75 Director of finance operations jobs in Central London, Greater London

We are seeking an experienced, commercially astute and forward-thinking Director of Finance to provide strategic leadership of the organisation's financial management, planning and governance. This is a pivotal executive leadership role responsible for ensuring financial sustainability, supporting organisational growth, driving operational excellence, and enabling the charity to maximise its impact.

The successful candidate will be a qualified finance professional (or qualified by experience) with extensive experience of financial leadership, budgeting, forecasting, financial control, and strategic planning. They will bring a proactive and innovative approach to financial management, identifying opportunities for organisational development, efficiency, improvement, and sustainable growth.

Ideally, candidates will have experience within the charity, not-for-profit or public sector environment and possess a strong understanding of charity accounting, governance and regulatory compliance.

The Executive Director will provide strategic, operational and financial leadership for East London Dance, working in close partnership with the Creative Director & CEO to deliver the organisation’s vision and business plan, strengthening its position as an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation. The role leads people, culture, finance, governance, risk, operations, fundraising and stakeholder engagement, ensuring the organisation remains financially sustainable, well-governed and equipped to deliver high-quality artistic and community programmes.

As a senior ambassador, the Executive Director builds strong relationships with funders, partners, trustees and stakeholders, while fostering an inclusive, collaborative and values-led culture. The role creates the conditions for a thriving team, turning creative ambition into organisational reality and supporting East London Dance’s long-term success.

We’re looking for someone who can help turn our ambition into a sustainable, thriving future – building the relationships and the funding that will carry us forward, and doing it alongside a team that already cares deeply about the organisation.

If you’re someone who loves building things, who knows how to bring people and money together, and who wants to help shape what east London’s cultural life looks like for years to come – we’d love to hear from you.

Job requirements:

Must bring substantial senior leadership experience, ideally Director, Deputy CEO or equivalent level, with evidence of strategic planning, organisational growth and performance management. Must have a proven track record in fundraising, business development and income generation, including securing funding, managing funder relationships and identifying new commercial or partnership opportunities; experience leading high-performing teams, managing change and strengthening organisational culture; strong financial acumen, including understanding budgets, balance sheets and financial decision-making; knowledge of charity governance, safeguarding, health and safety, data protection and risk management frameworks; experience working with Boards of Trustees. Must demonstrate commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, possess excellent written and verbal communication skills, be confident using Microsoft Suite, and have knowledge of ACE funding and reporting requirements.

Job Responsibilities:

Provides strategic, operational and financial leadership with Creative Director & CEO. The role translates the Business Plan into action, leads staff, freelancers and consultants, and develops an inclusive, high-performing culture. Key responsibilities include workforce planning, recruitment, HR compliance, performance management and staff wellbeing. The role oversees organisational systems, administration, IT and the operation of Talent House, including health and safety, compliance, venue hire and stakeholder relationships. They co-lead budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, cash flow monitoring and audit processes, while driving fundraising and income generation across grants, trusts, partnerships, sponsorship and earned income. The role also leads governance, risk management and business continuity planning, supports the Board of Trustees, develops strategic partnerships, represents the organisation externally and strengthens its profile, impact and long-term sustainability.

Apply via the East London Dance Website by Thursday 8 October, 12 Noon

A little bit about the role

Contract: Full time, fixed term
Salary: £87,632.09 (incl London Office Allowance) plus competitive pension
Location: Hybrid- 2 days per week in London Office

The Culture and Operations Director (COD) ensures Frontline is a high-performing, well-governed charity with a strong culture of freedom and responsibility - a place people can do their best work to achieve Frontline’s mission.

They have strategic responsibility for charity-wide planning to ensure Frontline’s operational functions, effectively support teams to navigate challenges whilst maximising new opportunities. The successful candidate will join Frontline at a pivotal moment and play a key role in driving the next exciting step of our growth.

The COD will ensure high-quality operational support is available to all teams. Working closely with Frontline’s Leadership Group (Heads and Directors), to make sure that the appropriate and timely information, tools and guidance (e.g. HR, IT and finance) are available to managers and teams as needed. This includes working alongside other members of SLT, to:

• Confidently support Frontline through a period of growth and structural change
• Embody the culture of freedom and responsibility, leading by example, and implementing strategies which improve efficiency and quality
• Maintain Executive oversight of Frontline’s finances, working  with Head of Finance and Finance Audit and Risk Committee (FARC) Chair to ensure budgeting and financial decision-making is robust and strategic, to support the ongoing stability of the charity
• Maintain clear communication across teams, ensuring a connected and informed workforce who collaborate effectively. Oversee the success of key events such as annual all-staff away days, monthly gatherings and leadership stocktakes
• Develop strong relationships with key stakeholders including Frontline trustees, partner organisations and the Department for Education (DfE)
• Effectively lead teams to maintain Frontline's strong track-record of meeting legal/regulatory requirements, to minimise risk to the charity

Key Responsibilities

The COD will lead teams delivering on operational priorities in line with freedom and responsibility, to ensure we remain high performing:

Change management:

• Lead the coordination and project-management of an organisation-wide restructure, ensuing the charity is well-positioned to deliver on contractual obligations whilst diversifying to further amplify our impact and that teams are kept well-informed and feed into structural changes
• Support Frontline teams to work  collaboratively and deliver plans to broaden the scope of Frontline's work, extending activity beyond current areas of focus whilst maintaining a strong, shard commitment to Freedom and Responsibility.
• Develop and adhere to tracking and monitoring systems ensuring annual priorities remain on track to achieve Frontline's mission and long-term strategy.

People and Culture:

• Manage the Head of People to identify new and creative ways to further strengthen and embed our culture and grow personal accountability
• Support the Head of People to ensure excellent HR administration, support and use of data (e.g. staff turnover, sickness levels and performance reporting) to inform future planning and decision-making
• Ensure the team design and deliver high-quality staff induction and training which support staff to thrive (e.g. personal leadership, managing effectively and radical candour)
• Maintain awareness of trends and developing technologies to support efficiencies, e.g approaches to recruitment and support to managers.

Finance and Governance:

• Manage Head of Finance and Compliance to ensure sound budget management (£25m annually), financial controls and clear reporting mechanisms are in place
• Work with the Finance team to ensure FARC and the board have the necessary information and confidence in the financial leadership of Frontline.

Charity Quality and Efficiency:

• Manage and support IT and System leads across Frontline, ensuring they have the resources and compliance mechanisms to ensure robust systems are in place.
• Support Contract Governance teams to negotiate and implement significant government contracts, ensuring outcomes are achievable and effective governance and commercially sound contracts are in place.

In this role you are responsible for day-to-day operational activity across both finance and HR functions, working closely with the Finance Officer and reporting to the Head of Finance (with ‘dotted line’ reporting to Director of Finance and Operations in respect of HR activity). 
The role requires effective use of systems to enable efficient processes, with responsibility for data held on the HR system and management of routine employee related processes including recruitment and onboarding. The role also shares responsibility for processing invoices and payments on the finance system, responding to queries from colleagues and 3rd party partners. You will provide support for Head of Finance and Director Finance and Operations where required, including data analysis, reporting and preparation of returns across both finance and HR remits.

How to apply
To apply for this role please send your CV and cover letter (maximum two pages) including responses to the three questions below:
1. Tell us about a time when you identified a process that could be improved or made more efficient. How did you approach making the change, and what did you do to ensure the process was accurate, consistent and effective?
2. Describe a situation where you had to handle sensitive financial or employee information while also resolving a difficult or confidential issue. What approach did you take?
3. Give an example of when you have had to manage competing priorities. How did you decide what to do first, and how did you ensure important deadlines were met?

HR and Recruitment
• Maintain accurate data on our HR system including starters, leavers, holiday and other absences
• Report on key employee metrics including sickness absence, holiday, TOIL, diversity
• Support line managers with recruitment activity including making effective use of the Applicant Tracking System to ensure a good candidate experience and to report recruitment metrics to enable continuous improvement
• Manage onboarding for new starters including reference requests, pre-employment checks, induction processes
• Coordinate arrangements for training sessions for staff
• Support Head of Finance with monthly payroll processes
• Support Director of Finance and Operations in maintaining and publicising HR policies, keeping the Employee Handbook current
• Maintain up to date employee guides and templates for key HR processes including appraisals, mid year reviews, recruitment, induction, flexible leave

Finance Administration
• Maintain appropriate employee access to Finance Systems, including being able to claim staff expenses and raise sales invoice requests, and support employees in using these systems. 
• Respond to queries in the central accounts mailbox, liaising with internal and external stakeholders.
• Support Head of Finance and Finance Officer with Purchase Ledger, including posting and payment of supplier invoices in a timely manner, ensuring accurate coding and authorisation in line with limits, maintenance of supplier accounts, reconciliations and remittances.
• Support Head of Finance and Finance Officer with management of company credit cards and virtual cards, including reconciling statements and accurate posting to the ledger. 
• Assist in raising sales invoices and accurately recording income. 
• Assist with Credit Control, chasing overdue debts and reporting to the Head of Finance.
• Support Head of Finance with analysis of financial data from the finance system (Xero) for reporting and other ad-hoc purposes
• Assist in maintaining up to date procedures. 

There is an opportunity to attend theatre press nights where appropriate and to take advantage of trade tickets when offered

This role sits within the Finance and Operations team whose focus is to ensure the organisations operate as effectively and efficiently as possible. Our team operates across Finance, HR, Technology, Facilities and Compliance, to ensure that systems and processes are set up which promote smooth delivery and support the work of the organisations. This includes adherence to regulatory requirements and best practice standards

Head of Finance & Operations 

A leading health-focused membership body is looking for an experienced Head of Finance & Operations to join its senior leadership team.

This is the lead finance role within the organisation, with a broad remit spanning finance, facilities, procurement and operations. You’ll provide strategic leadership and challenge, ensuring resources are used effectively while helping to shape financial strategy, improve systems and processes and support organisational transformation.

Key details:

· Salary: £78,131 – £87,344

· Full-time – 35 hours per week

· Largely remote – just one day per week in the Central London office, usually Wednesdays

· Lead the organisation’s financial strategy, planning, reporting and compliance

· Oversee budgeting, forecasting, reserves, cash and longer-term scenario planning

· Provide strategic financial advice to the Leadership Team, Council and Finance, Risk & Audit Committee

· Lead business partnering and ensure senior stakeholders have meaningful financial insight to support decision-making

· Oversee facilities, procurement, business continuity and key operational projects

· Lead a team of nine, including three direct reports

We’re looking for a qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent) with significant senior leadership experience across finance and operations. You’ll need experience of leading transformation and cultural change, developing long-term finance and operational strategies, and leading high-performing teams. Strong technical knowledge across areas including FRS102, Charity SORP, VAT, payroll and tax is also important.

Benefits include:

· Annual pay rise in line with inflation, with eligible colleagues also moving up a scale point within their grade

· 12% employer pension contribution

· Flexible working, supporting a wide range of arrangements including varied hours and condensed weeks

· Hybrid working – just one day per week in the office (usually Wednesdays), with the remainder from home

A great opportunity for an experienced senior finance leader looking for a broad, strategic role combining finance and operations, with significant organisational influence and excellent flexibility.

Closing date: 2nd October

Please send your CV for further consideration.

The Accounts Receivable Controller plays a key role in the financial management of the School, ensuring the accurate and timely billing, reconciliation, and collection of all tuition, transport, financial aid, after-school, and extracurricular fees. The role manages billing and collection processes for over 900 families and partner organisations, ensuring data accuracy, financial compliance, and an exceptional level of customer service.

This position supports approximately £50 million in annual tuition and related income and requires a detail-oriented, technology-savvy, and proactive professional capable of operating efficiently in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.

Key Responsibilities

Billing and Data Management

• Manage end-to-end billing for tuition, transportation, financial aid, after-school programs, and all ancillary charges for the School and its subsidiary.

• Maintain accurate family and student billing records in the school’s finance and student information systems (Microsoft Dynamics Business Central).

• Collaborate with Admissions, and departmental administrators and other internal stakeholders to ensure timely updates to student and fee data.

• Generate, review, and distribute invoices within strict deadlines; ensure compliance with Accounting and VAT regulations as well as school policies and contractual obligations.

• Monitor and reconcile data between finance, admissions, and student databases to ensure billing integrity.

• Prepare and maintain accurate audit trails for all transactions.

Collections and Customer Relations

• Manage the collection of fees and ensure that payments are received in line with the School’s terms and conditions.

• Communicate effectively and empathetically with parents, companies, and sponsors regarding outstanding balances.

• Negotiate payment plans where appropriate, maintaining professionalism and discretion when dealing with sensitive personal circumstances.

• Work collaboratively with the Finance Manager and Director of Finance & Operations to review overdue accounts and agree on next steps.

Reconciliation and Reporting

• Perform regular reconciliations between the fees ledger, bank accounts, and other sub-ledgers.

• Analyse billing and cash flow trends; prepare reports for management, auditors, and the Board as required.

• Produce insightful analytical reports on billing to assist in long-term financial planning.

• Support external audits and provide all necessary documentation related to fees and revenue.

Systems, Innovation, and Process Improvement

• Utilise financial systems effectively; identify opportunities to improve automation, reporting accuracy, and user experience.

• Contribute to digital transformation initiatives such as online payment platforms, automated invoicing, and data analytics tools.

• Ensure compliance with relevant UK financial, consumer, and data protection legislation, including GDPR, Consumer Credit Act, and HMRC guidelines.

• Maintain awareness of Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations and apply appropriate due diligence when processing and verifying payments from individuals and organisations.

• Identify and escalate potential compliance or irregular payment concerns to the Director of Finance & Operations.

• Develop and document best practices and standard operating procedures to ensure efficiency and consistency.

Teamwork and Collaboration

• Work closely with colleagues across Finance, Admissions, Operations, and Academic departments.

• Provide support and training to other team members on billing processes and systems.

• Contribute to a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration, and customer service.

Qualifications and Experience

Essential

• A professional qualification in the accounting and finance field or equivalent.

• Substantive experience in an accounting, billing, or accounts receivable role.

• Proficiency with financial management systems (e.g. Business Central, iSAMS, Sage, or similar).

• Advanced Excel and data reconciliation skills.

• Strong understanding of financial controls and internal audit practices.

• Awareness of Anti-Money Laundering (AML) principles and responsibilities.

• Excellent interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills.

Desirable

• Experience in the education sector, particularly within an international or independent school.

• Familiarity with financial aid administration, bursaries, or corporate billing.

• Experience managing large account portfolios (500+ customers).

• Knowledge of UK accounting standards and charity finance compliance.

Key Competencies and Attributes

• Accuracy and Attention to Detail: Ensures precision and reliability across all financial processes.

• Technological Proficiency: Experienced with finance software, databases, and advanced Excel functions.

• Analytical Thinking: Able to interpret and reconcile complex financial data.

• Communication Skills: Strong written and verbal communication, with diplomacy and cultural sensitivity.

• Deadline Management: Works efficiently under pressure, meeting strict billing and reporting deadlines.

• Compliance Awareness: Understands financial, AML, and data protection responsibilities.

• Team Player: Collaborative, supportive, and approachable.

• Initiative and Innovation: Continuously looks for ways to improve processes and customer experience.

This is a unique opportunity to lead fundraising for a charity at the cusp of substantial growth, with an exceptional track record of recent fundraising success, an engaged base of supporters and significant untapped potential across multiple channels.

Overview
As Director of Fundraising and Development for Plum Village UK, you will provide strategic leadership of the charity’s fundraising at this critical juncture. Building on the successful campaigns that brought our new Being Peace Practice Centre into being, you will lead the development of a sustainable, diversified fundraising operation across donor stewardship, trusts and foundations, regular giving, legacies, and partnerships, to deepen relationships of trust and gratitude with our supporters.

This role is ideal for a fundraising leader, whether from a career fundraising background or another field, who brings strategic capability alongside deep alignment with the Plum Village tradition, where fundraising itself becomes a form of engaged practice in service of mindfulness and community transformation.

Fundraising in the Plum Village tradition is fundamentally relational. It is not a matter of extracting income from a base of supporters, but of deepening the relationships of trust, gratitude and shared purpose with those who make our work possible, in ways that embody the values of the tradition. Done well, fundraising is itself a form of engaged practice. The Director will be expected to lead the function in this spirit.

The role comes with a high level of strategic ownership. An initial fundraising strategy has been developed and shared with trustees, providing a framework of priority channels, governance arrangements and resourcing for the next phase. The new Director will inherit this as a starting frame, and will then be empowered and expected to develop, refine and bring forward a fundraising strategy on their own authority, working closely with the Lead Trustee for Fundraising and presenting proposals to the board as appropriate. The role also carries operational ownership of the fundraising mechanics, including the choice and management of supporting systems, databases and tools.
 

Key Responsibilities

Strategic leadership of fundraising

• Lead PVUK's fundraising strategy, developing and refining the strategic direction, and presenting proposals to the Board for approval and resourcing.

• Set, monitor, and report on fundraising targets across all income channels, in agreement with the Lead Trustee for Fundraising and the Board.

• Provide regular substantive updates on fundraising at quarterly board meetings, working with the Lead Trustee on the preparation of board-level reporting.

• Bring forward analysis and proposals to support the Board in setting wider strategic priorities, including realistic income potential by channel and the investment required to secure it.

• Identify and manage risk in the fundraising portfolio, including channel concentration, donor over-reliance, and the sustainability of resourcing.

Donor stewardship and relationship development

• Lead the stewardship of PVUK’s existing donors, lenders, and supporters with the depth of care that this base deserves, recognising it as the most precious resource of the fundraising function.

• Cultivate and deepen relationships with major donors, including through personal contact, site visits, and tailored communication of impact.

• Work with the Chair of Trustees, the Centre Director, and other senior figures on key relationships that require their involvement.

• Steward the friendly lender base throughout the lifetime of their loans, maintaining trust and keeping them informed of the charity’s progress.

• Build and maintain a culture of gratitude and recognition that appropriately honours the contributions of all supporters.

Income channel development

• Lead delivery and growth across PVUK’s priority fundraising channels: donor stewardship, trust and foundation fundraising, regular giving, legacies and Gifts in Wills, and partnerships with values-aligned organisations and networks.

• Develop trust and foundation fundraising as a substantial new income stream, including scoping aligned funders, building peer-to-peer introductions, constructing tailored funding propositions, and overseeing high-quality application writing and reporting.

• Design and grow a regular giving programme that converts members, retreatants and supporters into ongoing monthly donors.

• Develop a structured legacy and Gifts in Wills programme that normalises legacy giving across PVUK’s communications and supports those who wish to leave a Gift in their Will.

• Develop partnerships with values-aligned organisations and networks where these support both income generation and the wider reach of PVUK’s work, in close consultation with monastics and trustees.

Operations, systems and budget ownership

• Own the operational mechanics of fundraising for PVUK, including the choice, configuration and ongoing management of databases, donor management systems, online giving platforms, and integration with communications tools.

• Manage the fundraising budget, including a discretionary supplementary budget for consultancy, training, materials creation, contracted support and light administrative resource, deployed at the Director’s judgement to develop the function effectively.

• Maintain accurate, GDPR-compliant supporter records and ensure sound data practices throughout the fundraising operation.

• Provide accurate financial reporting on fundraising performance, working with PVUK’s finance function and external accountants as required.

• Make the case for additional resourcing where evidence of need supports it, including the possible recruitment of a Fundraising Officer in due course.

Communications and storytelling

• Lead the development of compelling fundraising narratives that authentically convey the work of PVUK and the Being Peace Centre to multiple audiences, including major donors, institutional funders, individual supporters and the wider public.

• Work closely with the PVUK Communications team on the integration of fundraising communications with the wider communications strategy.

• Commission and oversee the production of fundraising materials, including written content, graphic design, video and digital assets, drawing on contracted specialists where appropriate.

• Ensure that all fundraising messaging about the Being Peace Practice Centre is agreed with the Centre Director before publication.

Working partnerships across PVUK

• Work in close partnership with the Centre Director on all matters relating to Being Peace, with agreed ways of working on messaging, external representation, and any programming commitments made to funders.

• Work with the Lead Trustee for Fundraising as primary day-to-day point of contact at board level, supporting the Lead Trustee to hold strategic oversight of fundraising on behalf of the Board.

• Work with colleagues across PVUK’s communications, dharma programming, sangha-building and partnership functions, with these working relationships developing naturally in the first months of the role.

• Draw on external advisors and specialists as needed for support and assurance, both in technical fundraising disciplines and in sector-specific knowledge.

• Engage volunteer capacity from within the community where this can valuably supplement the fundraising operation.

Our client is a leading independent think tank and advocacy organisation. For over 50 years, we have worked to challenge inequalities and create a more just and equitable society through high-quality research, evidence-based policy development, and public engagement. Our work seeks not only to understand inequality but to challenge the structures and systems that sustain it. We are a values-led organisation – uncompromising on quality, rooted in care, thoughtfully courageous, and committed to solidarity and social justice.

We are seeking a resilient, confident, and strategically minded Director of Finance and Operations to lead our core operational and enabling functions. Working closely with the CEO as a trusted partner, you will ensure the organisation has the financial resilience, operational infrastructure, and governance frameworks needed to deliver its mission.

Key priorities for the role include bringing structure, stability, and clarity to a deeply passionate, activist-driven team of 15 people. You will build agile systems that enable a dual focus: balancing long-term strategic projects with fast-paced, responsive work, championing this reactive work as a natural and vital part of our impact.

Director of Finance and Operations
Our Client
Salary: £68,985 to £77,643 (FTE, pro-rata for part-time)
Location: Hybrid – two days a week in the office in London
Hours: 28 to 35 hours per week (0.8 to 1 FTE)

About you

We are seeking a highly collaborative and objective leader, with:

• A demonstrable background in a senior finance and/or operations leadership role within the charity, not-for-profit, public, or values-led sector.
• A recognised accountancy qualification or demonstrable equivalent senior-level financial management expertise gained through practice.
• A proven track record of building, structuring, and developing an operations team from the ground up.
• Experience working within a mission-driven or activist charity environment, possessing a strong understanding of how to support and manage the unique dynamics of a deeply passionate workforce.
• Resilience, confidence, and grit, with the ability to bring structure and clarity during times of organisational change or transition.
• Agility and adaptability, with the ability to shift gears quickly to manage a dual environment of long-term projects and fast-paced, responsive work.
• Diplomatic leadership capabilities to balance and bridge the rights and responsibilities of a mission-driven team.
• An objective, clear, and firm approach when establishing and embedding operational systems, processes, and expectations.
• Strong financial and analytical proficiency to interpret, present, and communicate financial information clearly to non-finance audiences including Boards and senior leadership teams.

Crucially, you will share a demonstrable commitment to social justice, equity-centred leadership, and fostering inclusive organisational cultures.

How to Apply

For further information, to access the microsite and to apply to this role, please click 'redirect to recruiter'

If you have any queries, please contact our retained advisor via email with a copy of your CV.

Recruitment Timetable

Closing date for applications is 27th September.

The British Academy is the UK’s national academy for the humanities and social sciences. We support outstanding research and researchers, bring new ideas into public debate and help ensure that evidence and expertise inform some of the biggest questions facing society.

We are looking for a new Director of Finance & Resources to help us build on that work and plan confidently for the future.

This is an important appointment at an exciting point in the Academy’s development. We will celebrate our 125th anniversary in 2027, following a period in which we have grown our policy work, transformed our building to create more opportunities for public engagement and developed a national network for early career researchers.

As Director of Finance & Resources, you will make sure we have the resources, systems and organisational capacity to deliver our ambitions. You will lead our finance function and have overall responsibility for HR, IT & AV, Estates & Facilities, and Venue Sales & Marketing, working with experienced Heads of Department across each area.

Finance will be central to the role. You will lead our financial strategy and planning, oversee our financial controls and reporting, and provide clear advice to the Chief Executive, Senior Management Team, Council and its committees. You will also help us think longer term about our financial sustainability, including our plans to diversify income through philanthropy and commercial activity.

But we are looking for more than a strong Finance Director. You will be part of a close-knit Senior Management Team which works collectively to lead the Academy. We want someone who is interested in the organisation as a whole, who enjoys working across boundaries and who can help colleagues make good decisions about where we put our people, money and attention.

You will also have responsibility for some important assets. These include our historic home at 10–11 Carlton House Terrace, our technology and infrastructure, and our trading subsidiary. Ultimately, your job will be to make sure these resources are working as hard as possible in support of the Academy’s purpose.

About you

You will be a CCAB-qualified accountant with substantial and senior finance experience, gained in a complex organisation. You will have led finance teams and significant budgets and be comfortable advising senior leaders, Boards or Trustees.

You will also bring broader leadership experience. You may already have responsibility beyond finance, or have worked closely with areas such as people, operations, estates or technology.

We are looking for someone who can combine sound financial judgement with a practical, collaborative approach. You will be able to deal with complexity without making things unnecessarily complicated, communicate clearly with people who are not finance specialists, and provide constructive challenge when it is needed.

You should also be someone who enjoys leading through others. There are strong Heads of Department across the Resources portfolio, so this isn't about being the expert in every area. It is about setting direction, asking good questions, supporting people to succeed and bringing the different parts of the portfolio together.

Why join us?

The British Academy has a distinctive role in national life. In 2025/26 we awarded around £63 million in research funding. Alongside funding research, we convene academics, policymakers, businesses and civil society, engage the public with new ideas and use research to inform policy.

The Director of Finance & Resources helps make all of that possible.

For someone who wants to use their financial and leadership experience in an organisation with a clear public purpose, this is an opportunity to make a real contribution to the Academy’s next chapter.

Recruitment Timetable

Application deadline: Sunday 27th September, midnight

Shortlisting:Thursday 8th October

Fireside chats with CEO: week of 12th October

Panel Interviews:20th / 23rd October

To apply, please send your CV, along with a supporting statement (no more than 2 pages) via the link by Sunday 27th September.

For an informal conversation about the role please contact our exclusive partner, Bryony Thomas via the Allen Lane agency website.

About School of Hard Knocks

School of Hard Knocks (SOHK) is one of the UK’s leading education charities, working in 29 secondary schools across England, Scotland, and Wales. Using rugby as a key delivery tool, we support young people who are struggling to engage in early secondary education - often because of anxiety, low confidence, disrupted home lives, or behavioural challenges rooted in trauma. For many of the children we support, life has already brought more hardship than most adults experience in a lifetime. Our purpose is clear: to help young people facing complex challenges break the cycle and move towards a safer, stronger, more hopeful future.

The SOHK Schools Programme is a two-year intervention working with cohorts of around 20 pupils from Year 7 through to Year 9. Pupils are selected by the school and are typically among the hardest to reach young people. Each week, we deliver half a day of rugby training and classroom sessions built around our 3Cs framework, covering topics such as growth mindset, goal setting, and decision-making, alongside monthly one-to-one sessions with every pupil. The programme’s impact is evaluated by SOHK staff, teachers, parents, and the pupils themselves.

90% of our participants report feeling more confident and more engaged with school after taking part, with long-term effects on attendance, attainment, and life outcomes. Find out more about our Schools Programme.

Since 2023, SOHK has been proud to partner with Impetus, a charity that invests in and supports organisations helping young people from disadvantaged backgrounds succeed. This partnership combines investment with strategic and organisational development support, helping to strengthen our impact and set SOHK up for sustainable growth.

We are proud to be delivering long-term programmes that meaningfully reach hundreds of young people each year - but the societal need is vast. Our ambitious four-year strategic plan targets growth, aiming to bring our impactful programme to hundreds more young people each year.

“Despite the usual challenges that every education or sport for development charity faces, School of Hard Knocks really is unique. It is not so much what we deliver at a programme level (which is of course brilliant) but who we are as a team. If you are a values-led leader and love the idea of ‘team’, then School of Hard Knocks is the place for you.”

- Ken Cowen, Founder and outgoing CEO

The Role

The CEO is the public face and leader of SOHK, responsible for the overall strategic direction, vision, and management of the charity - ensuring SOHK meets its mission and strategic objectives while maintaining strong relationships with Trustees, staff, supporters, and the wider SOHK community. We’re looking for a mission-driven charity leader and effective fundraiser, capable of building a sustainable growth model.

Strategy and Direction

● Be the face and voice of the charity - its principal ambassador

● Lead the development and periodic review of SOHK’s strategy with the Trustees and Senior Management Team

● Translate the 2026-30 strategy into organisational priorities, plans, and goals

● Ensure safeguarding, wellbeing, and the lived experience of young people remain central to every decision and growth plan

Programme Delivery, Quality and Impact

● Hold a high bar for programme quality and outcomes for young people

● Line-manage and support the Director of Programmes, working with delivery teams and partners to build a world-class, evidence-based intervention

● Ensure SOHK can evidence the impact of its programmes, with insights feeding back into constant improvement

Income Generation, Fundraising and External Relations

● Lead income generation across trusts and foundations, corporate partnerships, individual giving, and challenges and events

● Line-manage and support the Head of Fundraising in executing a comprehensive fundraising strategy

● Hold senior relationships with funders and partners, building SOHK’s brand, reputation, and profile

Leading People, Culture and Operations

● Build and lead a high-performing Senior Management Team

● Foster a positive, inclusive, high-performing culture aligned with SOHK’s values

● Line-manage and support the Director of Finance & Operations, ensuring operational excellence

Governance and the Board

● Act as the primary link between the organisation and the Trustees

● Attend all Trustee meetings (held quarterly) and provide timely, accurate reporting

● Ensure compliance with all legal, regulatory, and Charity Commission requirements

About You

Essential

● Proven senior leadership experience in the charity, education, youth, or social impact sector - whether as CEO or as part of an executive team - including working directly with a Board of Trustees

● Demonstrated success in building or significantly growing an organisation, programme, or initiative

● A collaborative and values-led leadership style, with the ability to inspire trust, hold people to account, and build high-performing teams

● Strong track record of income generation, including securing significant funding from trusts, foundations, corporates, or major donors

● Experience of financial oversight, budgeting, and organisational planning at a senior level

● Strategic thinker, able to translate vision into clear plans and delivery

● Strong relationship-builder and communicator, confident with a wide range of stakeholders

Desirable

● Previous charity CEO experience - a bonus, but not essential; we know brilliant candidates come from a wide range of backgrounds

● Direct classroom, youth work, or education leadership experience

● Knowledge of the UK education system and youth policy landscape

● Experience of scaling a multi-site delivery organisation and working with local authorities

Personal Attributes

● Deep commitment to improving outcomes for young people, especially those facing disadvantage

● Resilient and persistent, able to work under pressure and navigate setbacks

● Collaborative, open, and reflective leader who seeks feedback and learns from it

Terms of Appointment

Contract type

Full-time, permanent

Location

Greater London, with offices in Edinburgh & Cardiff

Salary

£85,000 – £90,000 per year + £5,000 PRP

Reports to

Chair of the Board of Trustees

Direct reports

Director of Programmes; Head of Fundraising; Director of Finance & Operations

Travel

Regular UK travel, primarily to Edinburgh and Cardiff. Occasional evenings for stakeholder engagement and fundraising events

Trustee meetings

Quarterly, in London, in the evening, plus ad hoc subcommittees

Head of Finance and Operations

We are seeking an experienced finance and operations professional to provide strategic leadership within a growing environmental charity.

Salary: £60,000 FTE, £48,000 actual
Location: Home-based, UK, with some travel to London and occasional UK travel
Hours: 28 hours per week, four days
Contract: Permanent
Closing date: 23:59, Sunday 4 October

Interviews: First round on 13 & 14 October; Second round 16 October

About the role

This is a broad and influential senior leadership role covering finance, governance, operations, people and organisational development.

Working closely with the Executive Director, Senior Leadership Team and Board of Trustees, you will ensure the charity has the financial insight, effective systems and strong infrastructure needed to deliver its ambitions. You will also deputise for the Executive Director occasionally and provide line management for support functions.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading financial operations, controls, budgeting, cash flow forecasting and management reporting
• Producing statutory accounts and managing the annual audit
• Monitoring restricted, designated and unrestricted funds
• Supporting the Board and Finance Committee with clear reporting, papers and effective governance
• Overseeing organisational risk, compliance, data protection, cyber security, insurance and business continuity
• Improving HR, IT, CRM, digital and operational systems
• Leading the responsible adoption of digital tools, automation and AI
• Coordinating organisational workplans and monitoring delivery against strategic priorities
• Overseeing recruitment, onboarding, employment processes and staff development
• Supporting an inclusive, collaborative and high-performing remote working culture

About you

You will be a qualified ACA, ACCA, CIMA or AAT accountant with at least seven years’ experience in finance and operations management, ideally within a charity or similarly values-led organisation.

You will also bring:

• Experience across HR, IT, risk, data protection and health and safety
• Strong financial planning, reporting and analytical skills
• Knowledge of accounting software, spreadsheets and CRM systems
• Experience managing and developing people
• Strategic thinking and proven project management skills
• Confidence working with trustees and producing board-level reports
• An understanding of how organisational systems support small, remote teams
• Excellent interpersonal skills and a collaborative, self-directed approach

Knowledge of charity governance, philanthropy, Salesforce, Xero or digital transformation would be advantageous. An interest in environmental issues and improving the planet for future generations is also welcomed.

About the organisation

You will join a UK environmental charity working to strengthen philanthropy and increase its impact in response to the climate and nature emergency.

The organisation supports a significant network of funders, advisers and fundraisers by sharing research and expertise, building relationships and encouraging greater investment in environmental causes.

It is a fully remote organisation with a culture founded on kindness, trust, inclusion and mutual respect. Benefits include flexible working, a 7% employer pension contribution, learning and development opportunities, and additional discretionary closure between Christmas and New Year.

Applications are encouraged from people who may not meet every element of the person specification. Adjustments can be made to support an accessible and inclusive recruitment process.

Other roles you may have experience of could include; Finance Director, Director of Finance and Operations, Head of Finance, Head of Operations, Chief Operating Officer, Charity Finance Director, Head of Resources or Director of Resources.

Please note this role is advertised by the recruitment agency acting for the client, NFP People.

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

Interim Head of Finance 

£62,000–£65,000 per annum | 3 Month FTC | Hybrid London | Immediate Start

We are partnering with a small, internationally focused not-for-profit organisation to appoint an experienced Head of Finance & Grants on an interim basis.

This is a broad, senior and hands-on finance role for someone who can hit the ground running, take ownership of the finance function and provide high-quality financial insight across the organisation.

The successful candidate will have a strong background in international charity or not-for-profit finance, with substantial experience managing grants and contracts across different jurisdictions and funding environments.

The Role

Reporting to the Operations Director, you will lead the organisation's financial and grant management, working closely with senior leadership, programme teams and Trustees.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading day-to-day financial, management and grant accounting
• Preparing organisational, programme and project budgets and forecasts
• Producing monthly and quarterly management accounts
• Developing cash-flow forecasts and financial scenarios
• Managing the financial lifecycle of international grants and contracts
• Preparing and submitting financial reports and invoices to funders
• Monitoring income, expenditure and grant balances
• Ensuring compliance with international funder requirements
• Managing multi-currency banking and foreign exchange considerations
• Supporting project teams with financial planning and monitoring
• Developing approaches to overhead allocation and full-cost recovery
• Maintaining robust financial controls, policies and procedures
• Managing statutory accounts, audit and regulatory compliance
• Supporting fundraising through strong project and programme budgets
• Reviewing grant agreements and identifying financial obligations and risks
• Overseeing bookkeeping, reconciliations, payments and supplier management
• Providing financial advice and analysis to senior leadership and Trustees
• Supervising a small finance function

About You

You'll be an experienced finance professional with a strong track record in international charity or not-for-profit finance.

You will ideally have:

• A professional accountancy qualification or equivalent experience
• Significant international finance experience within the charity/not-for-profit sector
• Extensive experience managing the financial aspects of grants and contracts
• Experience working with international funders and funding arrangements
• Strong understanding of financial requirements across different jurisdictions
• Experience managing multiple currencies and foreign exchange
• Excellent budgeting, forecasting and management accounting skills
• Strong financial controls, compliance and audit experience
• Experience supporting project teams with financial planning and monitoring
• Excellent Excel and financial systems skills, ideally including Sage 50
• Confidence presenting financial information to senior stakeholders
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills
• A highly organised, accurate and pragmatic approach

You will be comfortable operating at both strategic and operational level, moving from advising senior stakeholders on financial scenarios to getting into the detail of transactions, reconciliations and grant reporting when required.

The Opportunity

This is an excellent interim opportunity for a senior finance professional who enjoys working in an international, purpose-led environment and can make an immediate contribution.

You'll have a broad remit, significant autonomy and the opportunity to work closely with senior leadership across finance, grants and organisational planning.

If you're available immediately and bring strong international charity finance and grants experience, we'd love to hear from you, please apply online today! 

IHP is seeking an experienced and proactive Finance & Resources Manager to play a pivotal role in ensuring the financial sustainability, administrative effectiveness and strong governance of our organisation. This is an rewarding opportunity for a finance professional who is passionate about using their skills to play a key role in ensuring the organisation has the financial strength, governance and resources needed to achieve its mission.

Working closely with the Director of Finance & Resources, Senior Leadership Team and Trustees, you will lead the day-to-day financial management of IHP, strengthen governance and management of resources and support effective organisational decision-making. 

IHP’s vision is to see a world in which all suffering due to lack of healthcare is eradicated. Our Christian faith underpins all that we do. It motivates us to care for those in need, and give our best in all circumstances, as an expression of God's love. We serve the poor in health without regard for ethnic or religious background, focusing on where the need is greatest.

About the Role

As Finance & Resources Manager, you will be responsible for the effective management of IHP's financial operations, ensuring high standards of financial control, reporting and regulatory compliance.

You will oversee financial processes, budgeting, forecasting and resource management, while providing clear and insightful financial information to support strategic planning and organisational performance.

This role combines hands-on financial management with broader responsibilities for governance and organisational resource management, making it ideal for someone who enjoys variety and working collaboratively across teams.

For further details regarding responsibilities and person specification, please see the job description.

About You

We are looking for an organised, analytical and collaborative individual with strong financial management experience and a commitment to supporting charitable work.

You will have:

• Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
• An analytical, proactive and solution-focused outlook
• A commitment to handling sensitive information with discretion and confidentiality.
• An approachable, supportive and collaborative nature
• A committment to IHP's Christian ethos, values and mission.

Why join IHP?

This is an opportunity to use your skills and expertise to make a genuine difference. You will join a passionate and collaborative team committed to ensuring more people can access the medicines they need, regardless of circumstance.

Our Christian faith inspires our mission and values, and we are committed to demonstrating compassion, integrity and excellence in everything we do. Staff regularly spend time together in prayer and, as such, there is an occupational requirement for the successful candidate to have a personal commitment to the Christian faith.

We value our people and offer a supportive and flexible working environment, alongside a range of benefits including:

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays (pro-rated for part-time hours)
• Health and wellbeing support through Unum help@hand
• Life Insurance and Critical Illness Cover 
• Hybrid and flexible working options in a modern office near Chancery Lane Tube Station

IHP is an Equal Opportunities Employer and is committed to working and embedding diversity and inclusion in all aspects of our work, including recruitment and selection. We actively encourage applicants to inform us of any specific support or reasonable adjustments we can make in the recruitment process (eg for disability or neurodivergence) and will continue this conversation into employment, as appropriate. 

Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK.

Join a supportive and inclusive team where your skills are valued, your voice is heard, and you have the space to work independently and develop.