Executive assistant to chief executive and chief finance and jobs
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£35,560 + Benefits
12 months’ fixed term maternity cover
London, UK (Hybrid – 50% office attendance)
We are looking for a Personal Assistant (PA) to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), to provide high-quality, confidential, and proactive executive support. You will be responsible for comprehensive diary and inbox management, coordination of meetings and travel, management of expenses, gatekeeping the CEO’s time, and ensuring the CEO is well-prepared through briefing and action tracking.
As PA to the CEO, you will work closely with the Chief of Staff, Briefing Hub Officer, and other relevant colleagues, to ensure the CEO’s meetings are appropriately supported with papers and briefings. You will also liaise with colleagues supporting the Academy of Medical Sciences’ President, to coordinate diaries where CEO and President activity intersects, and will manage sensitive communications with discretion and professionalism.
About the role
Executive, diary & inbox management:
- Provide proactive and complex diary management for the CEO, ensuring effective prioritisation and forward planning.
- Manage the CEO’s inbox, including monitoring correspondence, prioritising and responding where appropriate, and ensuring timely follow-up.
- Screen, triage, and manage incoming enquiries on behalf of the CEO, exercising sound judgement and discretion.
- Draft, prepare, and manage correspondence and documentation as required.
- Maintain accurate and well-organised electronic filing systems for the CEO’s office.
Gatekeeping, briefings & action tracking:
- Act as a gatekeeper to the CEO, balancing access, prioritising meetings, and advising on scheduling trade-offs.
- Work closely with the Chief of Staff, Briefing Hub Officer and colleagues to ensure meetings are appropriately briefed and supported.
- Track key actions arising from meetings attended by the CEO, ensuring follow-up occurs and deadlines are met, without owning delivery.
- Maintain awareness of protocol, managing sensitive communications and stakeholder interactions with discretion.
Meetings, travel & expenses:
- Arrange all travel and accommodation for the CEO, including itineraries and briefing packs.
- Coordinate virtual, hybrid, and in-person meetings, including booking rooms, managing technology (Microsoft Teams), and arranging catering.
- Prepare, submit, and track the CEO’s expenses in line with Academy policies, liaising with the Finance team as required.
Governance & corporate support:
- Provide administrative support to the CEO in relation to governance activity, including meetings involving the Academy’s Council Members, President, and Honorary Officers, as required.
- Liaise with PAs and administrative colleagues supporting the President to coordinate diaries, particularly where joint meetings or shared commitments arise.
- Support the coordination of CEO-related papers, briefings, and follow-up actions arising from senior meetings.
Corporate events & internal coordination:
- Support the planning and delivery of corporate events attended or hosted by the CEO. This could include the Annual General Meeting (AGM), New Fellows’ Admissions Day, named lectures, and other ad hoc events.
- Assist with coordination of all-staff meetings, senior leadership meetings, and cross-Academy activity involving the CEO.
- Provide diary and administrative support for ad hoc cross-Academy projects requiring CEO involvement.
Systems & information management:
- Maintain and update records within the Academy’s Customer Relationship Management (CRM) database (Salesforce), finance software (Iplicit) and other digital systems, as required.
- Support updates to internal systems and website content related to CEO or corporate activity, where appropriate.
Requirements
Skills, experience & abilities:
- Proven experience providing high-level PA or Executive Assistant support to a senior leader.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Exceptional organisational skills and attention to detail.
- Confidence working with senior stakeholders and external organisations.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities with discretion and sound judgement.
- Strong IT skills, including Microsoft Office and CRM databases.
- Experience managing senior-level diaries, inboxes, travel, expenses, and briefing coordination.
- Experience in gatekeeping, action tracking, and protocol management.
Personal attributes:
- Highly organised, proactive, and calm under pressure.
- Discreet, trustworthy, and professional.
- Collaborative and confident working with senior colleagues.
- Flexible and adaptable to changing priorities.
- Strong commitment to the Academy’s mission, values, and public benefit.
Benefits
We provide our staff with a comprehensive benefits package outlined as follows:
- Generous pension scheme with flexible contributions – we contribute between 8% - 13% of your gross salary (with employee contributions of 3% - 8%)
- Life assurance at three times your salary
- Hybrid and agile working. 50% office attendance.
- 26 days annual leave, plus Christmas closure days and bank holidays
- Buying and selling leave
- Family-friendly policies including enhanced maternity and paternity leave (subject to a qualifying period)
- Complimentary subscriptions to Headspace and Classpass to support your physical and mental wellbeing
- Support through tailored learning and development
- A range of enhanced benefits become available once you’ve completed your probation period
If you have any questions about this role, please contact the Chief of Staff, Lizzy Benedikz, by email.
For more information and to apply online, please visit our vacancies page.
Closing date: 5.00pm on Monday, 22 June 2026.
Interview date: week commencing 6 July 2026.
Salary: £32,000 per annum
Hours: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday 9:30am – 5:30pm
Contract Type: Permanent
Location: Birmingham, with some home working and travel to other centres across the UK
Reports to: Director of Finance and Resources
THE CHARITY
Suicide is the leading cause of death of men under 35 and three quarters of those who die by suicide are men. James’ Place exists to save the lives of men in suicidal crisis through delivering clinical services. We are a charity currently offering free, life-saving therapy to suicidal men at our centres in Liverpool, London and Newcastle.
James’ Place was set up by Clare Milford Haven and Nick Wentworth-Stanley in 2008 after their twenty-one-year-old son, James, died by suicide ten days after a minor operation. James had no history of mental illness or depression and had sought urgent help for anxiety and suicidal thoughts but didn’t find it.
James' Place was set up to make the experience of finding help as easy as possible. We offer men who are experiencing a suicidal crisis a brief, intensive, therapeutic intervention in a safe environment. Men who walk through the door at James’ Place will be in a space where they feel valued and respected. We provide a calm and peaceful environment both inside the centres and in our outside spaces, accessible to men who visit us as well as their friends and families. We have so far treated over 5,100 men who might otherwise have been unable to access the support they desperately need.
In early 2026 we have opened our fourth centre in Birmingham. Our new centre in Birmingham will be there to support suicidal men living in the West Midlands.
THE OPPORTUNITY
We are excited to offer a new opportunity to join a growing charity and support our Executive Leadership Team, as well as the administration and operational processes across the organisation, as an Executive Assistant. You will provide high level administrative support to the CEO, Directors, and the Consultant Suicide Prevention Therapist, and will take a key role in facilitating a professional and well organised executive function.
You will be expected to set and maintain the tone of the executive office and provide efficient and effective administrative support to senior leadership. Under the guidance of the Director of Finance and Resources, you will manage communications, coordinate schedules, conduct accurate record keeping and help to ensure the day-to-day operations of the organisation's leadership team runs smoothly and effectively.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Executive Administration
Covering daily administrative tasks and duties including:
- Being the first point of contact for the CEO, Directors and Consultants, managing enquiries, greeting visitors, answering the phone, and responding to email enquiries.
- Dealing with enquiries over email and telephone, scheduling/amending meetings and taking messages as required.
- Managing multiple complex calendars, booking appointments, meetings, and making travel arrangements.
- Supporting the CEO, Directors and Consultants with day-to-day administration and coordination.
- Preparing, formatting, and issuing correspondence, reports, and presentations.
- Recording and sharing meeting minutes and tracking actions.
- Maintaining accurate records at all times in line with administrative procedures.
- Supporting communication between senior leadership and internal/external stakeholders.
- Maintaining effective systems to ensure time and resources are used efficiently.
- Always managing confidential information with discretion.
Operations
- Maintaining a professional and well-organised office environment.
- Supporting the CEO and Executive Leadership Team to ensure smooth operational processes.
- Completing electronic filing, document management, and general office administration.
- Supporting the coordination of meetings, events, and senior-level engagements.
- Providing occasional administrative support to the wider team as required.
Values
- Maintaining a professional, calm, and approachable manner in all interactions.
- Treating every person who contacts the organisation with respect and professionalism.
- Demonstrating discretion, integrity, and confidentiality at all times.
- Demonstrate commitment to the James' Place values of Focus, Bravery, Compassion, Professionalism, Collaboration, Respect and Hope through all aspects of work.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
This role requires someone with both excellent people and organisational skills and the ability to communicate professionally and effectively, both verbally and in writing, with a range of stakeholders. Your administration skills will be vital, and you will be able to work with a broad range of IT, including shared Outlook inboxes and calendars.
You will feel comfortable using the full Office 365 suite and have the necessary organisation skills to maintain the highest standards of record keeping. You will have experience of supporting senior leadership to deliver organisational priorities, and an ability to work collaboratively is essential. You will be able to work proactively and have a high level of attention to detail.
Essential
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
- Experience as an assistant to senior leaders or experience in a similar administrative role at this level
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to work effectively with a range of colleagues including board members, external stakeholders, staff colleagues and peers
- Ability to manage time effectively, prioritise workload and meet deadlines
- Ability to maintain accurate records and follow set procedures
- Strong IT skills with the ability to learn new systems quickly and efficiently
- Competency with current office technology including MS Teams, Microsoft 365 applications, emails and calendars, and associated communication tools.
- Ability to manage confidential information with discretion
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
Values
- Ability to engage with organisational values
- Ability to promote equality, diversity and inclusion
- Ability to work collaboratively
- Ability to be transparent, honest and show discretion when needed
Desirable
- Experience supporting multiple senior stakeholders
- Knowledge of governance or board-level administration
- Experience working in a fast-paced environment
WE OFFER
- A 7% employer contributory pension scheme
- Family friendly policies
- Death in service insurance scheme
- 25 days plus bank holidays leave entitlement (FTE), including enhanced holiday allowance with incremental rises after qualifying period
HOW TO APPLY
To apply, please use the online application system to submit your CV detailing your experience, roles and responsibilities, and answer the screening questions.
If you have any queries or experience challenges with the application process, please contact us directly.
Closing date: Wednesday 17th June 2026, 5pm
Interviews to be held w/c 29th June.
Here at James' Place, we want you to feel comfortable in sharing your authentic selves and personal experiences, so we ask that you do not submit an application that has been formulated by AI. You may wish to use AI to support with structural aspects such as grammar and formatting, however your application must reflect your own genuine experiences, critical thinking and creativity.
James’ Place is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community. Our aim is that no job applicant, temporary worker or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, disability, gender and transgender status, race and ethnicity, religion and belief (including no belief), marriage or civil partnership status or sexual orientation.
If you have a disability or health conditions which means you'd benefit from any adjustments to the interview process to help you perform at your best, please do let us know in advance.
Any job offers made are subject to the receipt of two relevant satisfactory employment references. We expect this to include one from your most recent or current employer. Any job offers made are also subject to a satisfactory DBS check and a Right to Work in the UK check.
REF-228 901
A fantastic opportunity has arisen for a Financial Controller with a Japanese cultural institution, on a full-time (35 hours per week), FTC (to March 2029) basis. As Financial Controller you will be responsible for leading the financial control, compliance and reporting framework across all the organisation’s entities.
The role ensures robust financial management, effective governance and regulatory compliance, while providing high-quality financial information, insight and support to enable informed decision-making and long-term organisational sustainability.
Please note, there is hybrid working in place with this organisation with a minimum of 1 day per week required in their central London office.
As Financial Controller, you will:
- Lead the financial control environment across all legal entities, ensuring accurate accounting records, appropriate controls and compliance with statutory, regulatory and organisational requirements
- Lead the year-end close process and preparation of statutory accounts for all entities under the direction of Finance Director
- Oversee cash flow management, treasury operations, banking relationships and working capital controls
- Oversee VAT compliance across all entities, including review of returns and supporting documentation
- Ensure effective financial oversight of procurement, purchase order controls, and delegated authority arrangements
- Lead, develop and support the Finance Accountant, Accounts Executive and Accounts Assistant
The successful applicant will:
- Have significant demonstrable experience in finance, in a similar role, ideally within a multi-entity organisation, including knowledge of charity or not-for-profit accounting
- Be ACA, ACCA, CIMA (or equivalent) fully qualified
- Have experience preparing statutory accounts and managing external audits
- Have experience managing VAT, tax and regulatory reporting requirements
- Have excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
If this sounds like you and you're keen to hear more, please do get in touch ASAP!
Please note, only successful applicants will be contacted with further information.
As leading charity recruitment specialists and a certified B Corp™, Harris Hill is committed to high and ever-improving standards of equitable and inclusive recruitment. We actively welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality and other protected characteristics.