Governance manager jobs in bristol

Head of Financial Planning & Analysis
Maternity Cover (Up to 12 months)
£65,000 - £70,000
To start ASAP
Bristol/Hybrid

Head of Financial Planning & Analysis required for a leading specialist children's health charity on a 12 month fixed term contract basis. The Finance team is undergoing an exciting period of transformation, including the implementation of a new finance system. This is a key role where you will lead the post-implementation phase of the new system and continue delivering high-quality financial performance reporting, forecasting, and business insights.

Detailed duties include;

• Drive financial planning and analysis processes: Oversee the preparation of the charity's budgets, forecasts, and long-term financial plans, ensuring timely and accurate reports for senior leadership and governance committees
• Lead the implementation of improvements: Manage the post-implementation phase of the new finance system and use it to enhance financial reporting, forecasting, and planning
• Manage the month-end process: Ensure timely, clear, and accurate delivery of monthly management accounts, financial reports, and analysis
• Collaborate with stakeholders: Work closely with budget holders, senior leadership, and other departments to ensure financial performance aligns with organisational strategy and objectives
• Provide strategic insights: Make recommendations on improving efficiency and value for money, and support the development of business cases for new initiatives
• Lead and develop a team: Manage and support Finance Business Partners and the Income Management Accountant, providing guidance and development opportunities to ensure high performance
• Improve financial controls and reporting: Develop and embed financial control processes, improve management reporting outputs, and deliver stronger insights to stakeholders
• Support cross-functional projects: Contribute to cross-functional initiatives and ensure the financial implications are well understood

In order to be successful in the role we are looking for;

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent)
• Extensive experience in FP&A within senior finance roles, ideally within the charity or not-for-profit sector
• Ability to lead and develop a high-performing team and manage competing priorities
• Proven track record of managing and delivering budgets, forecasts, and monthly reporting with a strong focus on financial planning and analysis
• Advanced Excel skills, and experience with financial systems (experience with finance system implementation is a plus)
• Able to driving change within the finance function to improve processes and outcomes
• Strong ability to problem-solve and make informed decisions based on data, Emotional intelligence, with excellent negotiation and influencing skills, a proactive mindset and ability to thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment

At Action for ME, we believe that change won't just happen; it has to be made. That's why action and impact are at the heart of everything we do. Whether that's helping people today with support, information, or care. Or working towards securing future change through our research and campaigning work.

The intent of everything we do is to pursue positive impact for the lives, rights, and futures of people affected by ME.

More information can be found in the application pack. 

You will play a pivotal role supporting the Charity in several different ways. Working with the Senior Leadership Team, you will ensure the smooth running of the organisation, providing administrative support to the Director of Operations and the Chief Executive. As a self-starter you will manage a range of tasks such as diary management, meeting minutes, assisting with event administration and HR administration. No two days will be the same!

You will be the point of contact for our HR, recruitment and training systems, ensuring consistency and assurance across the organisation. You will support HR administration such as supporting recruitment, on-boarding and off-boarding of colleagues as well as taking minutes for Board meetings, so you will need to be able to maintain a high level of confidentiality.

As a team player, you will provide comprehensive, confidential and sensitive people-orientated administration support, developing a deep understanding of our organisation, our work and build strong, effective working relationships with colleagues.

Remote working at home can be challenging for some and for others, it works incredibly well. You will need to be able to work on your own, use your own initiative and ensure you are proactive in maintain good levels of communication and contact with your colleagues to ensure we deliver the best service possible to people with ME. 

JOB TITLE: Director of Fundraising, Marketing & Communications

LOCATION: Flexible, with regular travel to London

RESPONSIBLE TO: Chief Executive

DIRECT REPORTS: Senior Trusts & Grants Manager, Marketing Manager, Fundraising Manager

HOURS OF WORK: Full time, 35 hours per week

DURATION: SALARY / GRADE: £65,000 to £75,000 (dependent on experience) plus benefits

TEAM SIZE: 6 FTE (with growth plans of up to 12 fte by 2030)

JOB PROFILE

ABOUT ADOPTION UK

Adoption UK is the leading national voice for adoptive families. We exist to ensure that every child and young person who cannot grow up with their birth parents gets the right support at the right time – from childhood into adulthood.

Every year, thousands of children in the UK are adopted – most having experienced trauma, loss, or neglect. Adoption transforms their futures, but it is rarely the end of the story. Adoptive families face unique challenges: children struggling to trust, thrive in school, or feel safe; parents battling to secure the right support; young people navigating identity and belonging. Without the right help, too many families reach breaking point. Adoption UK is there to change this. We are a lifeline for families – offering community, advice, advocacy, and practical support. We champion their voices with government and professionals, driving changes in policy and practice so that no adoptive family feels they are facing the journey alone.

With over 6,000 members, strong credibility with policymakers, and a powerful lived experience community, we are uniquely placed to influence change. Our mission is urgent and nationally significant: to ensure that every adoptive family can thrive, and every adopted child has the chance to fulfil their potential.

DIRECTORATE PURPOSE

The Fundraising, Marketing and Communications directorate is responsible for:

• Income generation across trusts and foundations, corporates, major donors, community fundraising, public donations, and legacies, alongside relationships with commissioners and public sector funders.

• Partnership development, engaging businesses, philanthropists, trusts, and volunteers.

• Marketing of services and membership to families, adoptees, commissioners, and professionals in health, education, and social care.

• Awareness raising and thought leadership, ensuring adoption and permanence issues have a strong voice nationally.

Currently a team of six, the directorate has strong ambitions to grow in size and scope, with scope to re-imagine its structure to meet future needs.

THE ROLE

This is a career-defining opportunity to shape the future of fundraising, marketing and communications at a charity of national importance.

As Director of Fundraising, Marketing & Communications you will:

• Build unrestricted income in a competitive funding environment

• Lead the transformation of Adoption UK’s income model, scaling from £500k to £2m+ contribution (by 2030) to organisational income growth from a £4.2m baseline.

• Develop and deliver a bold, integrated fundraising, marketing, and communications strategy.

• Build Adoption UK’s brand and profile with families, adoptees, commissioners, policymakers, funders, and the wider public.

• Inspire, coach, and grow a talented team, embedding a culture of confidence, creativity, and innovation.

• Personally cultivate and steward high-value donor, corporate, and foundation relationships, working with the CEO, Board of Trustees, and ambassadors.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Leadership

• Lead the design and delivery of a multi-year fundraising, marketing, and communications strategy aligned to organisational priorities.

• Act as a cultural change leader, shifting from risk-averse to confident, outward-facing engagement.

• Contribute fully to the Senior Leadership Team, influencing strategy, governance, and financial planning.

Income Growth & Diversification

• Oversee all voluntary income streams – trusts, major donors, corporates, community/public fundraising, legacies – while also strengthening public sector and commissioning relationships.

• Oversee marketing and growth of membership as a core element of income and impact.

• Deliver long-term growth targets.

• Use and promote data-driven decision-making, supporter journeys, and digital fundraising/marketing effectively.

• Design and deliver a signature annual Showcase event, alongside new products such as a Giving Circle and Corporate Club, ensuring clear ROI and upgrade potential.

• Personally lead cultivation of transformational donor and partner relationships, supported by trustees, ambassadors, and patrons.

• Identify and test new funding streams and partnerships to diversify income and reduce risk.

Marketing & Communications

• Oversee a comprehensive marketing and communications strategy covering fundraising, membership, services, training, campaigns, and advocacy.

• Ensure a compelling and consistent case for support and brand identity across all channels.

• Raise Adoption UK’s national profile with media, commissioners, professionals, and the public.

• Lead digital transformation: CRM upgrade, supporter journeys, analytics, social media, and digital marketing.

• Manage media relations and reputation, including crisis communications alongside the CEO.

Team Leadership & Culture

• Lead, inspire, and grow a team of talented and motivated individuals.

• Model authentic, adaptive, and inclusive leadership – balancing ambition with staff wellbeing.

• Act as a coach and mentor, supporting professional growth and building the next generation of leaders.

• Champion Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and embed values-led behaviours across the team and all external engagement.

• Foster cross-organisational collaboration so fundraising and marketing are understood and supported across Adoption UK.

Financial & Governance

• Lead financial planning, budgeting, and ROI analysis for the directorate.

• Report regularly to CEO and Board of Trustees on progress, opportunities, and risks.

• Lead fundraising due-diligence and reputational risk processes, with regular reporting to Trustee-led committees (e.g. Finance & Risk).

• Ensure compliance with the Fundraising Code, GDPR, charity law, and safeguarding standards.

• Embed robust CRM, data, and analytics to support continuous improvement.

External Engagement

• Act as a visible ambassador for Adoption UK with donors, corporates, trusts and foundations, policymakers, and media.

• In collaboration with the CEO and Chair, direct ambassadors and patrons to open doors, advocate, and steward transformational relationships.

• Represent Adoption UK externally at events, forums, and national platforms.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential

• Significant experience leading multi-stream fundraising, with success in at least two of: trusts, corporates, major donors, public fundraising.

• Experience developing marketing and communications strategies beyond fundraising – including brand, service promotion, membership, campaigns, and digital engagement.

• Track record of delivering growth, innovation, or transformation in income and/or organisational profile.

• Strong people leadership skills: ability to coach, inspire, and develop staff, including senior managers.

• Exceptional relationship-builder – credible with philanthropists, corporates, trustees, commissioners, and media.

• Strategic thinker with financial acumen (budgets, ROI, investment planning).

• Authentic communicator with excellent storytelling ability.

• Commitment to Adoption UK’s mission and values, with an inclusive and collaborative leadership style.

• Demonstrates commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of role at all times.

• Contributes to an open and honest culture

• Supports, encourages, and motivates colleagues.

• Encourages challenge, creativity and innovation.

• Leads by example.

• Values transparency and consistency.

• Understands the role of individual and collective accountability.

• Actively contributes to Adoption UK’s mission.

• Has a clear understanding of other colleagues’ roles and responsibilities

• Shares skills and knowledge.

• Promotes Cross Functional team working.

• Offers outstanding service to members.

• Takes pride in Adoption UK and promotes its values in all interactions with external stakeholders.

• Identifies and uses the most appropriate form of communication.

• Communicates clearly, seeking clarity when unclear and valuing the opinion of others.

• Treats colleagues and other stakeholders with respect, honesty, fairness and courtesy

• Is responsive to colleagues, third party professionals and service users.

• Takes pride in own development.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

• Enthusiastic and committed to achieving high standards and meeting agreed objectives.

• Takes an active interest in recognising professional and personal development needs and priorities within Adoption UK.

Desirable

• Experience in child welfare, family support, education, or adoption.

• Evidence of leading digital transformation in fundraising, marketing, or CRM.

• Existing networks in philanthropy, corporate CSR/ESG, or foundations relevant to Adoption UK’s mission.

This role profile is a guide to the nature of the work required and may involve other such duties as deemed necessary by the Organisation. It is not wholly comprehensive or restrictive. The role profile will be reviewed with the post-holder at significant points for the Organisation.

Postholder is expected to abide by all organisational policies, codes of conduct and practice, and to work within a framework of equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practice.

The Opportunity

This is more than a fundraising role — it is an opportunity to lead transformational change for a cause of national importance. You will:

• Shape and lead a directorate spanning fundraising, marketing, and communications.

• Deliver transformational income growth and secure Adoption UK’s sustainability.

• Build Adoption UK’s brand and reputation as the national champion for adoptive families.

• Market services, membership, and campaigns so more families and professionals engage with our work.

• Lead cultural change, inspiring a confident, outward-facing, and innovative fundraising and marketing function.

Few roles offer such scope to combine fundraising growth, brand leadership, and culture change in a mission of such national importance. This is your chance to make a lasting impact – on Adoption UK, on your career, and on thousands of children and families across the UK.

Timetable:

The closing date for this role is 20th October 2025. However, Adoption UK reserves the right to end the application period sooner so we would recommend you complete the application form as soon as possible.

Shortlisting will be carried out on 22 to 24 October 2025 and you should be notified of an outcome within fifteen working days of the closing date.

The panel will shortlist based on those applicants who best meet the criteria for the role.

The date(s) scheduled for first interviews will be 3rd November 2025. These dates may be subject to change and applications will be advised in advance should this happen.

Land, and the way that it is owned and managed, impacts on all of us. It has different places in all of our histories, whatever our backgrounds or heritage, whether our experience is of public or private ownership, colonialism, dispossession, or migration, the difficulties of making a living in a rural economy or the daily impacts of urbanisation and gentrification. How we currently own, manage and make decisions about land lies at the heart of many of our current social, economic and environmental challenges and injustices. 

Shared Assets works with people and land for a just future.

We undertake advice & support, research, movement building, communications and resourcing work to support, mobilise and advocate for the development of models of managing land that create shared social, economic and environmental benefits. We see systems change as a core value of our work and seek to be transformative, both through externally-facing projects and internal approaches and ways of working.

Our research work supports collective learning related to working on and with the land. We communicate our findings through articles, blogs, podcasts, reports, events, and more - building a shared evidence base to support the development of a just land system. Through our research, we seek to make an impact at a local and a systemic level. We want to create conditions that allow people and communities to thrive, and promote care for the land and environment. We do this work on both a commercial and grant funded basis.

The role holder will lead the full range of Shared Assets’ research projects, from scoping and design through to delivery, follow up and evaluation. They will need to have experience of designing and carrying out research and learning activities with a wide range of partners - including academics, community groups, NGOS and local authorities - in collaborative ways. In the past we have worked on research projects of many scales - from large European Union funded consortia, to smaller, one-off pieces which help a local authority or community organisation move forward with their work. Often our research work involves collaborating with a group of other civil society organisations to provide evidence of why change in the land, food and farming system is needed, and generate action on these issues. 

The main areas of work are to: manage and deliver funded research projects (or projects with a research component) with partners, reflect with colleagues on what we are learning within and across workstreams as an organisation and sector, use this knowledge to create new ideas for research work, and support fundraising for these, as part of our ‘infrastructure’ role.

For more details please see the full application pack. Apply before 10am on Monday 27th October.

What if your expertise in legal, risk, or assurance could shape how we navigate complex challenges at scale? You could be embedding excellence and credibility that protects and empowers our mission to end the devastation of dementia.

About the opportunity

As Head of Legal, Risk and Assurance, you'll lead three critical disciplines that form the backbone of trust, safety, and risk-informed decision-making at Alzheimer's Society. This is a people-focused leadership role within our Finance & Assurance directorate, overseeing professional teams delivering legal, risk management, and assurance services. You'll bring these areas together as one team, joining the dots to create real impact through compassionate, strategic leadership.

We're in the midst of an ambitious transformation programme, and you'll play a central role in ensuring this change is embedded effectively. Working in close partnership with management and trustees, you'll be a senior, credible, and visible voice. Influencing decisions, elevating standards, and building a culture where risk awareness and legal clarity empower rather than constrain our work.

This role brings together three disciplines, each led by experienced subject matter experts who will report into you. We're not expecting you to be an expert in all three areas. However, you should have significant professional experience in at least one, with strong knowledge and curiosity about the others. Above all, this is a people-focused position. Your ability to lead, develop, and inspire your teams, and those around you, will be just as important as your technical expertise.

If you're a strategic leader who thrives on building relationships, driving continuous improvement, and creating lasting impact in a cause-driven environment, we'd love to hear from you.

About you:

You're an accomplished leader with proven experience in legal, risk, or assurance. You'll bring both technical credibility and a track record of effective stakeholder management and people leadership. You're passionate about developing others, building high-performing teams, and creating an environment where professionals can thrive. You understand that when risk, legal, and audit is done best, it's done in collaboration. Keeping the end goal in mind, and enabling the best possible decisions that protect what matters most.

You'll have:

- Professional qualification in at least one discipline (qualified lawyer, risk professional, and/or chartered internal auditor) with demonstrable knowledge across legal, risk, and assurance areas.
- Significant line management experience, with a track record of leading, coaching, and developing teams through periods of change and growth.
- Proven ability to work in partnership with senior stakeholders, including trustees and executive leadership, providing clear, valuable, and risk-based guidance.
- Experience overseeing professional services that are visible, valued, and proactively consulted across an organisation.
- Strong communication and influencing skills, able to challenge constructively while building strong relationships, and translate complex technical matters into clear guidance for diverse audiences.
- A collaborative mindset and evidenced ability to drive continuous improvement, bringing best practice from across sectors to elevate standards and maturity.

What you'll focus on:

- Leading the legal, risk, and assurance teams, creating a culture of high performance, continuous learning, and professional excellence.
- Working in close partnership with executive management and trustees. Providing strategic advice and reporting on legal matters, risk landscape, and assurance findings to inform critical decisions.
- Driving forward our transformation programme, ensuring governance frameworks support rather than hinder change, and that legal, risk, and assurance considerations are embedded from the outset.
- Elevating the profile and maturity of all three disciplines. Making them visible partners across directorates and ensuring they're proactively consulted on key initiatives rather than brought in as an afterthought.
- Overseeing the facilitation of robust risk management systems, leading comprehensive assurance programmes, and ensuring legal services are professional, credible, and responsive to organisational needs.
- Managing departmental budgets, resource allocation, and capacity planning to ensure your teams can deliver first-class services that enable the Society's strategic objectives.
- Building and maintaining impactful external networks, using horizon scanning and sector best practice to keep the Society ahead of emerging risks and regulatory changes.
- Deputising for the Associate Director Risk and Assurance as required, representing Finance & Assurance at senior forums.

Can you see yourself as a trusted partner who helps Alzheimer's Society navigate complexity with confidence? Are you ready to lead teams where legal, risk, and assurance considerations are increasingly incorporated into decision-making? Can you join the dots between these disciplines to ensure the joint outcomes protect and enhance our ability to transform lives affected by dementia?
 
To be successful in this position, you may have existing experience in the following roles; Head of Internal Audit, Head of Risk Management, Head of Internal Audit and Risk, Head of Legal and Risk or other similar roles. We also welcome applicants with transferable skills.

Important Dates

The deadline for applications is 23:59 on Sunday 2nd November 2025.
Interviews will begin week commencing Monday 10th November 2025 and will be a 3 stage interview process which will include a presentation task at 2nd Stage.

About Alzheimer's Society

Dementia is the UK’s biggest killer. One in three people born in the UK today will develop dementia in their lifetime.

At Alzheimer’s Society, we’re the UK’s leading dementia charity and the only one to tackle all aspects of dementia by giving help and hope to people living with dementia today and in the future. We give vital support to people facing the most frightening times of their lives, while also funding groundbreaking research and campaigning to make dementia the priority it should be.

Together with our supporters, we’re working towards a world where dementia no longer devastates lives.

Our values make sure that our focus is clear for the challenges and opportunities ahead and remind us of what we all stand for.

Our commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging

We need to ensure the voices around our table better reflect and understand the communities we exist to serve. We strongly encourage individuals to apply who have a disability, impairment or health condition or individuals who identify as Black, Asian or from another minority ethnic background, as these groups are currently under-represented at Alzheimer's Society.  

We want everyone we work with, as a colleague, volunteer, supporter, or someone we support, to feel included and that they belong at Alzheimer's Society. 

Our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy here along with our internal employee forum and Employee Lived Experience network groups help us promote inclusion and belonging, becoming an engaged and inclusive organisation for all our people. 

Our hiring process

During your recruitment process we want to make sure that you bring your whole self and can be at your best. We are working hard to ensure our recruitment process is as inclusive as possible, so please do inform us of your experience and anything you think we could do better by completing our candidate survey when you apply.  Please also contact Alzheimer’s Society Talent Acquisition Team for application support or any adjustments you might need.

To ensure fairness and consistency to select the best candidate for this role, all our applications are anonymised up until an interview has been confirmed. We recognise the benefits of AI, but if you're considering using it to submit your application, we encourage you to reflect on the value it truly adds. AI tools often lack the personal touch and authenticity that set candidates apart. We want to hear your unique perspective, experiences, and skills, so we encourage you to showcase them in your own voice.

We try to avoid closing roles early where possible, however if we receive a high volume of applications, we may close earlier than the advertised closing date. Should this occur, we will aim to provide you with at least 48 hours' notice.

We are committed to safer recruitment and ensuring the welfare of those we work with, due to the nature of some of our roles, we might need to carry out a DBS check at the relevant level.

Giving back to you

Our employees work hard every day to make a true difference in people's lives. We are proud to support them with a range of benefits, recognition and many options for working agilely, all contributing to a strong work life balance. We also have various learning programmes to support you in your development and help you grow to realise your potential and shape a career with Alzheimer's Society. 

You can also visit our Working for Us pages, which give you more information about what it’s like to be an employee at the Society.