5 Director of finance and company secretary jobs

Reporting to: Principal
Line managing: Site Manager, Professional Services team (Student Recruitment and Communications Manager and Office staff), IT Manager
Key Relationships: Senior Management Team, Head of Access to Learning, the Chair and Trustees of the City & Guilds of London Art School, Chair and Trustees of the City and Guilds Art School Property Trust
 

Main purpose of role:
The Director of Operations is an important, senior role at the Art School, responsible for supporting the Principal in the delivery of the Strategic Vision and to monitor the progress of its objectives. They are responsible for the efficient and effective management of internal resources and stakeholders, and will act as the deputy to the Principal in all matters excluding academic. They will also contribute to the oversight of recruitment of students and staff.
The Director of Operations provides vision and professional leadership of registry, professional services, IT, admissions, as well as the management of compliance, HR, and the Art School’s technical tutors. They have some oversight of marketing inasfar as it relates to recruitment. The Director of Operations is the key liaison with the Property Trust, which is the official landlord for the Art School and the governing body that oversees the main buildings at our site in Kennington. They are the lead person, responsible for the OfS return and so it is anticipated that the successful candidate would have a level of quality assurance experience and familiarity with policy oversight.

The Art School is an independent educational charity with approximately 300 students and 100 members of staff. The Art School is entering a new strategic planning cycle that will see us growing our profile and portfolio; expanding our international links and external partnerships; and, deepening our civic impact on our neighborhood in Kennington and further afield.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The main duties and responsibilities of the post are:
Leadership and Strategy

• Supporting the Principal in the delivery of the Strategic Vision for the Art School
• Working closely with the Head of Finance to allocate resources in line with the Art School improvement plan
• Oversee the management of and communication with, internal stakeholders of the School

Compliance and Governance

• Ensure that the systems and processes employed by the Art School comply with legal, audit and regulatory requirements,
• Oversee Risk Management, including Health & Safety compliance;
• Champion and oversee EDI across the Art School;
• Monitor the Art School’s performance against strategic objectives;
• Attend meetings of the Board of Trustees and relevant Committees, providing effective and timely reporting, proactive advice and support;
• Have overall responsibility for operational strategy including and policy management;
• To be the Art School ‘point of contact’ to the Property Trust;
• Manage legal and related matters as and when they arise.

Registry

• Oversee the team that handles student registry, academic administration and affairs, compliance and all non-academic matters of student experience;
• Ensure the accurate and timely submission of statutory and regulatory returns (e.g. to the Office for Students, Higher Education Statistics Agency, Office of the Independent Adjudicator for HE, Student Loans Company, UKVI etc);
• Act as the primary liaison for the Art School’s validating partners (Arts University Bournemouth, University of the Arts London Awarding Body);
• Act as Secretary to the Academic Board and oversee the arrangements for Art School Examination Boards;

Operations

• Implementation of HR processes and systems, seeking external advice as appropriate;
• Recruitment and line management of operational staff;
• Lead the process for the Art School’s annual staff appraisal scheme (Individual Performance Review) recommending associated staff development and training activities as agreed with the Principal;
• Day-to-day oversight of the professional teams managing the Estate, Technical Resources and IT infrastructure, and lead strategic planning relevant to these areas;
• Chair the Art School’s Site and Environment Committee;
• Manage the relationship with the Property Trust on a day-to-day basis.

External Profile and Recruitment

• Supporting the Principal to ensure successful student recruitment, working collaboratively with other academics;
• Development of the Art School’s activities (including commercial activities), short courses and profile;
• Oversee the Health & Safety and other logistical aspects of public events such as Degree Show

Additional Duties and Responsibilities

• Deputise where appropriate for the Principal;
• Lead and undertake Health and Safety duties and responsibilities appropriate to the role;
• Undertake other duties of a reasonable nature, as may be determined by the post holder’s line manager from time to time, in consultation with the post holder.

It is the duty of the post holder not to act in a prejudicial or discriminatory manner towards members of staff, students, visitors or members of the public. The post holder should also counteract such practice or behaviour in others by challenging and reporting it.
This is a description of the job as it is presently constituted. It is the Art School’s practice to periodically review job descriptions to ensure that they accurately reflect the job that is required to be performed, or to incorporate proposed reasonable changes following negotiation with the postholder.

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.

Starting Salary: £44,766 - £48,225 (including London weighting) 

Contract: Permanent 

Location: UK, Hybrid working with a minimum of 40% of your time in theLondon Office 

Job Profile

This role will lead CAFOD’s policy and advocacy work aimed at tackling the global climate crisis. The post holder will have a solid understanding of debates around climate change, in particular how it impacts climate-vulnerable countries in the Global South. You will bring knowledge of the causes of the climate crisis, and its solutions, particularly global financing needs. Working closely with CAFOD’s overseas partners, and within UK and global networks, this role will hold policy expertise on behalf of the organisation. This will involve developing policy positions and representing the organisation externally. The role will work closely with CAFOD’s government relations and campaigns colleagues to lobby decision-makers and mobilise supporters as part of our climate justice work. Sitting within the Advocacy, Policy & Campaigns team, the role is managed by the head of department.

Key Responsibilities

• Leading the development and delivery of CAFOD’s global climate justice advocacy strategy 

• Working in partnership with UK and global organisations to develop evidence‑based policy positions 

• Influencing UK, regional and global policy debates on climate change 

• Representing CAFOD in coalitions, to decision makers, in church networks and at international forums 

• Writing policy briefings, reports and communication outputs 

• Building relationships with external stakeholders and decision makers and UK and global levels 

• Ensuring advocacy is grounded in strong analysis, partner experience and a commitment to social and environmental justice 

• Supporting advocacy work of partners and global networks on debt cancellation and financial system reform 

• Providing strategic and technical advice across the organisation 

• Any other relevant duties reasonably required

Person Specification 

1. Strong background working in climate policy and/or international development policy 

1. Excellent analytical and research skills and an understanding of how to form strategic policy positions

1. Experience of developing strategic advocacy plans 

1. Experience of lobbying decision makers 

1. Background working with partners and coalitions, both in the UK and overseas 

1. Excellent written and verbal communication skills

CAFOD is a welcoming, supportive workplace committed to a safe, inclusive culture where everyone is respected.CAFODwill make reasonable adjustments at every stage of the recruitment process to ensure candidates with disabilities or individual needs are fully supported. 

Safeguarding for Children and Vulnerable Adults 

CAFOD recognises the personal dignity and rights of children and vulnerable adults, towards whom it has a special responsibility and a duty of care and respect. CAFOD, and all its staff and volunteers, undertake to do all in our power to create a safe environment for children, young people and vulnerable adults and to prevent their physical, sexual or emotional abuse. CAFOD is committed to acting at all times in the best interests of children and vulnerable adults, seeing these interests as paramount. Any candidate offered a job with CAFOD will be expected to adhere to CAFOD’s Safeguarding policy and sign CAFOD’s Code of Behaviour as an appendix to their contract of employment and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these documents.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references, and appropriate screening checks can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. CAFOD also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures. 

We are seeking an experienced leader to support and the assist the Board of Trustees to carry out the objectives and fulfil the mission of Roshni Ghar.

Job Title: Chief Executive
Contract: Permanent, 35 hours per week
Salary: £42,000 per annum
Location: Office based, Keighley BD21 2JH
Responsible to: Roshni Ghar Board of Trustees via the Chair of Trustees 
Language: Requirement for this position, is the ability to speak Urdu, Punjabi or Bangla.
Disclosure: The successful applicant will be required to have an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check (Working with Vulnerable Adults and children)
Exemption: This post is restricted to women only as a genuine occupational requirement under Schedule 9, Paragraph 1 of the Equality Act 2010. (Due to the nature and sensitivity of the client group, it is an occupational requirement that the post holder be a woman. This is in accordance with Schedule 9, Part 1 of the Equality Act 2010.).

About Us

Roshni Ghar provides a culturally appropriate service to support the mental health needs of ethnic minority women in the Airedale area of Bradford Metropolitan District.

We utilise a service user informed approach that promotes recovery and well-being through participation, inclusion, and choice.

We help to tackle inequalities and promote equality and diversity in partner organisations.

We strive to continuously adapt and improve services to ensure they continue to meet the needs of the community served.

Our core services

We provide culturally and spiritually sensitive support for ethnic minority women experiencing mental and emotional distress, empowering them to engage more responsively with mainstream and other relevant services where they may experience barriers.

We do this through 1 to 1 key working, group work, including peer group support, promoting a better understanding of mental distress and mental health promotion and illness prevention, signposting and working with other services to promote the equality and diversity agenda.

We support and enable an active service user voice not only in developing our own services, but also in service development for other health and social care organisations.

We encourage social inclusion and promote access to educational and vocational opportunities.

We also provide a safe space for women to explore issues relevant to their mental health and well-being.

Key objectives of the post

The new CEO will enthusiastically support and assist the Board of Trustees in carrying out the objectives and fulfilling the Mission Statement of Roshni Ghar, work within and promote the service user led ethos of Roshni Ghar.

They will maintain and develop high-quality services which aim to reduce the emotional and mental distress experienced by ethnic minority women and exceed the current funding levels in order to expand the organisation. They will continue and further develop the commitment to ensure that Roshni Ghar provides a range of culturally appropriate activities and services and continue and further develop the strong track record of community engagement and the strong emphasis on partnership working.

Key areas of responsibility

• To have overall responsibility for operational, service and performance management issues.
• To provide support and help assist in the development of all members of Roshni Ghar.
• To be responsible for ensuring an excellent level of communication between all stake holders of Roshni Ghar.
• To be responsible for modelling and encouraging an attitude of trust, support and respect towards and between all parties involved in the organisation.
• To take overall responsibility for developing, implementing and reviewing policies and to ensure that all policies relating to induction and training are adhered to.
• To work alongside the Board of Trustees to continuously improve quality standards and the reputation of Roshni Ghar.
• To work closely with the Company Secretary and Chairperson to ensure that all actions are taken in accordance with the Articles of Association and applicable charity and company law.
• To participate in regular supervision and line manage a number of staff, students and volunteers

The CEO will work closely alongside all internal stakeholders of Roshni Ghar to plan, implement and evaluate the organisation’s Business Plan, as well as alongside the Board of Trustees to seek out, develop and evaluate new business opportunities. They will seek out and acquire new fundraising opportunities and, equally, to promote our services citywide.

This role will also improve and develop effective relationships with partner organisations, establish and develop profitable relationships and partnerships with funders, community mental health teams, and the wider voluntary sector and actively endorse and positively promote Roshni Ghar across all aspects of the media.

Management responsibilities will include ensuring financial sustainability and growth of the organisation and ensuring that Roshni Ghar continues to meet the high standards set by Funders. The CEO will be responsible for all activities relating to human resources and work alongside the Board of Trustees to develop and implement all organisational policies and procedures. They will also actively ensure that all feedback procedures and communications are operating effectively and perform any other tasks as identified by the Trustees, and commensurate with the grade of this position.

The successful candidate will have a relevant professional qualification, proven experience in leadership and developmental management in one or more organisations, experience of managing Budgets, Risk, Quality and safety as well as experience of leading outcomes-based management processes. They will be able to speak Urdu, Punjabi or Bangla , will have worked in a mental health setting with ethnic minority women and will be familiar with changing statutory care funding requirements and the social, medical and public health models of mental health.

Essential skills and abilities for this position include resilience, high level interpersonal and relationship building, communication and presentation skills, financial scrutiny, people management skills, interpersonal and relationship building skills alongside data analysis, reporting and data use.

The CEO will be committed to service-user involvement in the design, delivery and review of services, an inclusive approach which welcomes and relates to people from many different backgrounds, have a positive attitude towards those with mental health difficulties and able to respect and value people unconditionally and an optimistic and motivational for people with mental health difficulties.

The closing date for this position is 23:59 on Tuesday 6th October.

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our online portal to complete your application for this position.

No agencies please.