolio of major, principal and transformational donors, creating compelling opportunities for investment that enable artists to take creative risks, new work to be commissioned and audiences around the world to experience extraordinary dance.
Alongside leading fundraising activity, you'll play a key role in shaping the future direction of philanthropy at Sadler's Wells, collaborating across the organisation, working alongside senior leadership, Trustees and influential supporters whilst helping build an ambitious culture of philanthropy.
We're looking for someone who:
- Has a strong track record of securing six and seven-figure gifts from individual philanthropists.
- Builds authentic, long-term relationships with high-level donors and stakeholders.
- Is a strategic fundraising leader who enjoys balancing big-picture thinking with hands-on fundraising.
- Can inspire, develop and lead high-performing teams.
- Has experience working within arts, culture or similarly complex relationship-led fundraising environments.
- Is excited by the opportunity to help shape the future of one of the world's most influential cultural organisations.
Experience of international philanthropy, US fundraising or legacy giving would be welcomed but isn't essential.
Why Sadler's Wells?
This is much more than a fundraising role.
You'll join an organisation driven by creativity, inclusion, collaboration and innovation, where philanthropy directly enables artists to create bold new work and ensures dance remains accessible to audiences and communities.
Alongside a salary of £55,000 - £65,000, you'll benefit from:
- Hybrid and flexible working.
- 25 days annual leave plus additional service leave.
- Pension scheme.
- Employee Assistance Programme.
- Learning and development opportunities.
- Interest-free season ticket loan and Cycle to Work scheme.
- Staff ticket opportunities and café discounts.
- A genuinely inclusive workplace committed to equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging.
Application
Sadler's Wells welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds and particularly encourages applications from individuals whose experiences and perspectives will strengthen the diversity of the organisation.
At Valued Recruitment, we're proud to be partnering exclusively with Sadler's Wells on this appointment. We believe recruitment should be inclusive, transparent and human. If you'd benefit from any adjustments throughout the recruitment process, we'd love to hear from you.
Closing date: Sunday 2nd August
1st Stage Interviews (virtual): 10th and 11th August
2nd Stage Interviews (in person): 18th & 20th August
An ethical recruitment consultancy shaking up the not-for-profit sector. Recruiting without compromise and representing talent unapologetically.



Saïd Business School is entering an exciting new chapter. As we prepare to celebrate our 30th anniversary and deliver an ambitious new five-year strategy, we are expanding our Development and Alumni team and seeking two exceptional Senior Philanthropy Officers to help drive a transformational step change in philanthropic support. Working closely with senior academics, School leadership, alumni and supporters, you will build meaningful relationships with philanthropists whose generosity can help tackle some of the world's most pressing challenges through business, entrepreneurship, innovation and social impact.
You will manage a portfolio of high-potential prospects, developing tailored engagement strategies that connect donors' passions with Oxford Saïd's strategic priorities. From identifying opportunities and cultivating relationships through to securing significant gifts and delivering outstanding stewardship, you will play a leading role in growing philanthropic income and impact across the School.
Key responsibilities:
- Managing and developing a portfolio of high-net-worth individuals and selected philanthropic organisations.
- Securing gifts typically ranging from £50,000 to £1 million+.
- Building trusted relationships with senior academics, School leadership, alumni volunteers and University colleagues.
- Translating world-class academic research and thought leadership into inspiring donor propositions.
- Supporting cultivation events, donor visits and stewardship activities that deepen engagement and demonstrate impact.
You will be an experienced and strategic fundraising professional with a proven track record of securing major gifts and building successful donor relationships within complex organisations. You will have experience engaging high-net-worth individuals and philanthropic organisations, consistently achieving ambitious income targets and managing prospects through the full fundraising cycle. Additionally, you will possess the ability to translate complex ideas into compelling philanthropic opportunities. A strong understanding of fundraising best practice, ethics and data governance is essential, alongside experience using fundraising CRM systems.
Further information on this role can be found in the job description.
At Saïd Business School we believe in fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment where everyone can thrive. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and communities to bring their unique perspectives and experiences to our team. Join us to build a brighter, more equitable future, where we celebrate diversity, advance equity, and nurture inclusion across everything we do.
We offer very generous benefits, some of which are:
- Generous holiday allowance of 38 days including bank holidays
- Hybrid working
- Membership of the Oxford staff pension scheme
- Discounted bus travel
- Subsidised onsite catering
- Cycle loan scheme
- Plus, many other University benefits
All applications must include a CV, Supporting Statement/Cover Letter and Current Salary.
The closing date for applications is Friday 7 August 2026 at 12.00 noon. Please note, this vacancy may close earlier than advertised if we receive a high number of suitable applications.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.