External consultant jobs in edinburgh

Head of Technology & Data

Permanent. Full time. Hybrid working (2 days per week in the officer)

Location: This role can be based in the UK (Cardiff, Edinburgh, London, Warrington), or in one of our global hub sites (Abuja, Bogota, Dhaka, Nairobi, New Delhi)

Salary:

UK £81,314 (London), or £76,432 (Cardiff, Edinburgh, Warrington).

Global - Competitive salary for each location

If we receive a high volume of applications, we reserve the right to close the advert before the scheduled closing date. Therefore, we encourage interested applicants to apply at their earliest convenience. 

About us

Christian Aid exists to create a world where everyone can live a full life, free from poverty. We are a global movement of people, churches and local organisations who passionately champion dignity, equality and justice worldwide. We are the changemakers, the peacemakers, the mighty of heart.

We’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace, and recognise the value this brings in forming strong, creative and high performing teams. We welcome applications from all sections of the community, and from those with experience from outside of the voluntary sector. And no, you don’t have to be Christian to work here – we encourage people of all faiths and none to apply. We just ask that everyone lives out our values of dignity, equality, justice and love. We value a good work-life balance, so we’re open to part-time and flexible working. We also offer hybrid working for our office-based colleagues.

About the role

Reporting in to the Director of Finance and Corporate Governance, the Head of Technology & Data will champion the development, implementation, and use of information technology and data throughout Christian Aid, creating a culture of innovation and empowering IT users.

Some of the main areas of responsibility for the Head of Technology & Data include:

• Responsible for building, supervising and maintaining a highly available and secure enterprise infrastructure including 24x7 cloud servers, mobility and remote access services and Azure Active Directory.
• Develop a road map for the strategic development of technology and data functions which incorporates system upgrades, installations, and conversions to ensure smooth transitions and optimised functionality for all users.
• Manage ITIL compliant processes including change management and service transition striving for innovation, reliability, and alignment with organisational goals.
• Collaborate proactively to develop strategies that enhance client services, amplify user efficiency, and inspire creative solutions to emerging challenges.
• Inspire and empower ICT staff by hiring, training, mentoring, and appraising team members, cultivating a culture of continuous development and excellence.
• Oversee network administration and network engineering (VPN, VOIP, Wan or relevant emerging technology) in key sites.
• Foster adaptability within ICT staff to align with evolving user needs, emerging technologies, and varied team dynamics.
• Maintain accurate documentation of systems, policies, and processes, ensuring clarity and accessibility for users and team members.
• Deliver user support through responsive helpdesk services and technical solutions tailored to client needs.
• Foster a culture of innovation ensuring Christian Aid are at the forefront of technological advancements to identify and implement solutions that align with organisational values and goals.
• Manage ICT budgets responsibly, ensuring financial integrity in purchasing, planning, and reviewing resources.
• Develop robust ICT policies related to system architecture, security, disaster recovery, standards, and service delivery to ensure business continuity and uphold organisational resilience.
• Build strong long-term partnerships by negotiating and managing vendor, outsourcer, and consultant contracts to ensure value-driven outcomes

About you

Who we are looking for:

Essential:

• Degree level or equivalent with an MCSE.
• Extensive experience of the management of ICT services, including strategy development.
• Extensive experience of Project Management.
• Advanced communications and problem solving skills.
• Highly detailed knowledge of a broad range of information and communications technologies including server, desktop and network hardware and operating systems, application development, information security, internet technologies, support services, systems management tools.
• Advanced leadership and team management skills.
• Substantial supplier management experience.
• Highly developed appreciation of the interaction and impact of business and ICT strategies and operations.

Desirable:

• ITIL Foundation, Practitioner.
• Knowledge and experience of satellite communications.
• Knowledge and experience of telephony and conferencing solutions.
• Experience of multi-site delivery of ICT solutions, ideally in a multinational context.
• Hands on experience of managing resources on Microsoft Azure platform.
• Experience of network and application security implementation.
• Use of systems management and monitoring tools.
• Knowledge of emerging technologies.

Further information

At Christian Aid we strive to be an inclusive and diverse employer and recognise the value that this brings in helping to build strong, creative and high performing teams.

We are actively encouraging racialised minorities, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, returning parents or carers who are re-entering work after a career break, people with caring responsibilities, people from low socioeconomic backgrounds, women, and older workers to apply. This is because these groups are under-represented within our teams, especially at senior level, and we recognise and value the contributions members of these groups make to strong, creative and high performing teams. 

We have a strong Christian ethos and we encourage applications from all faiths. Applicants will be expected to demonstrate an understanding of and sympathy with Christian Aid’s faith identity. 

All successful candidates will require a DBS/police check appropriate to the role and location and a Counter Terrorism Sanction check as part of your clearance for commencing your role with us. We also participate in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.  In line with this Scheme, we will request information as part of the referencing process 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 their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

This role requires applicants to have the right to live and work in the country where this position is based and undertake the role that you have been offered. If you are successful and we make you an offer for the role, we will be required to conduct a right to work check on your immigration status in the UK. We will contact you regarding the documentation you will need to provide to evidence this. 

Team: Legacies & In Memory

Location: Remotely, UK

Work pattern: 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday

Salary: Up to £70,004.60 per annum

Contract: Permanent

Cats Protection are the UK’s largest cat welfare charity, and we’re seeking an ambitious, knowledgeable and compassionate individual to lead our successful legacy and in memory fundraising programme

Will you join us and make life better for cats?

Responsibilities of our Head of Legacy Giving:

• Our Head of Legacy Giving is responsible for Cats Protection’s largest charitable income stream, leading our Legacy Marketing, Legacy Administration and In Memory teams as we seek to delivery exemplary fundraising programmes raising upwards of £50m a year – around half of the cats we help are cared for thanks to this work.
• With ambitions to continue growing the income we receive from Legacy and In Memory giving, our Head of Legacy Giving is responsible for shaping the long-term strategy to deliver this growth and overseeing the implementation of activity across the organisation that maximises the scale and value of current and future support.
• Underpinning this transformation is a responsibility for the role to lead our medium and long-term legacy modelling, inspire and develop our high performing teams, and collaborate with an array of internal stakeholders and key external partners.
• The role is also a member of our Marketing and Income Generation (MIG) directorate leadership team, as part of a unified leadership group that has shared accountability and strategic responsibility for the organisation’s collective income generation performance.

About the Legacy and In Memory department:

• The department sits within our Individual Giving and Legacies business area of the Marketing & Income Generation Directorate
• There are four broad areas of expertise and delivery within the department – legacy marketing, legacy administration, in memory fundraising, and local legacy and in memory giving – with 16 individuals making up the teams.
• The teams are responsible for fundraising programmes that cover traditional legacy giving, Free Wills, our Cat Guardians service and In Memory giving for both people and cats.

What we’re looking for in our Head of Legacy Giving:

• Proven experience in a senior charitable legacy fundraising and direct marketing role
• Experience of leading and managing multiple teams working together to deliver ambitious targets, overcome challenges and achieve measurable impact in a remote working environment
• Proven track record of strategic development, planning and implementation
• Experience of commissioning and managing external agencies and consultants
• Experience of managing significant income and expenditure budgets
• Experience of providing impactful management information and reports to internal stakeholders on legacy income and key KPIs
• Knowledge of Chartered Institute of Fundraising codes of practice, sector regulation and compliance, and data protection legislation

What we can offer you:

• Range of health benefits
• 26 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing with length of service
• Salary Finance, which empowers you to take control of your financial wellbeing
• and much more, which you can learn about

Interested? Here’s how to apply:

Application closing date: 30th November 2025

Virtual interview date: Week commencing 8th December 2025

Applications may close before the deadline, so please apply early to avoid disappointment.

If successful, your recruitment journey will include:

1. Anonymised application form

2. Virtual interview via Microsoft Teams

Contract: 1.0 FTE (37.5 hours per week), permanent with 6-month probation period

Salary: £56,650-70,000 per annum, depending on experience

Location: Remote working, with option to use co-working space

Start Date: As soon as possible

Reports to: Executive Director

Please note: You must have the right to work in the UK.

How to Apply

Closing Date: 10 December 2025 (23:59 GMT)

To apply, please submit the following: 

• Cover letter (maximum 2 pages)

• CV

Due to the volume of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. If you have not heard from us within two weeks of the closing date, your application has not been successful on this occasion.

About BASIC

BASIC is an independent, non-profit think tank working to safeguard humanity and Earth's ecosystem from nuclear risks and interconnected security threats, for generations to come. Our vision is for a global security consensus founded on multilateralism, the recognition of the indivisibility of security, adherence to Earth's planetary boundaries, and consideration of future generations.

For nearly 40 years, we have built a global reputation for groundbreaking dialogue and incisive thought leadership to strengthen international peace and security. We are an intellectually and culturally diverse team of 20 expert-practitioners with deep institutional experience, headquartered in London with additional presences in Berlin and Rome. We are independent, receive no core funding from any state, and our project work is funded transparently.

BASIC's approach to resolving contemporary nuclear dynamics is centred on dialogue as both a practice and a philosophy. We interpret dialogue broadly, recognising that meaningful engagement takes many forms: from facilitating direct strategic conversations between adversaries grounded in conflict resolution principles, to developing networks and diplomatic initiatives that build consensus around shared objectives, to shaping the intellectual foundations of policy discourse through rigorous research and thought leadership.

BASIC is a fast-paced and rewarding environment with an exceptionally positive and inclusive team culture. We have experienced rapid growth over the past decade and are well-suited to people who are motivated by our mission, able to work at a sustained pace, keen to develop professionally, and enjoy being part of a collaborative team working on consequential issues.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary with room for growth

• 30 days annual leave (pro rata), plus bank holidays and closure days over the December festive period

• Employer pension contributions of 5% (above the national minimum)

• Flexible working arrangements, with set days (Wednesdays required) but flexibility on hours

• Remote working with option to use co-working space

• 1-2 all-staff in-person team away day per year, as well as other in-person working opportunities

• Opportunities for professional growth and development

• Excellent team culture built on respect, openness, and inclusion

The Role

BASIC is seeking a hands-on Financial Controller to lead our finance function during a period of sustained growth. The Financial Controller will work across Programme teams ensuring strong financial management and reporting to funding partners, maintain strong financial controls, ensure compliance with charity finance regulations, and provide accurate financial reporting to our Directors and Board of Trustees.

The Financial Controller will oversee the small finance team, including line management of a Finance Assistant and management of an external bookkeeper consultant. This team will be responsible for the majority of financial accounting, processing payroll, and accurate bookkeeping, for which the Financial Controller will be ultimately accountable.

The role includes managing restricted and unrestricted funds in accordance with funder requirements and programme needs, preparing statutory accounts for external audit, and overseeing payroll processing. This role reports directly to the Executive Director to prepare annual budgets and financial strategy, and works closely with the Board's Financial Development Committee to present its implementation.

The ideal candidate will be a qualified accountant with strong technical accounting skills, experience in charity finance, and a proven track record of effective financial management of a growing organisation. You should be comfortable both managing a small team and working hands-on when needed, building collaborative relationships across the organisation. You will need to be a multitasker with the ability to work at pace, and be willing to develop the finance function and best practices to enable the organisation to grow further.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Accounting and Reporting

• Oversee the maintenance of accurate financial records and bookkeeping in accordance with charity accounting standards (SORP)

• Prepare monthly management accounts including variance reporting and rolling forecasts

• Prepare annual statutory accounts and manage the annual independent audit process in its entirety

• Manage restricted and unrestricted funds in accordance with funder requirements

• Provide accurate and timely financial reporting to the Board of Trustees, Executive Director, and funding partners

Financial Operations

• Oversee day-to-day finance operations including payment processing, staff expenses, and cost allocation (including staff costs)

• Oversee monthly payroll using QuickBooks (led by Finance Assistant)

• Manage treasury functions including bank and cash management

• Oversee procurement of key assets such as IT equipment

• Cashflow management

Grant and Budget Management

• Support budget development for funding bids and proposals

• Monitor spend against grants and projects, working towards full cost recovery

• Prepare financial reports for donors and funding partners

• Lead annual budget-setting and forecasting processes in collaboration with the Board and Executive Director

Financial Systems and Controls

• Develop and maintain robust financial systems, processes, and controls

• Continuously improve finance processes and identify efficiencies

• Advise on financial governance and best practice

• Manage financial risks and opportunities (e.g., insurance, foreign exchange)

Team Management and Stakeholder Relations

• Line manage the Finance Assistant and oversee external bookkeeper consultant

• Build collaborative relationships across the organisation

• Manage relationships with key external stakeholders including banks, international transfer services, and audit partners

• Work closely with the Board's Financial Development Committee and BASIC's Treasurer

Please note: This list is not exhaustive. Other tasks may be required as they arise.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria:

• Qualified accountant (ACCA, CIMA, ACA or equivalent) or part-qualified with significant relevant experience
• Proven experience in a mid-level to senior finance role, with responsibility for financial accounting and reporting
• Experience managing restricted and unrestricted funds
• Experience preparing statutory accounts and managing audit processes
• Experience in a growing organisation, implementing and improving financial systems and controls
• Strong technical accounting skills and understanding of financial controls
• Excellent numeracy and attention to detail
• Proficiency with accounting software (experience with QuickBooks highly desirable)
• Strong Excel/spreadsheet skills
• Excellent communication skills, able to explain financial information to non-finance colleagues
• Highly organised with ability to manage multiple priorities and work to deadlines
• Proactive and solutions-oriented, with ability to work both independently and collaboratively
• Comfortable working hands-on when needed while also providing strategic oversight
• Ability to work at pace in a fast-growing organisation
• Commitment to BASIC's mission and values

Desirable Criteria:

• Experience in charity finance and understanding of charity accounting standards (SORP)
• Experience line managing finance staff
• Experience in an international organisation or with international funding
• Understanding of charity governance and regulatory requirements

AtaLoss is recruiting a skilled, motivated and creative Marketing and Communications Executive to help raise national awareness of bereavement and increase engagement with our services across the UK. This full-time role offers the chance to apply your marketing expertise to meaningful, purpose-driven work that supports people who are grieving.

You will lead a variety of marketing and communication activities, including planning and delivering digital and print campaigns, managing social media and website content, producing creative digital assets, supporting PR, media work and Ambassadors, and reporting on performance analytics. You will also assist with events, webinars and exhibitions, working closely with the Director of Communications and Development and collaborating with the Marketing and Income Generation Executive. This is a rewarding role for someone who is highly organised, digitally confident and passionate about impactful, compassionate communication.