134 Chief financial officer jobs in Farringdon, Greater London

Your role

We are seeking a Finance & Operations Leader to lead Design for Good’s finance, operations and organisational effectiveness, combining strategic thinking with hands-on delivery.

Reporting directly to the Managing Director (MD), you will lead the organisation’s core finance, operational and enabling functions, ensuring we have the financial and operational infrastructure, people systems and governance frameworks needed to deliver our mission.

This is a hands-on senior leadership role, suited to someone who is both strategically minded and operationally confident — a collaborative leader who can lead suppliers, strengthen systems and financial processes, and take ownership of day-to-day operational delivery in a growing global charity.

Key Responsibilities

Financial leadership, planning and sustainability

● Support the MD in developing the annual organisational budget and take overall responsibility for financial performance, controls and processes.

● Work closely with the external accountants to ensure timely and accurate management accounts, annual accounts, financial reports, forecasts reporting for the MD, Board and Finance Committee.

● Take ownership of cash-flow forecasting, reserves management, financial planning and financial controls to support the organisation’s long-term financial sustainability.

● Ensure compliance with Charity Commission requirements, Companies House requirements (for any trading subsidiary) and charity SORP accounting standards.

● Lead the annual independent examination process and manage relationships with external auditors/examiners and other financial advisers.

● Oversee payroll, pensions, VAT returns and day-to-day financial administration, working closely with the external accounts team.

● Oversee restricted fund accounting, ensuring accurate tracking of grant expenditure, compliance with funder requirements and timely financial reporting.

Operations, systems and organisational effectiveness

● Lead and strengthen the organisation’s operational infrastructure, ensuring systems, processes and ways of working are effective, efficient and fit for purpose.

● Maintain an overall organisational plan, coordinating priorities, timelines and dependencies across the organisation.

● Identify and implement opportunities to improve organisational systems, operational processes and internal coordination to strengthen effectiveness and support sustainable growth.

● Oversee the day-to-day running of the organisation, including office management, IT systems, supplier contracts and operational compliance.

● Ensure the organisation’s IT and digital systems effectively support current and future organisational needs, including identifying and implementing opportunities for AI to improve efficiency and support organisational goals.

● Lead procurement and contract management, ensuring value for money, appropriate controls and effective supplier relationships.

● Lead financial and operational planning for key organisational activities, including the logistics and delivery of major events.

● Oversee joiner and leaver processes, ensuring a consistent, compliant and effective experience and that all required processes are correctly followed.

Governance, risk & compliance

● Lead the management, monitoring and reporting of the organisational risk register, ensuring key risks are actively managed and appropriately reported to the Board and relevant sub-committees.

● Ensure compliance with relevant legislation and regulatory requirements, including employment law, GDPR, health and safety and charity law.

● Act as the organisational lead for data protection, ensuring effective and compliant data protection practices across the organisation.

● Provide the Company Secretary function, including preparing Board papers and minutes, supporting the administration of the Finance and Risk Committees, and maintaining statutory registers and records.

● Work closely with the Chairs of the Finance and Risk Committees to support effective Board oversight of financial, operational and organisational risks.

● Ensure organisational policies are kept up to date, appropriately reviewed and approved by the Trustees.

Key Requirements

● Demonstrable experience in a senior finance and operations leadership role within a charity, not-for-profit, public or values-led organisation.

● Strong experience leading organisational operations and enabling functions, including finance, governance, compliance, IT and organisational infrastructure.

● Strong financial management experience, including budgeting, forecasting, management accounting, financial controls, audit processes and financial planning.

● Experience contributing to organisational strategy, operational planning and decision-making as part of a senior leadership team.

● Good understanding of governance, organisational risk management and regulatory compliance within a charity or not-for-profit environment.

● Experience working in a fast-paced environment, managing competing priorities, complexity and operational risk while maintaining a high standard of delivery.

Preferred Skills and qualifications

● At least 5 years’ experience in a managerial finance and/or operations role.

● Ability to operate confidently at both strategic and operational levels, balancing long-term organisational planning with hands-on delivery and problem-solving.

● Strong financial and analytical skills, with the ability to interpret, present and communicate financial information clearly to non-finance audiences, including Boards and senior leadership teams.

● Ability to influence, advise and support decision-making at senior leadership and Board level.

● Strong organisational and problem-solving skills, with the ability to strengthen systems, improve operational processes and enhance organisational effectiveness.

● Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with the ability to build trust and collaborate effectively across teams and with external stakeholders.

● Strong IT and digital systems skills, including experience with finance systems, CRM platforms and organisational technology tools.

● Ability to navigate complexity, manage organisational risk, exercise sound judgement and make sound decisions in a values-led environment.

● Excellent time-management and prioritisation skills, with the ability to manage multiple competing demands and deliver to deadlines.

Knowledge & Understanding

● Good understanding of charity finance, governance and regulatory compliance, including charity SORP and restricted and unrestricted fund management.

● Good understanding of people administration, employment legislation, organisational risk and operational compliance, including safeguarding responsibilities.

● Understanding of how financial management, operational infrastructure and people practices contribute to organisational effectiveness and the delivery of mission and impact.

We are seeking a proactive, forward-thinking, part-qualified or qualified accountant to lead the development of an efficient, AI-assisted finance function for the charity. Reporting directly to the CEO, you will be part of Home-Start Southwark and Lewisham's senior leadership team, in the only finance-focussed role within the team, taking ownership of the organisation's financial systems, reporting, and compliance — and critically, you will have the opportunity to strategically shape how finance operates over the next 6–12 months.

This is a growth opportunity for someone who has an interest and belief in our work supporting local families and combines strong technical finance skills with curiosity about technology, a willingness to challenge existing ways of working, and the confidence to work at Board level. You will implement cloud-based accounting with AI-enabled features, design meaningful management reporting, and ensure the charity is fully compliant with SORP 2026 and Charity Commission requirements — all while keeping the CEO's time focused on leading the organisation, not managing the books.

Why this role matters now

This is not a maintenance role. We are looking for someone who wants to build something — to design and embed a finance function that is fit for a growing charity. You will have the rare opportunity to shape the tools, processes, and reporting frameworks from the ground up, working directly with the CEO to make finance a strategic enabler rather than an administrative burden.

The Purple Elephant Project is looking for an experienced, values driven Finance Manager to join our team in Twickenham. We are a children’s mental health charity, supporting over 100 children and their families every week with therapeutic services, such as Play and Art therapy, across the London boroughs of Richmond, Hounslow and beyond. This is an exciting new opportunity to play a key role in a growing children's charity and to use your finance expertise to help us make a real difference to children and families.

Working closely with our CEO and Trustees, you'll take ownership of our financial management, including:

• Management accounts and financial reporting
• Budgeting, forecasting and cashflow
• Payroll and financial controls
• Business partnering and financial insight
• Improving systems and processes, including Xero

We're looking for someone with strong management accounting experience, excellent attention to detail and a proactive, collaborative approach. Charity experience and Xero knowledge are desirable.

As you will be expected to spend 50% of the time in our offices, you will need to live within close reach of our charity.

If you are looking for a meaningful, senior part-time role, where your expertise can directly support the wellbeing of children and families, we'd love to hear from you. 

 

Finance Administrator – Job Description

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer 

Direct reports: None

Location: Hybrid, at least one day per week at the Power Up North London office

Contract: Part-time (15 hours a week)

Salary: £12,000 per annum (£30,000 full-time equivalent, pro rata)

Application deadline: 31 August

Interviews: Online interviews will take place between 7 and 11 September 

Role Purpose

Power Up North London is a leading community energy organisation delivering renewable energy, energy-efficiency and retrofit projects that directly benefit community groups and public buildings. We believe communities can and must play a central role in the transition to a low-carbon future.

The Finance Administrator will support the effective financial management and integrity of Power Up North London’s financial operations. The postholder will prepare accurate financial and management information, monitor budgets, and support finance processes including cashflow management, invoicing, payments and associated controls.

Working closely with the CEO, Treasurer, Board, internal colleagues and external finance providers, the postholder will provide timely financial information and administrative support to inform decision-making, meet funder requirements and support the organisation’s sustainable growth. The postholder will report to the CEO for day-to-day management and will work with the Treasurer, who provides Board-level financial oversight.

Key responsibilities

Financial Management and Governance 

• Maintain accurate and robust financial accounts and processes.

• Support the set-up and preparation of monthly management accounts for internal and Board reporting.

• Support preparation and management of the annual budget.

• Track income and expenditure against approved budgets, identifying and explaining variances.

• Establish and maintain grant and project income and expenditure tracking against budgets.

• Prepare financial reports for funders.

Billing and Revenue Assurance 

• Ensure timely billing and effective debtor management.

• Identify and escalate site billing discrepancies.

• Support the investigation and resolution of issues to ensure accurate income collection.

Cashflow and Treasury Management

• Manage cashflow and maintain accurate forecasts.

• Reconcile bank accounts fortnightly and track cash movements.

• Monitor invoice timing and payment disbursements to support effective cashflow management.

Performance Monitoring and Financial Modelling 

• Liaise with the Asset Management Team to track solar-site and project performance against forecasts.

• Analyse income and expenditure, highlighting risks and opportunities.

• Support electricity pricing for new sites and review financial assumptions and models.

External Finance Coordination

• Work effectively with Sharenergy, Power Up North London’s outsourced finance provider.

• Liaise on accounting, reporting and financial queries, ensuring timely resolution.

• Monitor delivery against the service-level agreement.

Financial Controls 

• Ensure compliance with Power Up North London’s financial processes and controls.

• Implement and maintain controls for incoming and outgoing payments, grant management and bank reconciliations.

Funding context

This role is funded in part by a National Lottery Community Fund grant and in part through Power Up North London’s earned income from the delivery of solar, retrofit and energy advice/training projects that generate project management fees. 

Finance Administrator - Person Specification

Essential experience

• Experience in a finance or accounting role, including financial reporting and budget tracking.

• Experience preparing or supporting the preparation of management accounts.

• Experience working with external finance providers or accountants.

Essential knowledge and skills

• Strong financial and numerical skills, with excellent attention to detail.

• Ability to analyse financial data and communicate insights clearly.

• Experience in budgeting, forecasting and variance analysis.

• Strong organisational skills and ability to manage competing priorities.

• Experience tracking project-based finances or multi-site income models.

• Confidence using spreadsheets and financial systems.

• Clear written and verbal communication skills.

Desirable Experience and Knowledge

• Part-qualified or qualified accountant.

• Experience in community energy, sustainability or the not-for-profit sector.

• Familiarity with energy pricing or financial modelling.

Personal Attributes

• Highly organised and methodical.

• Proactive and able to identify and resolve issues independently.

• High integrity and commitment to financial accuracy.

• Collaborative approach to working within a small team with internal and external stakeholders.

• Motivation to contribute to social and environmental impact.

Job role: Head of Finance
Salary: circa £60,000 per annum
Location: Central London / Hybrid (two days per weekonsite)
Contract: Permanent
Hours: 35 hours per week

Lead a finance function ready for its next chapter

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced finance leader to join a well-established charity at a pivotal stage in its development. Reporting to the Finance Director and sitting on the Senior Leadership Group, you will lead the finance function, providing the financial leadership, insight and accountability needed to support organisational performance and future growth. The organisation has identified the need for stronger financial leadership, improved communication, more consistent reporting and greater accountability across finance, creating an opportunity for someone to make a lasting impact.


As the Head of Finance, you will:

• Lead the day-to-day finance function, ensuring efficient and effective financial operations.
• Manage month-end processes and produce accurate, insightful management accounts.
• Partner with budget holders and senior stakeholders to support informed decision-making.
• Monitor cash flow, financial performance and organisational resources.
• Oversee grant reporting and ensure compliance with funder requirements.
• Support budgeting, financial planning, governance and audit activities.
• Lead, support and develop the Finance Manager and wider finance team.
• Improve communication, accountability and service delivery across the finance function.

To succeed in this role, you will bring:

• Significant experience of line management working within charity finance.
• Professional accountancy qualification e.g. CIMA or ACCA
• Experience producing management accounts and leading month-end close processes.
• Experience of grant management and other statutory funding agreements
• Strong financial management and finance operations expertise.
• Experience partnering with stakeholders across an organisation.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to explain financial information clearly to non-financial colleagues.

This role offers the opportunity to:

• Lead and improve a broad and varied finance function.
• Influence organisational performance and future direction.
• Manage and develop an established finance team.
• Join a charity with a positive, values-led culture.

We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability and potential; please contact us if you require any assistance or adjustment so that we can help with making the application process work for you.

Working with colleagues across the Academy, Marketing and Communications, and wider teams, this new role is responsible for growing and nurturing engaged Academy audiences across online communities, social media, email and other channels. The role will plan, draft and publish approved content; moderate and manage online groups in line with community guidelines; and support the promotion of Academy learning opportunities through case studies, testimonials, photography and video content.

By monitoring audience growth, engagement and retention, maintaining accurate records and ensuring use of content is compliant with Battersea privacy and retention policies, the role will help demonstrate the impact of the Academy and support its ambition to reach, engage and benefit more organisations, individuals and animals.

What we can offer you:

In return for your commitment to our cause and to recognise the value of our employees, Battersea offers a range of benefits to support the wellbeing of our employees. These include:

• 28 days of annual leave (plus 8 days paid public holidays) per year.
• Discounted gym memberships and cycle to work schemes.
• Employee Assistance Programme and access to Wellbeing Resources.
• Generous pension contributions - up to 10% employer contribution.
• Free healthcare cash plan, where you can claim for a range of treatment including dental, optical, physiotherapy, chiropody and acupuncture every year.
• Annual interest-free season ticket loans.

We are also committed to providing learning and development to our employees. During your time with us, we provide support for your professional and career development, including access to digital and in-person training programmes, leadership and management training, mentoring and much more.

Diversity and inclusion:

We are committed to providing a welcoming and inclusive experience for all staff, volunteers and trustees and those hoping to join us. We operate an anonymised shortlisting process and actively seek to ensure our process is fair and equitable for all.

We understand the value of diverse voices, perspectives, and experiences to help us deliver even more for our dogs and cats, and we welcome applicants from all sections of the community.

As a Disability Confident Committed Employer we will ask about any adjustments you may need at application and/or interview stage, and if you are offered a role with us, we’ll talk to you about any workplace adjustments you may need to help you perform at your best. If you would like to talk more about this, please contact us. Greyscale copies of the recruitment pack are also available on request.

More about us:

At Battersea, we aim to never turn away a dog or cat in need of help. We give each one lots of love, expert care and get to know their characters and quirks so we can find them a new home that’s just right for them. Join us and help us be here for every dog and cat, wherever they are, for as long as they need us.

Acceptable use of AI:

At Battersea, we value expertise. We recognise each candidate that applies to us will have a range of expertise they can offer us, so we want to hear about this in your own words. We understand the support that generative artificial intelligence (AI) software can offer but it can also lead to numerous applications presenting as generic and impersonal. This makes it difficult to gain understanding of your unique experience.

To best showcase yourself, we encourage you to write your responses without the assistance of AI. If you require the use of AI software to aid in completing your application, we ask you use the generative responses as a prompt for writing your answers and avoid copying and pasting. You must also ensure the information presented in your application accurately reflects your experience.

Closing date: Sunday 13th September 2026, 11.59pm

All applications must be submitted before the closing date advertised. We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications is received.

Interview date(s): Friday 18th September 2026

For more information about the role, please download our Recruitment pack.

To apply for the role, please click the "Apply" button below.

Help us make a bigger difference to families

Home-Start Barnet, Brent & Harrow supports families with young children through challenging times. We are looking for an experienced and organised Finance & Business Manager to ensure our charity’s finances and core business functions run smoothly.

This is a varied, hands-on role within a friendly and committed team. You will lead our day-to-day financial management while overseeing governance administration, HR processes, contracts and organisational systems.

What you’ll do

You will:

• Produce management accounts, budgets, forecasts and financial reports.
• Monitor income, expenditure and cash flow.
• Oversee QuickBooks and the work of our Finance Administrator.
• Provide financial information for funders, the CEO and Trustees.
• Coordinate governance, compliance and risk-management processes.
• Oversee routine HR administration and work with our external HR advisers.
• Manage key suppliers, contracts, insurance and IT support.
• Line manage the Finance Administrator and work closely with the Office Administrator.
• Improve systems and help the charity work more efficiently.

About you

You will have:

• Strong charity finance or business-management experience.
• Practical experience of using QuickBooks and producing management reports.
• A relevant finance qualification, such as AAT Level 3 or 4, or equivalent practical experience.
• A good understanding of budgets, financial controls and reconciliations.
• Experience of governance, HR administration, contracts or office systems.
• Experience of supervising or managing staff.
• Excellent organisation, accuracy and attention to detail.
• The confidence to take ownership, work independently and communicate clearly.

You will be practical, approachable and comfortable working across different areas in a small charity. You will enjoy improving systems, solving problems and helping colleagues do their jobs effectively.

The role is office based and requires someone who can stay focussed and productive, working around a busy team

Noah's Ark Children's Hospice is partnering with Robertson Bell on a retained basis to recruit a Director of Finance on a permanent basis. This is an exciting opportunity to join a highly regarded children's hospice at a pivotal stage of its development, taking a leading role in strengthening financial performance, improving organisational effectiveness and helping shape the charity's next phase of growth.

This is more than a traditional Finance Director role. Noah's Ark has undergone significant transformation in recent years, moving from a predominantly community-based service to operating a 24/7 hospice facility at The Ark. The successful candidate will join at a critical point in this journey, with the opportunity to strengthen the finance function whilst working closely with the wider Senior Leadership Team to ensure the charity is making the best possible use of its resources and delivering maximum value for children and families.

For an ambitious, commercially minded finance leader, this is an opportunity to combine strong financial leadership with genuine organisational impact, helping to shape a more effective operating model and contributing directly to the future direction of the charity.

The role

• Partner with the CEO, Senior Leadership Team and Board of Trustees to shape the charity's financial and strategic direction during a period of organisational change.
• Stabilise and strengthen the finance function, ensuring high-quality financial management, robust controls and accurate, insightful reporting.
• Lead the budgeting, forecasting and financial planning process, including modelling different care delivery approaches, investment decisions and longer-term strategic scenarios.
• Support the charity to improve its financial position, identifying opportunities to increase efficiency and ensure resources are being deployed to maximum effect.
• Oversee statutory accounts, external reporting, audit and regulatory requirements, ensuring the charity maintains strong financial governance and compliance.
• Ensure effective management of reserves, investments, cash flow, liquidity, insurance and restricted funds.
• Contribute to the development of the charity's next multi-year strategic plan, bringing commercial discipline, financial insight and a practical focus on delivery.
• Identify opportunities for cost efficiency and productivity improvements across the organisation, working collaboratively with colleagues to turn insight into action.
• Support the design and implementation of new IT and financial systems, ensuring they provide the information and controls required to support an effective organisation.
• Lead and develop a small finance team, setting clear expectations, building capability and creating a culture of accountability and high performance.
• Play an active role in wider organisational leadership, bringing constructive challenge and financial insight to decisions beyond the traditional finance remit.

The organisation

Noah's Ark Children's Hospice provides specialist care and support to babies, children and young people with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions, alongside their families. Its purpose-built hospice, The Ark, opened in 2019 and provides a unique environment where children can receive specialist care, therapy, bereavement support and family services in a safe and welcoming setting.

Rated 'Outstanding' by the Care Quality Commission, Noah's Ark supports families across North and Central London and Hertsmere, delivering care wherever it is needed - in the family home, within the community or at The Ark.

This is an organisation with a warm, supportive culture and a strong commitment to its values of Kindness, Excellence and Courage. It is now looking for a finance leader who can combine that collaborative approach with the confidence to challenge constructively, make difficult decisions and drive meaningful improvement.

Essential criteria

• Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).
• Strong experience leading a finance function.
• Strong understanding of financial controls, governance, audit and statutory reporting.
• Demonstrable experience producing and interpreting high-quality financial information that supports effective decision-making.
• Experience leading and developing teams, with the confidence to set expectations, address underperformance and hold colleagues accountable.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage and influence senior stakeholders and non-finance colleagues.
• A proactive, hands-on and self-starting appr

Director of Finance: £80,000 - £85,000 + Benefits | Hybrid | London

For a small (but mighty) international NGO undergoing significant organisational change and transformation, we are recruiting their new Director of Finance on a contract to permanent basis. Reporting to Deputy Executive Director, this pivotal role will lead the Finance team through this change, as well as contributing significantly to the change underway. This role will support the Regional offices, providing hands-on finance support to staff while contributing to a strategic and operational context in transition. The Finance Director will embed new practices and ways of working and build the team to produce deliverables for the long-term.

Main Duties:

• Plan, execute, and deliver global operating budget for 2027 strengthening budget monitoring, reporting, and cash-flow forecasting
• Present management accounts, financial forecasting, and remodelling to the Board
• Oversee the implementation of the Finance Systems plan
• Produce financial modelling and costings for Executive team to evaluate organisational change options
• Lead the International Grant Accounting team to provide first-rate business partnering support, and compliance with donor requirements
• Lead the Finance team to transition to a smooth month-end reporting schedule and monthly and quarterly management accounts
• Implement financial policies to ensure compliance and identify and close gaps in controls
• Ensure compliance with statutory, legal and taxation requirements across the UK, Netherlands, US and Canada including charity commission and companies house
• Review and strengthen all controls and accounting processes
• Support the Project, Donor and Global audits

Person Specification:

• CCAB qualified with strong finance senior management / leadership experience within an international, multi-donor organisation
• Proven ability to deliver accurate and timely financial reporting
• Proved ability to implement, improve, and manage financial systems and controls, during periods of transition and change
• Proven delivery of statutory audits and UK compliance (ideally including US/Canada/EU)
• Strong experience of grant management, and cost allocation
• Leadership skills, including financial and operational staff, and those in remote locations
• Available at short-notice and able to commit to at least 6-months, ideally with a desire to move into a permanent role

________

As an employer, we are committed to ensuring the representation of people from all backgrounds regardless of their gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, race, religion, ethnicity, age, neurodiversity, disability status, or any other aspect which makes them unique. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds to apply and would encourage you to let us know if there are steps, we can take to ensure that your recruitment process enables you to present yourself in a way that makes you comfortable.

We are currently seeking a Head of Finance Business Partnering to join our developing and newly repositioned Finance team on a permanent basis.

We are committed to improving diversity and inclusion across our organisation. Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and the Global Majority are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single specification. If you’re excited about the role but your experience or qualifications don’t perfectly align, we encourage you to apply anyway. We particularly encourage applications from underrepresented groups such as the global majority, LGBTQA+, those from a working-class background, those with a disability and neurodiverse conditions.

The role:
This role is specifically responsible for delivery of appropriate budget reporting that have been the result of future-focussed, strategic and inclusive business partnering relationships across Shakespeare’s Globe between budget holders and the Finance Business Partner team.

This team needs to be led by someone who understands where the budget holders are, understand their fears and concerns, understand the reasons behind their previous decisions, and hold them to account whilst inspiring them to work differently to achieve the financial budgeting. This role will be working specifically within and joining up the interdependencies of how the work impacts other work, other teams and other expenditure. You will need to be able to identify where budget decisions have been made driven by emotions rather than by the business and strategy. The ability to get buy-in is important whilst ensuring objectivity is essential. We do not need an enabler, we need a gentle and collaborative disruptor.

Shakespeare’s Globe:
We celebrate Shakespeare’s transformative impact on the world by conducting a radical theatrical experiment. Inspired and informed by the unique historic playing conditions of two beautiful iconic theatres, our diverse programme of work harnesses the power of performance, cultivates intellectual curiosity and excites learning to make Shakespeare accessible for all.

Benefits:

• Discount in the Globe shop and onsite restaurants/cafes
• Staff discounts via My Globe perks and better Bankside Buzzcard
• Free entry to selected shows, events and activities
• Access to our free employee assistance programme and 24/7 virtual GP service
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption, and shared parental leave and pay
• Life assurance scheme
• Rental deposit scheme and season ticket loans
• Flu vaccination scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Enhanced employer pension contributions after 12 months service.

To apply:

For more information, please download the job description from this page. To apply, please complete the online application form on our website by 12:00pm (midday) on 10 September 2026.

First round interviews will take place week commencing 5 October 2026.

Interim Senior Management Accountant – Grants

Hertfordshire | £300–£400 per day | 6 months | 3 days onsite | ASAP

We are working with a well-established £50m+ charitable and grant-funded organisation to recruit an experienced Interim Senior Management Accountant – Grants for an initial six-month assignment.

Reporting to the Finance Director, this is a senior, hands-on role combining management accounting, complex grant and project finance, business partnering and financial analysis.

A key part of the brief is finding someone who is naturally curious and questioning. They want someone who will interrogate the numbers, investigate anomalies, understand what is driving performance and come forward with solutions rather than simply reporting what has happened.

Key responsibilities

• Take senior oversight of a portfolio of complex, high-value grants and funded projects, ensuring robust financial management throughout the funding lifecycle.
• Work closely with project leads and senior stakeholders, providing financial advice, challenge and insight.
• Lead on management accounts, budgeting, forecasting, variance and trend analysis.
• Ensure restricted and grant-funded income and expenditure is accurately accounted for, allocated and reported.
• Produce and review financial reports and returns for major institutional and public funding bodies, ensuring compliance with individual funding requirements.
• Monitor project cash flow, income recovery, billing schedules and financial risks.
• Investigate variances and anomalies, getting underneath the numbers to understand the underlying issues.
• Identify financial risks and opportunities and develop practical solutions with stakeholders.
• Support improvements to financial processes, controls, systems and management information.
• Provide guidance and support to other members of the finance team and help strengthen financial understanding across the organisation.

What we are looking for

• Qualified accountant – ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent.
• Strong charity, research, education or similarly grant-funded/not-for-profit experience.
• Ideally experience within a £20m+ organisation with a reasonably complex funding structure.
• Significant experience managing restricted grants and project-based funding.
• Understanding of the requirements associated with major institutional, government or research funding streams, including cost allocation, compliance and funder reporting.
• Strong management accounting, budgeting and forecasting experience.
• Excellent Excel, analytical and financial modelling skills.
• Confident business partner who can work effectively with senior stakeholders and non-finance project leads.
• Curious, analytical and willing to challenge – someone who questions their findings rather than taking information at face value.
• Solutions-focused and proactive, with the confidence to identify an issue, investigate it and recommend a way forward.
• Able to operate autonomously and quickly get up to speed within a complex organisation.

Contract: 6 months
Rate: £300–£400 per day
Location:  Hertfordshire – 3 days per week onsite
Start: ASAP

12-month fixed-term contract | Full-time 

Salary: £58,560 – £71,480 per annum

Hours: 35 per week

Location: Home-based with regular national travel 

Job reference number: 1766

Help shape the future of Cranstoun’s services 

Cranstoun is a social justice and harm reduction charity supporting and empowering people to live healthier and safer lives. Each year, we support more than 45,000 people through services including substance use, criminal justice, domestic abuse, housing and services for children and young people. 

Following a successful five-year strategy and significant growth, we remain ambitious about the difference we can make. As we enter our next phase, we are investing in the leadership and operational capability needed to support our continued development. We are now recruiting an Assistant Directors of Services to join our senior management team. 

This is a significant senior leadership role offering the opportunity to lead substantial service portfolios while helping shape how Cranstoun’s services are led and delivered across the organisation. 

The role 

Reporting to the Director of Operations, you will lead a substantial portfolio of complex commissioned services and senior operational managers. 

You will lead nine services with nine direct reports, spanning criminal justice and housing/homelessness provision. You will have clear accountability for ensuring services are safe, effective and well-led, with strong contractual performance, financial sustainability and positive outcomes for the people and communities we support. 

You will provide operational grip and evidence-based assurance, strengthen safeguarding and management accountability, build effective relationships with commissioners and partners, and ensure risks and underperformance are identified, escalated and addressed early. 

You will also work collectively with fellow senior operational leaders to embed a One Cranstoun approach, strengthening common standards, sharing learning, developing leadership capability and improving quality and resilience across our services. 

What you will be accountable for 

As an Assistant Director, you will take senior operational accountability for: 

• Safe, effective and well-led services – ensuring strong safeguarding, quality, operational risk management and service user outcomes.  
• Contractual performance – ensuring services deliver against contractual requirements and KPIs, with strong commissioner relationships and timely action to address underperformance.  
• Financial sustainability – maintaining strong financial oversight, effective workforce management and oversight of the sustainability of individual contracts.  
• Evidence-based assurance – using reliable performance, quality, workforce and financial information to identify risks and drive improvement.  
• Collective organisational leadership – working beyond individual portfolio boundaries to build consistent standards, stronger leadership and shared ways of working across Cranstoun.  

You will lead and develop senior operational managers, set clear expectations and create a culture in which support and accountability operate together. 

You will also lead and contribute to service mobilisation, transformation, workforce planning and continuous improvement. 

Who we are looking for 

We are looking for established senior operational leaders with substantial experience leading complex commissioned services and geographically dispersed teams. 

You will bring a strong track record of: 

• leading safe, high-quality services for people with complex needs;  
• safeguarding, quality and operational risk management;  
• contract and performance management;  
• managing significant service budgets and improving financial performance;  
• building effective relationships with commissioners, regulators and strategic partners;  
• leading service improvement, mobilisation and organisational change;  
• developing senior operational managers and addressing underperformance; and  
• using performance, quality, workforce and financial information to provide assurance and drive improvement.  

You will need to combine strategic leadership with operational pragmatism, understanding the detail when necessary while maintaining oversight of performance, risk, quality and sustainability across a complex portfolio. 

Above all, we are looking for collaborative, credible and values-led leaders who can support and challenge in equal measure, build leadership capability and bring people together around common standards and organisational priorities. 

Specialist experience 

For this role, you will need significant leadership experience across both Criminal Justice and Housing/Homelessness services, including housing or accommodation-based provision. 

You will understand the complexity of working across criminal justice, housing, local government and other statutory systems and be experienced in building effective relationships with commissioners and partners while maintaining strong operational and contractual oversight. 

This is a 12-month fixed-term appointment at an important stage in Cranstoun’s transformation, offering the opportunity to lead a significant portfolio, strengthen operational performance and help shape the future development of our operating model. 

Be part of Cranstoun’s next chapter 

Our successful five-year strategy has seen Cranstoun grow considerably, extending our reach and the range of services we provide. We remain ambitious and innovative, committed to developing services that respond to the changing needs of people and communities. 

As we look to the future, we are investing in the leadership, operational capability and organisational infrastructure needed to support our continued development, strengthening operational governance, consistency and assurance across our services. 

This role offers the opportunity to do more than manage established portfolios. You will help shape the future of our services and build an Operations Directorate characterised by high standards, clear accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement. 

Find out more 

Please refer to the accompanying recruitment pack for the full Job Description, Person Specification and details of the application process.

Please note: All posts are subject to an Enhanced DBS check.

How to Apply:

For more details and to apply, please visit our website via the apply button. Please quote the appropriate Job Ref in all correspondence.

Applicants must be able to provide satisfactory evidence of their right to work in the UK at the application stage.

Sponsorship is not available for this post. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK that does not require employer sponsorship for the duration of the appointment.

Closing date: Sunday 20 September 2026.

We are an inclusive employer, committed to promoting equality and diversity in all areas of our work. 

Registered Charity No: 1061582

 

The Queen Elizabeth Trust is a new, ambitious UK-wide independent charity established to deliver a lasting legacy to the extraordinary life of service of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth.

Inspired by Queen Elizabeth's belief that "everyone is our neighbour", the Trust works hand in hand with communities to restore and sustain the buildings, green spaces and shared places that bring people together across generations and from all walks of life. Through funding, strategic partnerships and targeted support, the Trust will help create safe, inclusive and vibrant places that thrive long into the future.

Backed by an initial endowment from the UK Government, the Trust will act as a catalyst for change, investing not only in physical regeneration but also in the people, skills and activities that enable communities to flourish. Working with partners who bring deep local knowledge and expertise, the Trust is committed to ensuring that opportunities reach communities across the UK, particularly those that have historically faced barriers to accessing major funding programmes.

Reporting to the CEO, the Head of Finance will lead the development of the Trust's finance, treasury, investment and operational functions, overseeing a growing endowment currently valued at £40m. This is a unique opportunity to combine strategic leadership with hands-on delivery, building systems, influencing decision making and helping establish the foundations of a high-impact organisation from the ground up.

We are looking to recruit a qualified accountant with significant senior experience spanning financial leadership, treasury management, governance and organisational development. You will be equally comfortable advising boards, developing strategy and rolling up your sleeves to get things done. Commercially astute, highly collaborative and low ego, you will thrive in a fast-paced start-up environment, bring structure to ambiguity, and communicate complex financial matters with clarity and confidence.

Please visit the Attenti website to read the appointment brief for more information and details on how to apply. For an informal and confidential discussion, after having read the appointment brief, please contact our advising consultants, Anita Denton or David Fielding, at Attenti.

Closing date for applications – 28th September 2026