Director of fundraising and communications jobs

Interim Head of Finance & Operations

Career Ready is a social mobility charity that believes that every young person deserves the opportunity to enjoy a rewarding future.

We were founded in 2002 by leading business figures with a mission: to boost social mobility by empowering young people and giving their talents a platform from which to flourish. Since then, we’ve grown in England and Scotland to support young people in areas of need.

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced, qualified Finance professional to lead our Finance & Operations function.

About the Role

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer the Interim Head of Finance & Operations leads on and assumes day to day responsibility for providing high quality, strategic financial management for Career Ready.

You will lead on business operations to ensure the ongoing effective functioning of the charity and drive sustainable growth.

The Interim Head of Finance and Operations plays a key role in leading greater organisational efficiency and simplifying processes and will continue the delivery of a project plan reflecting the 2025-30 strategy.

You will play a critical role in driving the increased quality of Career Ready’s offer to our stakeholders in line with our strategy, vision and values.

Member of our SMT, comprising of the CEO, Director for Scotland, Director of Programme and Partnerships and Heads of functions.

This is an interim role to cover a period of maternity leave.

Main responsibilities and accountabilities

· Lead, direct and manage the finance and operations functions, overseeing two direct reports, ensuring they deliver a high-quality service to all internal and external stakeholders and are seen as adding value, in enabling Career Ready to achieve its vision and strategic objectives through its people. 

· Continue the delivery of a project plan reflecting the 2025-30 strategy, ensuring that activities happen at pace, are deadline-driven and achieve a high level of impact.

· Assume overall responsibility for the financial management of Career Ready, working with the SMT to ensure high quality and effective use of charitable funds.

· Input into and review the financial elements of funding applications and ensure that fund accounting processes align with funders’ requirements for project reporting.

· Produce financial reports for various stakeholders, as well as leading on financial modelling.

· Have oversight of all financial and accountancy matters including month end reports, management accounts, cash flow management, compliance, tax liability, presentation of management information and KPIs. Ensure that the CEO and Trustees are provided with accurate, timely information and analysis. 

· Oversee and coordinate the fully managed payroll services with the external bureau for all Career Ready employees and for some internship students (Jun to Aug during the Summer)

· Administration of the Staff Opt-In Pension Scheme, including onboarding new staff (Royal London)

· Act as a role model in our ‘one team’ culture. Lead in the development of efficient working practices across the charity, creating momentum and supporting motivation within the charity. 

· Lead risk management strategies and internal control procedures to minimise the risk of loss, or damage to, Career Ready’s assets. 

· Prepare and submit annual operational budgets and annual accounts to the CEO for review and approval.

· Draft and deliver papers for Trustees and Finance and Fundraising Committee (F&FC) meetings. 

· Attend Board and F&FC meetings to present papers and answer questions related to areas of expertise. 

· Provide day to day line management of the Senior Finance Officers and support their ongoing growth and development.

· Management of organisational governance and compliance activities, including policy management.

· Oversee and manage the organisation’s risk management register and process, with input from SMT.

· Oversee reviews and renewals of all insurance policies that affect the organisation.

· Lead on the compliance of statutory and charity regulatory reporting, giving guidance to colleagues where required.

· Ensure any changes to processes and procedures across the function are clearly documented.

Person Specification

Essential skills and experience

•  Belief and commitment to Career Ready’s mission and values
• Qualified (ACA/ACCA/CIMA/AAT) accountant with at least 5 years’ experience in financial management including budgeting, preferably in the charity sector.
• Significant experience in producing management and financial accounts
• Skilled in financial reporting and producing VAT returns
• Preparing for and ensuring a successful year-end audit, and demonstrable knowledge of UK Charities SORP and other reporting standards
• Experience in budgeting to support strategic decision making.
• Financial dexterity and strong analytical skills.
• Strong IT skills, including advanced MS Excel skills and extensive of using an accounting software, preferably Xero
• Excellent organisational and prioritising skills and ability to work independently and with autonomy
• Strong starter finisher with ability to lead and drive projects
• Knowledge of charity governance and compliance requirements
• Ability to build excellent relationships and have effective engagement with stakeholders
• Good communication skills and ability to communicate financial concepts to non-finance staff
• Attention to detail
• Ability to present financial information to various audiences
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and sensitivity of financial information
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to cope with competing demands to deadlines
• Honest and dependable

Desirable skills and experience

• Experience of leading a team, strong team building skills
• Line management experience
• Experience of using MS Planner or other project management tools
• Genuine interest in the work done by the Charity
• Experience of using a CRM (Salesforce)
• Degree in financial management or accounting

Full details are provided in the candidate pack

Salary and Benefits

Salary: £52,000 to £54,000 FTE (salary will be pro-rata for part time hours)

28-35 hours per week.  Career Ready is committed to supporting condensed/flexible working patterns.

Permanent and remote.  Travel to London required on an occasional basis

You will be rewarded with the following benefits:

· 6% contribution to personal pension plan, subject to 3% employee contribution.

· Annual leave: 27 days per annum plus bank/public holidays (pro rata for part time). The charity is also closed between Christmas and New Year. Career Ready also allows flexible use of some Bank & Public Holidays

· Cycle to Work Scheme

· Access to both our Reward Gateway Portal and an Employee Assistance Programme.

· Flexible working

· Work from home allowance and paid travel expenses.

We regret that Career Ready is unable to offer visa sponsorship and candidates must be able to demonstrate their right to work in the UK. In accordance with our commitment to safeguarding, offers of employment are subject to completion of a DBS check. 

Timetable

Applications close at 9am on Monday 21 July 2025 

Please note that the closing date may be brought forward if we receive strong applications.

This is an interim role to cover a period of maternity leave, with a provisional start date of late September for a handover period.

Join Us as Our Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Chief Operating Officer (COO)
Salary: £50,000 – £60,500 (depending on experience) 
Location: Fulham, London SW6 (1 day a week remote optional) 
Hours: Full-time, 35 hours per week (Mon–Sat, mostly 9am–5pm)

The Organisation

Action on Disability (AoD), one of London’s leading Deaf and Disabled People’s Organisations, is seeking an experienced, values-driven Chief Operating Officer to join our leadership team.

The Post

You’ll play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering our ambitious 5-year plan, supporting and deputising for the CEO, managing service leads, and ensuring smooth day-to-day operations across our Youth, Employment, and Independent Living services.

We’re looking for someone with a strong track record in senior management, financial planning, people leadership, and securing funding. You’ll need to be highly organised, strategic, and committed to disability rights and the Social Model of Disability.

This is a hands-on, in-person role at our accessible Centre for Independent Living in Fulham, with occasional Saturday work and flexibility to work remotely one day a week.

We actively encourage applications from Disabled people and people with lived experience.

Any prospective candidates who would like an informal chat with CEO David Buxton about the job, can drop him an email - details available at the next stage on our website.

Closing Date: Friday 18 July 2025, 12 noon
Interviews: 23 and 24 July 2025

Interested?

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

Action on Disability prides itself on being an accessible and equal opportunity employer.

No agencies please.

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The post holder will have the ability to meld impactful campaigning, political astuteness and evidence-based policymaking to drive change with demonstrable sensitivity to health inequalities and other issues that affect bladder cancer patients and their families.

They will be organised and will be able to manage several tasks at once, meeting strict deadlines.

About UP

Unlocking Potential deliver high performing therapeutic programmes and education provision for children and young people with SEMH needs. We work in collaboration with families, communities, and other partners to ensure that children and young people access the interventions they need to thrive.

Mission

We work collaboratively with communities to enable children and young people with social, emotional, and mental health needs to unlock their full potential

Values

Trust

We build trust by being honest, transparent, and accountable in the way we work with children and young people, staff, and partners and by providing services and programmes whose outcomes are measurable and evidenced based.

Collaborative

Relationships are at the heart of our work. We prioritise communication and collaboration with partners, families, and communities, believing that by working together we create more effective and holistic outcomes for children and young people.

Empowering

We co-create opportunities for our children, young people, parents/carers and staff to actively participate in decision-making that influences change. We promote the voices of children and young people in our organisation and the wider community.

Nurturing

We provide a nurturing approach based on safety and space for creativity, exploration, and growth. We support and care for our children, young people, and staff to realise their potential.

Impact

We are committed to measuring our impact through a data driven method to develop our programmes and make a greater difference to the lives of children, young people, and their parents and carers.

Overview

We will be launching our new programme from September 2025, initially as a pilot working with families across Wandsworth, with aims to be able to expand and continue beyond this.

As a Family Support Worker, you will deliver flexible, hands-on, and therapeutically minded support to families facing multiple and complex challenges. You will build trusted relationships through home visits, school meetings, and practical support—empowering parents and carers to strengthen routines, manage behaviour, improve attendance, and access services. Your role will be guided by detailed needs assessments and focused on achieving meaningful outcomes with each family.

Are you an inspiring leader with strong governance and financial skills, ready to influence at a national level the Neurodiversity agenda?

The ADHD Foundation Neurodiversity Charity is seeking a strategic, emotionally intelligent CEO to lead us into our next phase of growth. Following a period of change, we're looking for someone who can stabilise and strengthen our team, champion neurodiversity, and ensure our long-term sustainability.

You’ll bring proven experience of senior leadership—ideally in the charity or public sector—a solid understanding of governance, financial oversight, and a passion for transforming lives. This is a unique opportunity to shape national discourse on ADHD and neurodiversity, influence policy, and lead innovative programmes with measurable impact.

Join us to lead one of the UK’s most dynamic and influential neurodiversity charities.

Background to Role

The Healthier Lifestyle team at Age UK Croydon offers a range of inclusive and accessible activities and events across the borough of Croydon combining exercise, and social engagement in a variety of local settings.  These sessions help reduce isolation, improve independence, prevent falls, increase fitness levels and manage health conditions.  They also provide social engagement and interaction, information and support around living with dementia, a safe and welcoming space for all to engage and relax.

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced and enthusiastic Manager to lead our Healthier Lifestyle team which includes a team of 3 part-time Project Officers, one Dementia Support Officer, Dementia Project officer and a great team of volunteers. Addressing health inequalities and fulfilling our mission means that the Healthier Lifestyles service has opportunity to grow and expand. We want to reach younger older people to encourage “Act Now Age Well”

An important element of this role will be looking for opportunities to develop existing services and to introduce new services including some paid services. The Healthier Lifestyles Manager is a member of the Integrated Leadership team to support our One Organisation One team ethos for integrated working and holistic support for the older residents of Croydon.

Some duties will include (but are not limited to) –

• Oversee effective data recording for monitoring and reporting.
• Monitor outcomes and impact and prepare reports on the projects progress for Commissioners, Funders and AUKC Trustee Board
• Monitor and manage workload, organise schedules, ensuring that work is purposeful, targets are clear and support staff to reach their potential and feel valued.
• Support staff with regular supervision using the Age UK Croydon Empowerment Striving for Excellence, Innovation process
• Attend leadership team meetings, staff meetings and joint working parties and project groups as appropriate.
• Implement Age UK Croydon's Equality and Diversity Policy and ensure that equality and diversity principles are incorporated into the planning, delivery and monitoring of services.
• This list is not exhaustive. 

Closing date for applications: 9am, Tuesday, 15th July 2025

Interview Dates: Wednesday, 23rd July 202