Finance systems manager jobs

At Hestia, we are guided by our core values and are dedicated to fostering an equitable, diverse, and inclusive organisation. Our mission is to empower individuals to rebuild their lives and achieve independence. Right now, we are looking for a Finance Business Partner to play a pivotal role in our Finance team in London

Sounds great, what will I be doing?

At Hestia, we believe strong financial insight helps us deliver life-changing support to people when they need it most. We are looking for a proactive and analytical finance professional to partner with senior leaders across the organisation, providing high-quality financial analysis, reporting, budgeting, and forecasting support. In this role, you will translate complex financial and operational data into meaningful insights, helping budget holders understand performance, identify opportunities for improvement, and make informed decisions that strengthen our services and maximise our impact. You will play a key role in producing management information, analysing trends, and supporting the development of annual budgets and forecasts across a diverse range of services.

Working as part of a collaborative and forward-thinking finance team, you will help drive continuous improvement across financial processes and systems, ensuring our ways of working are efficient, effective, and fit for the future. You will build strong relationships with stakeholders, contribute to strategic projects such as bids, system implementations, and finance development initiatives, and take ownership of challenges through to resolution. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who enjoys combining technical financial expertise with business partnering, problem-solving, and a passion for supporting an organisation that makes a real difference

What do I need to bring with me?

You'll need to be able to demonstrate the core skills this role requires as well as match our values and mission. You don't have to tick all the boxes right away; the important thing is that you're willing to learn. We also value lived experience of the areas we support, so if you feel comfortable, please do mention this on your application.

We're looking for a qualified finance professional (ACA, ACCA, CIMA) with strong post-qualification experience and a proven ability to turn complex data into meaningful insights that drive decision-making. The successful candidate will have extensive experience in management accounting, budgeting, forecasting, financial controls, and the production of high-quality management information within tight deadlines. You will be highly skilled in data management and analysis, with advanced experience of financial systems, report writing, and spreadsheets, and the ability to combine information from multiple sources to provide clear, actionable recommendations. Working closely with senior budget holders and stakeholders across the organisation, you will use your analytical skills to identify trends, explain performance, and support informed business decisions.

As an excellent communicator with strong written, verbal, and presentation skills, you will be confident building effective relationships at all levels and influencing stakeholders through a collaborative, diplomatic, and customer-focused approach. You will thrive in a fast-paced environment, balancing competing priorities while maintaining a commitment to continuous improvement and service excellence. Alongside your technical expertise, you will bring a strong set of interpersonal skills, including relationship building, negotiation, facilitation, and conflict resolution, enabling you to work effectively across departments, gain trust and confidence, and contribute positively to organisational success.

Interview Steps

We keep our interview process simple, so you know exactly what to expect.

• Shortlisting call: We have a team of dedicated recruitment specialists who will speak to you about your experience, motivations and values. They will also tell you about all the great work we do!
• Face to face interview: Now you will have face to face interview with the hiring manager. Our interviews are value and competency based.

Don't be alarmed if there are other stages in the process, it's all part of the plan for some of our roles.

Interviews will be held in person on 3rd September 2026

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Our services users come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds because it makes us stronger. We are committed to creating and maintaining a diverse and inclusive workforce and value the skills, abilities, talent and experiences, different people and communities bring to our organisation.

We are a disability confident employer

Hestia is proud to be a disability confident employer, dedicated to the employment and career development of individuals with disabilities. We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for all applicants with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria for the role they have applied for. We also provide reasonable adjustments during the selection and interview process, and throughout your employment with us.

Safeguarding Statement

Hestia is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults, children and young people who are potentially at risk, and we therefore expect all staff and volunteers to do the same. We require all staff to undertake internal and external safeguarding training throughout their employment with Hestia.

Important Information for Candidates

If your application is successful, please be aware that you will be required to undergo pre-employment checks before a formal offer of employment can be confirmed.

We reserve the right to close this job advert early should we receive a high volume of applications or if the position is filled before the closing date. We encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible to ensure their application is considered.

Join Catalyst Support as a part-time Management Accountant and use your finance skills to support meaningful work across mental health, wellbeing and recovery services. This flexible hybrid role is ideal for someone who enjoys turning financial information into useful insight, supporting budget holders and making a real difference in the charity sector.

Catalyst Support is looking for a part-time Management Accountant to join our Finance team and play a key role in supporting the financial management of our charity services. This is a great opportunity for an experienced finance professional who enjoys preparing clear management accounts, working collaboratively with budget holders, and helping ensure accurate financial reporting across projects that make a real difference to people’s mental health, wellbeing and recovery.

Working closely with the Head of Finance & Resources, you will support monthly reporting, budgeting, forecasting, reconciliations and year-end processes, while providing practical finance guidance to colleagues across the organisation. We are looking for someone who is proactive, organised and values-led, with a commitment to kindness, integrity and high-quality charity finance.

Location  Hybrid with at least 50% of working time in our Woking office

Salary  £32,000 pro-rata

Work pattern 14–17.5 hours to be worked across 2 / 2 ½ days per week

Contract  Permanent

About Catalyst Support

Through Community, Specialist and Outreach services, we support recovery, mental health and wellbeing – together every step of the way.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare monthly management accounts and project financial reports.
• Participate in regular management accounts meetings with budget holders; conduct variance analysis against budget and forecasts and provide commentary for senior management.
• Complete reconciliation of project related balance sheet accounts including accrued and prepaid expenditure, deferred and accrued income accounts.
• Respond to internal and external finance queries in a timely and professional manner.
• Process the month-end transactions in the accounting software (Xero).
• Prepare budgets and financial forecasts in collaboration with the Head of Finance & Resources and budget holders to ensure accurate upload into the financial system.
• Contribute to the development and enhancement of financial procedures and systems to improve efficiency and accuracy.
• Assist with the preparation of year-end accounts and liaise with auditors as required.
• Contribute to the compliance with relevant financial regulations, internal policies, and reporting standards.
• Undertake any other duties as required by the Head of Finance and Resources tp support the effective running of the finance function.

About you

We are looking for someone who:

• Holds an Association of Accounting Technicians Certificate, or an equivalent qualification.
• Has at least two years’ experience in a management accounting role.
• Has experience working within the charity sector.
• Is confident preparing accurate, timely and informative monthly management accounts.
• Has experience working with budget holders and providing clear financial advice and guidance to non-finance colleagues.
• Can analyse budgets, forecasts and variances, and explain financial information in a clear and accessible way.
• Has strong numeracy skills and experience working with multiple projects or funding streams.
• Is confident using Microsoft Word, Outlook and Excel, including advanced Excel functions such as IF formulas and Pivot Tables.
• Has experience using accounting software; experience of Xero would be desirable.
• Understands, or is willing to develop knowledge of, charity finance, Charity SORP and relevant financial regulations.
• Works well independently, within a small finance team and as part of the wider organisation.
• Is organised, proactive and able to prioritise work effectively.
• Demonstrates Catalyst’s values of kindness, commitment and integrity.
• Is respectful, inclusive and committed to equality of opportunity.
• Is adaptable, self-motivated and able to work calmly in a changing or challenging environment.

Benefits 

• 26 days annual leave plus bank holidays (increasing with service)
• Pension scheme and access to Simply Health (including optical, dental and counselling sessions)
• Birthday leave, employee discounts, and flexible working wherever possible
• Supportive probation, sick pay after probation and access to our employee assistance programme

Safeguarding & Checks

• Please note past drug and/or alcohol or criminality history will not necessarily discount you from undertaking this role. We encourage applications from people with lived experience where appropriate
• All applicants must have a valid right to work in the UK

Catalyst Support is an equal opportunities employer. We celebrate difference and are committed to fairness, accessibility, and inclusion throughout recruitment and employment. Please let us know if you require any adjustments to support your application.

Job Title:Finance Officer - Financial Planning
Responsible To: Head of Financial Planning
Location: Home based. Opportunity of hybrid working at Head Office East Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset.
Salary:£30,000 - £38,000 (Grade 3) per annum depending upon experienceplus 8% employer pension contribution.
Hours: 37hours per week (1 FTE)
Contract:1-Year Fixed Term

Job Purpose

Reporting directly to the Head of Financial Planning you will support the planning, budgeting and monitoring process, ensuring a high standard of accurate reporting. You will work as part of the wider Finance team to provide assistance in other areas including receivables, grant administration, and year-end audit work. Your role will provide crucial capacity and support for the project to replace the finance system and review and implement new processes across Butterfly Conservation.

Main Responsibilities

1. Assist with maintenance of key reporting packs including Management accounts, Budgets, and Forecasts.
2. Assist with monitoring and reporting on Income and Expenditure.
3. Assist Grants Officer to monitor and report Income and Expenditure of Grants and Trusts.
4. Analyse, monitor and report on Project shortfalls and Chargeable services.
5. Assist with monitoring trends for profiling of income for Fundraising reports.
6. Assist in providing accurate Branch Management accounts.
7. Assist with year-end audit work including the preparation of schedules.
8. Working closely with the other Finance Officers to ensure accuracy of finance transactions and posting to be completed in a timely manner.
9. Be part of the team implementing a new Finance system and supporting processes.
10. Provide support and cover for other team members as required.

General

• Promote BC’s values (Excellence, Passionate, Inspiring, Collaborative) ensuring they are adopted in all aspects of the role.
• Undertake any other reasonable duties as required and commensurate with the grade of post.
• Undertake all duties and responsibilities in compliance with the rules and regulations encompassing equal opportunities to help foster a diverse workforce.
• Work in accordance with BC’s policies, procedures, and codes of conduct.
• Actively participate in on-going professional development activities.

Candidates must have the right to work and be resident in the UK.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early before the advertised closing date and time.

Closing date: 1 September 2026, 12pm.

Online Interviews will be held on 16 September 2026.

REF-230 249

Earliest Start Date: 1st December 2026

About the Role

We are looking for a Chief Operations Officer to lead the operations team, join the management team and support the CEO. Your priorities will be to oversee all fundraising, including campaigns, major donors and grant applications. You will oversee the HR of the organisation, including recruitment and disciplinaries. In partnership with the CEO and finance officer you will be jointly responsible for finance within the organisation. You will manage the facilities manager and administrator, ensuring that processes are followed appropriately and the building is maintained in good condition, ensuring we fulfil all legal requirements.

About You

You will be a senior manager who has energy and drive as well as sound judgement. On top of a strong track record in an operational position, you will have the breadth of experience to lead HR and systems, finance, monitoring and evaluation and fundraising. You will have experience in fundraising and funder management and be able to lead on making funding applications and reporting to funders. You will be a clear, analytical thinker who will strengthen the leadership of our charity. You will be an excellent manager of people. Finally, you will be excited about working in an organisation with a unique mission that strives to make a difference in the lives of some of the most disadvantaged young people in London.

Are you experienced in leading a team within Service Charges?

We have two fantastic opportunities to join our Service Charges team as Regional Service Charge Managers. Based from our office in Basingstoke, you'll combine office and home working in line with our hybrid approach, with occasional travel to our Wembley office for team meetings.

The Role

Reporting into the Head of Service Charge Setting and Administration, you'll be responsible for managing and coordinating the Regional Service Charges team in the South West region in the delivery of the service charge calculations (all tenure types) and annual service charge statements to customers in line with legal and regulatory requirements. The portfolio consists of approximately 20,000 units with a total annual service charge income budget of c.£20 million. Responsibilities include:

• Managing the Regional Service Charge team with a focus on articulating a clear vision, providing direction, and promoting a culture of accountability, high performance, and continuous improvement

• Setting the annual service charge expenditure and income budget across all tenures within the region

• Accountability for the annual service charge estimate and final account process, ensuring the risk associated with rechargeable service charges is effectively managed and regulatory time scales are met

• Working collaboratively across the business to support continuous service improvement and deliver excellent customer service to customers across different tenure types, ensuring compliance with legal requirements

• Reviewing and approving the certification of annual service charges, documenting the calculation and apportionment process, including the reports and supporting documentation to facilitate the certification

• Producing and analysing regular reports on recoverable repairs and maintenance expenditure, estimated service charge income and ad-hoc reports dependant on business requirements

What we're looking for

You should have previous experience in a similar management role within service charges. You'll need to demonstrate strong technical knowledge, being adept in managing fixed and variable charges in a large and complex setting, preferably in a housing context. You'll also need:

• To be an experienced leader, skilled in developing high-performing teams and consistently maintaining high operational standards

• Thorough understanding of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 (as amended) and other guidance and best practice for service charges

• To be qualified by experience or a qualified accountant with a solid understanding of accounting practices and concepts including account reconciliations

• Ability to take ownership and work independently whilst meeting tight organisational deadlines

• Strong stakeholder management skills, demonstrating collaborative, cross-functional working relationships, including experience liaising with external stakeholders, e.g. auditors, regulators and Ombudsman

• Experience in directly engaging with customers, addressing queries, and delivering clear, concise written communication

• Strong experience with Microsoft Office applications, including intermediate / advanced excel

• Knowledge and experience of using housing management and property management systems (e.g. Workday, SUN, Agresso, NEC, Active H or similar)

To support the smooth running of HR, administration, IT coordination and organisational events. The role works closely with the Business Operations Manager, the Director of Finance and Business Operations and colleagues across the charity to ensure a positive employee experience and effective internal systems.

Team: Finance & Resources

Locations: Hybrid – at our office (Argon House, Argon Mews, London SW6 1BJ) and remotely at home. A minimum of two days a week at the office (including our all-staff Wednesday) 

Duration: Permanent (with six months’ probation)

Reporting to: CEO

Hours: 35 hours per week, Monday-Friday

Salary: Starting salary £60,000 

The post holder will be responsible for the following: 

Finance 

• Maintain appropriate and comprehensive finance and accounting policies and procedures including payment authorisations, cash management etc. 

• Provide clear and accurate financial information, budgets and forecasts to the trustees, CEO fundraising team and other departments as required. 

• Manage strategic relationship with key partner organisations such as bookkeepers/auditors/payroll providers/banks etc. 

• Overall responsibility, with support from the external bookkeeper and internal staff, for: 

• Ensuring accurate recording and maintenance of finance data, including accurate classification of income. 

• Ensuring balance sheet and bank is reconciled and reviewed monthly. 

• Preparing and developing monthly Management Accounts. 

• Oversee preparation of the annual financial statements and manage the external audit. 

• Oversee payroll and pension process, engaging with external payroll support, including administering monthly payroll and fortnightly payroll during the Winter Night Shelter season. 

Legal and compliance 

• Overall responsibility for compliance with all legislation / codes. 

• Ensure Companies House, Charity Commission, HMRC and Pensions Regulator requirements 

 are met in a timely fashion. 

Risk management 

• Overall responsibility for risk management, including timely and accurate completion of relevant risk assessments, maintaining and developing the organisation's risk register, and procuring and maintaining appropriate insurance cover. 

• Overall functional responsibility for health and safety. 

Office Management  

• Overall responsibility for information technology across the organisation, which is implemented day-to-day by the IT support providers. 

• Ensure Glass Door has appropriate office space which meets all legal requirements and government regulations, environmental, health and security standards. 

• Organise and review general administrative processes and induct new staff on relevant office processes, including data protection, security and fire safety.

• Support and line manage the receptionist and office volunteers to ensure that we deliver high levels of service to staff, guests and other visitors, creating a warm and welcoming environment 

People Management 

• Manage the HR function: 

• Ensure Glass Door is an attractive and rewarding place to work and staff deliver their potential. 

• Review, identify and implement improvements in the HR function to optimise effectiveness and efficiency. 

• Lead on managing employee relations. 

• Support and line manage the Finance & Resources team (HR Manager, receptionists). 

• Conduct regular supervision meetings and performance appraisals. 

Senior Leadership Team 

• Operate as part of the Glass Door senior leadership team, with a particular remit to ensure that we are fulfilling our financial and compliance objectives. 

• Support the CEO and colleagues in setting the strategic direction for Glass Door. 

• Represent the CEO on internal or external matters, if appropriate. 

Governance 

• Manage the Resources Committee and Finance Committee on behalf of the trustees. 

• Assist in managing the Board of Trustees e.g. co-ordinate diaries, set dates, drafting and circulating agendas and papers. 

• Organise the Annual General Meeting, including drafting papers and corresponding with members. 

• Co-ordinate the annual policy review process for Finance & Resources (finance, legal, HR, data, governance) and Fundraising & Communications (fundraising, communications). 

• Manage the Glass Door complaints process.

Person Specification 

Essential 

Personal Qualities 

• Empathetic attitude towards homeless and vulnerably-housed people. 

• A confident self-starter who will hit the ground running. 

• Ability to operate at a range of levels; with both gravitas and relate-ability 

• A team worker with an open, collaborative style and a practical, “can-do” approach. 

• Commitment to our values of being welcoming; being open to all, without prejudice; 

compassionate; believing individuals can turn their lives around; and knowing we can have a 

bigger impact when we work together. 

• Commitment to and understanding of the issues relating to equality of opportunity and the 

ability to implement change in this area. 

• Ability to adhere to and implement Health & Safety, HR and operational policies. 

Qualifications and Experience 

• Minimum CIMA or CIPFA qualification. 

• Minimum five years’ in-house employment experience post-qualification. 

• Experience of leading and inspiring a team. 

• Experience of budgeting and financial planning, including modelling / scenario planning. 

• Experience with month end reporting. 

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities 

• Excellent working knowledge of accounting software systems e.g. Xero. 

• Fully conversant with best practice in accounting procedures. 

• Excellent organisational skills with strong attention to detail, especially record-keeping and 

electronic filing. 

• Strong written English and numeracy skills. 

• Excellent skills in Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Adobe Acrobat Pro, and 

databases). 

• Good interpersonal and verbal communication skills. 

• Ability to forward plan and schedule workflows. 

• Ability to relate to and work with people from a range of backgrounds. 

Desirable 

• ACA or ACCA qualification. 

• Experience of working with homeless people or similar disadvantaged client groups and an 

understanding of their needs. 

• Experience of working in the not-for-profit sector. 

• Experience of charity accounting/ the SORP. 

• Experience of risk management. 

• An understanding of GDPR and health and safety legislation. 

For nearly 20 years, Lively Minds has been proving that parents are the sleeping giants of early childhood development. With strong evidence and a national scale proof point in Ghana, we have shown that parent powered approaches delivered through government systems can transform children's lives at scale.

We are now at a pivotal moment. We have the evidence, the model and the momentum, and we need the funding, profile and influence to match our ambition. This is a rare opportunity to lead income generation and external voice for an award winning NGO entering an exciting new phase of growth. You will lead our fundraising strategy and direct engagement with Funders ensuring that we maximise all funding opportunities as we continue our strategic evolution. You will also shape a compelling external narrative that will help position Lively Minds as the definitive partner for governments strengthening their early childhood development systems.

If you are an exceptional fundraiser and communicator who is equally comfortable in a strategic conversation and writing a winning proposal, we would love to hear from you.

Read the full advert and apply below. Closing date: 3rd September 2026.

About Lively Minds

Lively Minds is an award-winning NGO with nearly 20 years of experience designing, testing and scaling early childhood development (ECD) solutions across the Global South. Our core idea is simple but radical: parents are the sleeping giants of ECD. Governments and donors have long overlooked parents, assuming that poverty and low literacy make them unable or unwilling to support their childrenʼs development. We have spent two decades proving otherwise. With RCT-backed evidence and a national-scale proof point in Ghana, we have demonstrated that parent-powered approaches, delivered through government systems, can achieve meaningful child development outcomes at scale.

Our 2026–2028 strategy marks a pivotal shift. Having demonstrated what is possible, we are now helping pioneer an innovative model of country-led sustainable scale. Rather than delivering programmes ourselves, we provide lean, time-limited technical advisory support to governments to help them integrate parent-powered ECD into their own systems, budgets and institutions. We are currently working with the governments of Ghana, Uganda, Oromia state (Ethiopia) and The Gambia in 2026, growing to six or more country engagements by 2028. Our ambition is to catalyse a sector-wide shift, positioning Lively Minds as the definitive partner for governments seeking to strengthen their ECD systems.

Our scale strategy rests on three interdependent pillars: fixed-term Technical Advisory partnerships with governments; the development of a modular radio model simple and affordable enough for governments to adopt and fund independently; and an advocacy and sector influence agenda designed to make parent-powered ECD the norm globally.

Purpose of the Role

Lively Minds is at a critical inflection point. We have the evidence, the model and the momentum. We now need the funding, profile and sector influence to match our ambition. The Director of Fundraising and Communications is a priority hire, created to provide the dedicated, experienced leadership that this moment demands.

The Director will own and drive Lively Mindsʼ income generation, building new funder relationships, managing and deepening existing ones, and ensuring the organisation has the pipeline, discipline and quality of engagement to meet and exceed its fundraising targets. Working in close partnership with the Founding CEO, who retains ownership of a small number of long-standing strategic relationships, the Director will take primary responsibility for securing the funding that makes the 2026–2028 strategy deliverable, and that opens the door to greater scale beyond it. We need to raise approximately £3.4m over the next 3 years to deliver our strategy. But our ambition is to exceed that target so we can support additional governments.

Alongside fundraising, the Director will provide strategic leadership to Lively Mindsʼ communications and advocacy work, ensuring that the organisationʼs external voice is compelling and that we are building credibility in the spaces where funding decisions are made. The Director will lead and provide strategic coherence to a small but outward-facing team, including Head of Partnerships and Advocacy Lead who are active on the international stage. Lively Minds is committed to thought-leadership and active external engagement, but equally committed to ensuring that communications resource is deployed with discipline and rigour. The Director will set a clear strategic filter for where the organisation shows up, what it publishes and who it engages: prioritising focus and quality over volume, and always asking whether external activity is building the relationships and reputation that ultimately drive income and/or systems change.

Lively Minds is a dispersed, remote organisation. The Directorʼs team the Advocacy Lead, Development Manager and Communications Officer - are internationally distributed. The ability to lead, develop and maintain high standards across a dispersed team is essential. The role requires regular travel to international conferences and events.

Key Responsibilities

Fundraising Strategy & Income Generation

• Own and deliver the multi-year fundraising strategy with clear priorities, targets, income streams and a disciplined pipeline to support the 2026–2028 strategy and future scale
• Steward existing funder relationships, turning strong partnerships into long-term supporters, advocates and connectors to new funding opportunities.
• Lead the shift towards Big Bet and catalytic funding, personally cultivating and negotiating high-value, multi-year partnerships and positioning Lively Minds for system-level scale
• Maintain a high standard of fundraising quality, pipeline management and forecasting, while coaching the team to produce compelling, sophisticated fundraising materials
•  Build and continuously strengthen a diverse funding pipeline, identifying emerging opportunities, new funding markets and strategic partnerships that reduce concentration risk and support long-term financial sustainability

Communications, Brand & Advocacy

• Own and deliver Lively Mindsʼ communications and marketing strategy, balancing visibility and sector influence with the need to strengthen fundraising and systems-change objectives
• Partner closely with the CEO to shape and steward a coherent external narrative, brand and messaging framework across all audiences and channels
• Oversee high-quality core communications and fundraising materials, including cases for support, pitch decks, website content, proposals and donor reports
• Provide strategic communications expertise to Advocacy, Partnerships and MEL, ensuring evidence and learning are translated into compelling narratives and consistent external messaging
• Lead efforts to strengthen Lively Mindsʼ profile and thought leadership in the ECD sector, identifying opportunities for strategic media, events, publications and external platforms that reinforce its positioning and influence

Organizational Leadership&TeamDevelopment

 

• Contribute actively to SMT and organisational strategy, bringing funder intelligence, external perspective and communications expertise to strategic decision-making.
• Work closely with Finance and MEL to align fundraising targets, forecasting, budgets and evidence, ensuring proposals are credible, accurately costed and evidence-led
• Act as the organisationʼs communications subject matter expert, providing guidance and challenge to ensure high-quality, consistent external communications
• Lead and develop the Advocacy Lead, Development Manager and Communications Officer, fostering a team culture of quality, accountability, strategic clarity and continuous improvement
• Build strong cross-organisational collaboration, ensuring teams understand how fundraising, communications, advocacy and evidence work together to advance Lively Mindsʼ strategic priorities

Person Specification

Essential Experience & Skills

• 10+ years of significant senior-level fundraising experience within international development, education, philanthropy or a comparable sector
• Proven track record of securing major grants from foundations, institutional donors and high-net-worth individuals, alongside demonstrated experience securing or meaningfully progressing large-scale, catalytic funding from Big Bet philanthropy programmes such as the Audacious Project, Skoll Foundation or comparable funders. A strong understanding of what these funders look for and how to position an organisation compellingly within their processes is essential
• Exceptional fundraising writing skills, with the ability to personally develop compelling cases for support, funding proposals, award applications and pitch decks tailored to sophisticated impact funders. This is a hands-on role requiring both strong writing capability and the ability to coach others to consistently produce high-quality fundraising content
• Experienced in developing and owning a marketing and communications strategy, with a strong understanding of how to balance organisational visibility, thought leadership and sector influence with coherence, strategic focus and income generation
• Demonstrated ability to work closely with a Founding CEO to shape and steward the organisationʼs external narrative and brand. Comfortable working in a founder-led environment, providing expertise and constructive challenge while ensuring the organisation maintains a clear, consistent and coherent external voice

Desirable Experience

• Experienced fundraising for a technical advisory, systems change or government-facing organisation
• Knowledge of the ECD, education or early childhood sector and its funding landscape
• Familiarity with the Big Bang Philanthropy network or equivalent impact-focused funder communities
• Experience working alongside advocacy and partnerships teams, providing communications expertise and strategic coherence to their external activity
• Familiarity with the funding landscape for organisations operating in Sub-Saharan Africa
• Experience working remotely across multiple countries and effectively collaborating with cross-cultural teams

Behaviours & Ways of Working

• A doer, equally comfortable in strategic conversations and writing a funding proposal
• Sets a high bar for quality and clarity in all external communications and holds it consistently
• Builds a strong, trust-based partnership with the Founding CEO, provides honest challenge and operates effectively within a founder-led dynamic without losing their own voice or judgement
• Collaborative and cross-organisational. Invests in strong relationships with programme, MEL and finance colleagues, understanding that the best fundraising is grounded in organisational reality
• Calm and focused under pressure - able to manage competing priorities and maintain quality when the stakes are high

What We Offer

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience
• 25 days annual leave
• Health insurance
• Pension contribution
• Generous learning and development budget
• Flexible, remote working

Application Instruction

Interested candidates are encouraged to read the Job Description carefully before applying to ensure they understand the role and meet the required criteria.

To apply, please complete the pre-screening questions and submit your updated CV

PLEASE NOTE - Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Timeline

Closing Date: 3rd September 2026

Our Stance

Lively Minds operates a strict Safeguarding Policy and is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of children and vulnerable people. As part of our recruitment process, the suitability of successful candidates will be verified through appropriate background checks including professional references and police checks.

Lively Minds is fully committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and to providing equal opportunities throughout our recruitment process. We want this commitment to be reflected in the diversity of the people who work for us, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities, experiences and perspectives.

We are committed to ensuring that recruitment decisions are based on merit, skills, experience and suitability for the role, and that all candidates are treated fairly and with respect throughout the recruitment process.

CDI is implementing a new cloud-based case management system, and the Data and Insight Manager will lead its rollout across the organisation. This is a unique opportunity for someone who enjoys combining data, people and storytelling. You will own the CRM, build reporting and dashboards, develop meaningful organisational insight, and build the relationships that help colleagues use data with confidence. Through your work, you’ll help CDI tell the story of its impact on children, young people and families while supporting better decisions across the organisation. The post holder will also act as Deputy Data Protection Officer.

Salary: £49,931 per annum

Contract Type: Permanent

Closing date:16  August 2026 at 11pm

About CARE

CARE International is a global humanitarian organisation leading the fight to end poverty in the world’s most challenging situations. Women and girls are at the centre of our work, because we cannot overcome poverty and inequality until all people have equal rights and opportunities. We know that when a crisis erupts, women are often the first to pick up the pieces, so we work alongside women, so they have the power to make change where it’s needed most. Founded in 1945, CARE currently works in over 100 countries and last year alone reached 53.4 million people through nearly 1,500 projects.

Why work for CARE International UK?

This is an exciting opportunity to take a lead role in shaping and securing CARE International UK’s cloud and enterprise infrastructure. As Cloud Systems Engineer, you will help drive infrastructure modernisation, automation and operational excellence across a complex technology environment, ensuring our systems are resilient, secure and scalable. The role offers the chance to lead technical initiatives, influence strategic IT improvements and support the digital capability that enables CARE’s mission-critical work.

About the role

The Cloud Systems Engineer is responsible for leading the management, optimisation and security of CARE International UK’s cloud infrastructure and enterprise systems. The role focuses on maintaining highly available and secure platforms, supporting infrastructure transformation and cloud migration activity, and ensuring effective administration of core services including Azure, Microsoft 365, Windows and Linux servers, identity services, networking, backup and disaster recovery. The postholder will work closely with the IT Manager, wider IT team and key stakeholders across the organisation, while also supporting projects, change management and technical planning.

The role requires strong technical knowledge across cloud platforms, systems administration, security and infrastructure support, alongside excellent analytical and problem-solving ability. You will need to be confident managing complex environments, improving performance through automation and standardisation, and responding effectively to incidents and vulnerabilities. Success in the role will also depend on your ability to communicate clearly, lead troubleshooting, mentor junior colleagues and take a proactive, security-first approach to continuous improvement.

About you

You will be an experienced cloud infrastructure or lead systems administrator with strong hands-on expertise across Microsoft Azure, Microsoft 365, Windows Server and hybrid environments. We are looking for someone with excellent troubleshooting, automation and security skills, including experience with Entra ID, Intune, networking, backup and disaster recovery, and PowerShell scripting. You will also bring strong leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to mentor others and manage competing priorities. Relevant certifications such as Azure Administrator, Azure Solutions Architect, AWS SysOps, Security+ or ITIL would be advantageous.

Right to Work in the UK

All applicants must have the legal right to work in the United Kingdom at the time of appointment. Proof of right to work will be required as part of the recruitment process. For more information, please visit theUK Government's guidance on right to work. 

Where you do not have current right to work in the UK, then this will be discussed with you as part of the recruitment process. Please note that not all roles are eligible for sponsorship and further information (should you require sponsorship to work in the UK) on eligibility can be foundhere.

Safeguarding

CARE International UK has a zero-tolerance approach to any abuse to, sexual harassment of or exploitation of, a vulnerable adult or child by any of our staff, representatives or partners. CARE International UK expects all staff to share this commitment through our Safeguarding Policy (link here) and our Code of Conduct (link here). They are responsible for ensuring they understand and work within the remit of these policies throughout their time at CARE International UK.

Safeguarding our beneficiaries is our top priority in everything we do, including recruitment. All offers of employment at CARE International UK are subject to:

• Satisfactory references. CARE International UK participates in theInter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (link here).In line with this Scheme, we willrequest information from successful applicants’ previous employersabout any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment,or incidents under investigationwhen the applicant left employment.

• Appropriate criminal record checks (including a Bridger check, link here).

By submitting an application, the applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Equality and Diversity

We are committed toEquality and value Diversity.We are aDisability Confident Employerand particularly welcome applications from disabled people. We guarantee interviews to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role (see person specification). If you require the candidate brief or need to submit your application in an alternative format, because of a disability, please do get in touch by sending an email to the HR Team.

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. We particularly welcome applications from people of underrepresented backgrounds, including those from Black, Asian and other ethnic minority communities, and individuals who identify as LGBTQ+.

Head of Finance

London based (40% office attendance)

Permanent, Full time

£60,000 - 65,000

MLC Partners are partnering with CAFOD (Catholic Agency for Overseas Development) to recruit their next Head of Finance.

CAFOD is the official aid agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales and part of Caritas International. This is a pivotal appointment, responsible for providing strategic financial leadership across an organisation operating within a complex, international and multi-funded environment.

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Director of Core Services, you’ll lead CAFOD’s newly formed Integrated Finance Team, bringing together four key areas:

• Financial compliance & risk management
• Financial & management insights
• Financial services & business support
• Financial capacity strengthening

This is a broad leadership role combining strategy, financial stewardship, transformation and people leadership. You’ll work closely with the Leadership Team and Trustees, providing the financial insight, challenge and assurance needed to support effective decision-making and CAFOD’s long-term sustainability.

The role

Strategic Leadership
Lead financial planning, budgeting, forecasting and scenario modelling, while helping shape and deliver CAFOD’s finance strategy and long-term financial objectives.

Executive & Board Partnership
Act as a trusted strategic partner to senior leadership, the Finance, Legal and Audit/Risk Committee and Board of Trustees, providing high-quality financial analysis, advice and assurance.

Financial Governance
Take overall responsibility for financial integrity, statutory compliance, controls and the accuracy of financial reporting across CAFOD’s UK and international operations.

Transformation & Improvement
Challenge established ways of working and drive improvements across financial systems, processes, reporting and automation.

People Leadership
Lead, motivate and develop the Integrated Finance Team, creating clear direction and building a collaborative, high-performing finance function.

About You

We’re looking for an established finance leader who combines strong technical expertise with the ability to influence, challenge and operate confidently at senior level.

• A professional accounting qualification — ICAEW, CIMA, ACCA or equivalent
• Significant post-qualified finance leadership experience
• Experience within the INGO sector is highly preferred, while experience of international development through a partnership model is desirable.
• Experience supporting Boards, Finance/Audit Committees and Leadership teams
• A track record of developing and implementing finance strategy
• Strong experience of leading, developing and motivating finance teams
• The ability to lead change and improve systems and ways of working
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
• High levels of integrity, accountability and commitment to mission-driven work

Why Consider This Role?

This is an opportunity to take on a genuinely influential finance leadership position.

You’ll have the scope to shape strategy, strengthen the finance function, develop a newly integrated team and influence decision-making at the highest levels of the organisation, while supporting CAFOD’s wider mission and international programmes.

To discuss this fantastic opportunity and your search in more detail, please contact Annabelle at MLC Partners.

Key dates

Applications close: midnight of 23rd August

1st stage interview: w/c 31st August

2nd stage interview: w/c 7th September

Are you an experienced operational leader looking for the opportunity to help shape the future of a growing, ambitious and values-led charity?

Project 21 is looking for its first Chief Operating Officer to join us at an exciting point in our development, strengthening the organisation behind our services and helping us achieve even more for people with Down’s Syndrome and their families.

Project 21 is a growing charity providing opportunities, support and experiences for people with Down’s Syndrome across Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire. Our work includes community-based learning, performing arts, residential trips, employment opportunities and family support, all underpinned by our belief that people with Down’s Syndrome should have every opportunity to belong, believe and achieve.

As Project 21 continues to grow, we are looking for an exceptional Chief Operating Officer (COO) to work alongside our CEO & Founder and provide strategic and operational leadership across the organisation.

This is a newly created role and a genuine opportunity to help shape the next chapter of Project 21.

The COO will lead our day-to-day organisational operations, providing oversight across people, services, finance, systems, governance, compliance and organisational development. You will lead and support our Senior Leadership Team, strengthen systems and processes, develop leadership capability and ensure our growing organisation remains safe, effective, sustainable and true to its values.

Crucially, the role will create greater capacity for our CEO to focus on Project 21’s long-term future, including strategic partnerships, fundraising and our ambitious Big Build vision.

We are looking for someone who combines strong operational and organisational leadership with excellent people skills. You will be comfortable moving between strategy and delivery, developing senior leaders, making decisions, improving systems and bringing clarity to a busy and evolving organisation.

You do not necessarily need to have been a COO before. We are interested in experienced senior leaders who can demonstrate the skills, judgement and leadership capability required to step into an organisation-wide role. Experience within charities, social care, SEND, education or another people-focused organisation would be particularly valuable.

This is an office-based leadership role at our Clubhouse in Suffolk, reflecting the importance we place on visible, accessible leadership and being connected to our members, families and colleagues. The role will also involve travel across Project 21 locations and to external meetings.

What we’re looking for

We’d particularly love to hear from someone who:

• Is an experienced and confident senior leader
• Is an excellent people manager who enjoys developing others
• Can translate strategy into effective operational delivery
• Has experience of organisational growth and change
• Understands good governance, HR, finance, risk and compliance
• Can develop effective systems and improve organisational efficiency
• Is comfortable making decisions and taking accountability
• Can build strong relationships with colleagues, families, trustees and external partners
• Shares our commitment to inclusion and person-centred practice
• Is excited by the opportunity to help build something, rather than simply maintain what already exists

Above all, we are looking for someone who understands that strong operations are ultimately about people. Someone who can bring structure without unnecessary bureaucracy, accountability without losing warmth, and professional leadership while protecting the culture that makes Project 21 special.

Salary: £55,000–£60,000 per annum
Hours: 40 hours per week Mon-Fri, with occasional Saturday on-call hours
Location: Project 21 Clubhouse, Brightwell Barns, Suffolk

If you are excited by the opportunity to play a significant role in the future of an ambitious charity and help us build the organisational foundations for our next stage of growth, we would love to hear from you.

Upshot is looking for an Account and Support Manager to play a central role in helping organisations get the most from their use of Upshot. This is an exciting opportunity to work with a wide range of charities, sports organisations, funders, local authorities and education providers, supporting them to collect better data, measure their impact and make more informed decisions. You'll lead new client implementations, deliver training, provide expert support and build lasting relationships that help organisations succeed.

In this varied and rewarding role, you'll become a trusted partner to clients, guiding them from onboarding through to renewal and growth. You'll work closely with organisations to understand their needs, configure the system, resolve challenges and ensure they are getting real value from Upshot. 
Alongside account management and support, you'll have opportunities to deliver workshops, develop resources and contribute to wider areas of the business including product development, marketing and monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) services.

We're looking for someone who is people-focused, organised and enjoys solving problems. You might come from a SaaS, technology, charity or customer success background, and you'll be confident communicating with a wide range of stakeholders. This role would suit someone who enjoys combining relationship management with practical delivery and is motivated by helping organisations achieve greater social impact. In return, you'll join a supportive, flexible and purpose-driven team where you'll have the opportunity to develop a broad range of skills and make a visible contribution to a growing social enterprise.

The role offers a flexible working pattern, with two days per week at the House of Sport in London, the remainder worked remotely, and occasional travel to client locations to build relationships and deliver training.

Find out more via the attached job description and Upshot brochure.

Candidates are encouraged to apply by following the instructions at the bottom of the article on our website. 

Head of Finance and Operations

Salary: £50,000 – £54,000 per annum (depending on skills and experience)

Location: Manchester (Hybrid working with regular office attendance: 2 days a week)

Contract: Permanent, Full Time

About CLES

CLES is an independent economics think tank and charity dedicated to tackling the UK’s most pressing economic challenges. For over 40 years, we have collaborated with local governments, the NHS, national government, universities, and communities to create impactful, practical solutions. Our expertise in community wealth building has gained international recognition, and we embody our progressive ethos by offering a four-day full-pay working week. At CLES, we foster a deeply collaborative and flexible environment where strong relationships are valued, reflected in our regular social activities and annual residential gatherings.

The Opportunity

We are seeking a proactive and detail-oriented Head of Finance and Operations who will play a crucial role in steering our financial and operational functions. Working closely with our senior management team, you will combine strategic insights with hands-on delivery, ensuring the efficient management of our financial systems, governance, and HR processes. You will be supported by a dedicated Finance and Office Administrator, allowing you to focus on higher-level financial oversight and operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage day-to-day finances including cash flow, financial controls, and oversight of bookkeeping tasks.
• Prepare and present quarterly and annual management accounts, VAT returns, and payroll submissions.
• Lead the administration of governance, working closely with the board of trustees on compliance and regulatory filings.
• Oversee daily office operations, including IT infrastructure and health and safety.
• Administer HR processes such as recruitment, onboarding, and the management of employee records.

About You:

• You possess a recognised accounting qualification (ideally ACA, ACCA, CIMA) or AAT Level 4, with substantial senior-level charity finance experience.
• Demonstrated experience in financial management, including preparation of management accounts and familiarity with accounting software such as Sage.
• Strong understanding of governance and compliance within a charity context, alongside experience in HR administration.
• Excellent organisational skills and a proactive, solutions-focused approach to work.
• Proven ability to communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders, building trust and collaboration.

Our Offer to You:

• A four-day working week with full pay for a 30-hour commitment.
• Flexible and hybrid working options, promoting a healthy work-life balance.
• Generous holiday entitlement, starting at 20 days (the equivalent of 5 full weeks off) and rising to 24 days (6 weeks) with service, plus additional leave for birthdays and Christmas.
• A robust pension scheme with an employer contribution starting at 6% and increasing with tenure.
• A supportive learning and development culture, with a dedicated budget for professional growth and annual team retreats.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

CLES is committed to fostering an inclusive workspace and welcomes applications from diverse backgrounds. We actively encourage candidates from all sections of the community to apply.

How to Apply

Click apply and you will be redirected to our careers page which has instructions on how to submit your application.

Please note, we are operating a rolling recruitment process, so early applications are encouraged. Initial application cutoff is Monday, 24th of August 2026 at 9:00am. Interviews are scheduled for Wednesday, 2nd of September 2026. If we do not fill the position, the advert will remain open for ongoing applications.

We look forward to welcoming you to our team at CLES!