Head of finance ingo jobs

Are you an experienced senior finance leader ready to make an immediate impact in an international, mission-driven organisation? We are seeking a strategic, hands-on Interim Head of Finance to lead the finance function for a dynamic international NGO with a significant US presence. This is a rare opportunity to guide finance operations across multiple jurisdictions, including the UK and US, and support frontline programmes tackling critical global challenges.

About the role
Reporting to the MD for Finance & Operations, you will provide decisive, calm leadership to a high-performing finance team, ensuring robust financial stewardship across the organisation. You will take ownership of financial operations, controls, reporting, and audits, working closely with senior leadership and the Board. Your strategic insight will help shape financial planning and reporting, while your collaborative approach will build confidence in finance across the organisation.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day operations of the finance team across the UK and overseas branches
• Ensure accurate, timely reporting and compliance with statutory and donor requirements
• Oversee audits in multiple jurisdictions, including US and UK accounts
• Manage budgeting, forecasting, and long-term financial planning
• Build and maintain robust financial controls, policies, and processes
• Lead, mentor, and motivate a team of six finance professionals, including managers
• Act as a key partner to the senior leadership team and Board, providing financial insight to support strategic decision-making

What we're looking for

• Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA or equivalent)
• Proven senior finance leadership experience in an international charity, NGO, or grant-funded organisation
• Strong experience managing US accounts, audits, and compliance processes (a significant portion of the organisation's income comes from US donors)
• Hands-on experience with UK Charity SORP, statutory accounts, restricted/unrestricted fund accounting, and donor reporting
• Experience overseeing finance operations for overseas entities or branch offices
• Strong people management skills, including managing managers
• Able to operate confidently at senior leadership and Board level
• Comfortable stepping into complex, fast-paced environments and delivering immediate results

Personal qualities
You are pragmatic, solutions-focused, and able to balance operational detail with strategic oversight. You communicate clearly and effectively with finance and non-finance colleagues alike, building trust quickly and inspiring confidence across the organisation.

Why join?
This is a unique opportunity to influence the finance function of a mission-driven international NGO protecing the rights of the most vulnerable. You'll gain hands-on experience with US accounts, multi-jurisdictional audits, and high-level reporting, all while working alongside a collaborative, values-driven leadership team.

Benefits

• 25 days holiday + public holidays + 3 additional Christmas holidays
• 10% non-contributory pension scheme
• Season ticket loan and cycle scheme
• Flexible and hybrid working (2 office days per week)
• Possibility of working part-time - 4 days per week

If you are a senior finance professional with international experience, ideally including US operations, who thrives in fast-moving, high-impact environments and are available from mid-end of March, please apply today!

Opportunity: Head of Finance

Are you a hands-on finance professional who excels at balancing high-level strategy with meticulous operational control? We are seeking a fully qualified accountant to drive the end-to-end financial management, reporting, and stability of a small but impactful international development organisation.

Reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer (COO), you will serve as a key advisor on strategic financial decisions while ensuring the accuracy of accounts and compliance standards.

The Role

You will be responsible for all aspects of finance and delivering timely, accurate financial reports to internal stakeholders, funders, and regulatory bodies.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Producing monthly consolidated management accounts with variance analysis and reporting to the Board and Finance Sub-Committee.
• Leading annual budgeting, forecasting, and multi-year financial planning.
• Overseeing cashflow, treasury management, and the drafting of statutory accounts.
• Managing external audits and specialised donor financial reporting.
• Identifying financial risks for escalation to the COO/Board and providing direct line management for the Finance & Systems Officer.

Your Profile

You will be a grounded leader who brings a focus on delivery and stability.

• You must be a fully qualified accountant (ACCA, ACA, or CIMA).
• 8–10 years of experience working within complex, multi-entity environments.
• Experience within the Charity or International NGO (INGO) sector.
• A proven ability to manage end-to-end financial controls and provide high-level strategic advice.

Salary range is £55,000 - £60,000 Depending on Experience.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, therefore please apply ASAP to ensure your details are considered.

Head of Programme Operations

Contract: Permanent, Full Time

Location: The role can be based in London, United Kingdom, Abuja, Nigeria or Kigali, Rwanda, subject to right to work eligibility in the respective countries.

UK hybrid working – a minimum of 40 % of working time is spent face-to-face (London office, external meetings or travel). 60/40 hybrid working at WaterAid means roughly three days wherever you work best and two days together in person.

Salary: Salaries and benefits will vary in line with the location of the successful candidate and depending on experience.

• UK: £68,000 - £74,000 per year with excellent benefits.
• Nigeria: NGN 64,968,462 – NGN 90,955,847 per year with excellent benefits. 
• Rwanda: RWF 73,661,730- RWF 89,738,798 per year with excellent benefits. 

Change starts with water. Change starts with you.

Every day, millions of people live without clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene. WaterAid exists to change that – for everyone, everywhere. Join us, and your energy will help unlock people’s potential and create a fairer future.

About WaterAid

We’re a global federation driven by one vision: a world where everyone, everywhere has clean water, sanitation and hygiene by 2030. Powered by our values of Respect, Accountability, Courage, Collaboration, Integrity and Innovation, we work alongside communities, partners and supporters to make change happen.

About the Team

The Programme Operations team sits within WaterAid UK’s International Programmes Department (IPD), operating in 17 countries in Africa and Asia. The team is a diverse and motivated group of 14+ people made up of planning, monitoring, evaluation and reporting (PMER), project design and management, and programme systems specialists. They support global operational excellence, PMER, risk management, donor compliance and performance assurance across WaterAid UK’s country and regional programmes. Working in partnership with regional and country leadership teams, the function provides technical oversight, systems development and operational support to strengthen programme delivery and organisational accountability.

About the Role

The Head of Programme Operations leads the development, implementation and continuous improvement of WaterAid’s international programme operations framework. The role provides strategic and operational leadership across programme operations, business management, systems, risk and compliance.

Key responsibilities include overseeing IPD business management processes, supporting financial planning and performance reporting, acting as a delegated focal point for operational risk, and providing senior troubleshooting support on complex operational and management challenges.

The role works in close partnership with Programme Funding to ensure operational readiness for new donor opportunities and effective grant start-up and close-out. It also leads operational assurance processes, strengthens compliance with donor and organisational requirements, and supports capacity strengthening across regional and country teams.

In this role, you will:

• Provide Programme Operations Leadership
• Lead IPD Business Management and Support
• Drive Collaboration, Risk and Performance
• Oversee Systems, Compliance and Assurance
• Lead Capacity Strengthening and Support

To be successful, you’ll need:

• Proven experience in managing or overseeing large scale international programme operations in the INGO or development sector.
• Strong understanding of operational systems (finance, procurement, logistics, compliance) in multi country environments.
• Excellent relevant IT skills, primarily Microsoft Office (Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint and Word), but specifically relevant data systems that support high quality planning, monitoring and reporting.
• Experience of leading, managing and motivating others and driving change.
• Strong leadership and influencing skills, with the ability to build relationships and drive organisational change collaboratively.
• Experience working in complex matrix structures across multiple cultures.
• Strong analytical, problem solving and systems thinking capabilities.
• Demonstrated knowledge of donor compliance and grant management processes.
• Working style that reflects WaterAid’s values of Respect, Accountability, Courage, Collaboration, Integrity and Innovation.

Desirable:

• Experience in WASH, public health or community development sectors.
• Experience working with restricted and unrestricted funding portfolios.
• Relevant university degree or equivalent professional experience.
• Familiarity with WaterAid UK’s operating model and countries of operation.

Closing date: Applications will close 12:00 PM UK time on 3rd March 2026.   

How to Apply: Click Apply to answer the pre-screening questions upload your CV and cover letter.

Can I use Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology in my application? At WaterAid, we strongly advise against using AI technology at any stage of the recruitment process. Our goal is to ensure a fair and transparent process that provides every applicant with an equal opportunity to succeed. We value hearing about your unique experiences and perspectives in your application, and, if shortlisted, during the interview as well.

Pre-employment screening: To apply for this role, you must be able to demonstrate your eligibility to work in the respective country. All pre-employment checks will be carried out according to local law and WaterAid’s Safer Recruitment policy. All UK based roles require a basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Benefits

As a global organisation, WaterAid is committed to creating an environment where you can thrive and be yourself at your very best. Alongside our inspiring mission and meaningful work, we offer a range of benefits tailored to each country’s context and policies. These will be shared during the process

Our Global Commitment:

Our people promise

We will work with passion and focus to make sure everyone everywhere has clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene. WaterAid is a place of purpose – where people have a real commitment and shared responsibility for the impact we have. We are a global community with diverse backgrounds and perspectives, motivated by inspiring, stimulating work. We are

determined to be a place where people feel safe and able to contribute their voice and truly live our values.

Equal Opportunities

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, beliefs, customs, traditions, ways of life and status. This includes, but is not limited to, race, ethnicity, caste, colour, gender, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, disability status, neurodiversity, age, marital and family status, sexual orientation and gender identity, health status, place of residence, economic and social situation.

Safeguarding

We are committed to protecting everyone we come into contact with. We have a zero- tolerance approach to abuse of power, privilege or trust across our global work, and to any form of inappropriate behaviour, discrimination, abuse, bullying, harassment, or exploitation. Safeguarding the people and communities we work with, our staff, volunteers and anyone working on our behalf is our top priority, and we take our responsibilities extremely seriously. All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks (which can include counterterrorism, safeguarding and criminal records checks).

Together, we’ll change the world through water.

Join us and be part of the change!

We’re looking for a creative and data-driven Senior Social Media Officer to take the lead on managing and evolving our social media presence across multiple channels. You’ll work closely with colleagues across our global teams to bring our brand to life online — raising awareness, driving engagement, and helping us tell powerful stories of change.

This role sits within our Brand & Communications team. You’ll be responsible for managing digital communities, creating compelling content, spotting trends, and using data insights to optimise our performance. You’ll also play a vital role in building capacity across the organisation, helping others to use social media in a way that’s consistent, impactful, and aligned with our global objectives.

Accountabilities

• Lead the development and delivery of our social media strategy, ensuring alignment with broader communications goals.
• Manage our global social media channels and digital communities — engaging followers, responding to queries, and growing our reach.
• Create and coordinate engaging, platform-appropriate content — including graphics, video, and storytelling.
• Analyse and report on performance, using insights to inform strategy and day-to-day decisions.
• Stay ahead of trends, spotting new opportunities for engagement and innovation.
• Support colleagues and partners with expert advice, toolkits, and training to strengthen their own social media activity.
• Contribute to integrated campaigns, helping us amplify fundraising and other strategic profiling efforts (e.g. influencing, thought leadership, etc).

(Please see the Recruitment Pack on our careers page for full accountabilities details)

About you

You are an experienced and dynamic digital communications professional with a proven track record in developing and executing social media strategies that deliver demonstrable impact. Your exceptional communication skills enable you to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders, showing persuasive leadership to foster a culture of creativity and innovation rooted in data-backed insights and strategic brand building.

You are passionate about social justice, sustainable development, and climate resilience, and understand the power of social media to galvanise audiences and achieve organisational objectives. You’re curious, collaborative, and confident in your expertise, and feel equally comfortable rolling up your sleeves to create content or digging into analytics to continuously optimise performance.

You stay informed about emerging digital innovations, always seeking new ways to elevate Practical Action’s work and profile.

You’ll bring:

• Proven experience in social media strategy and management (experience in the INGO or development sector a plus).
• Excellent knowledge of key platforms (LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, etc.) strengths and opportunities, and how to get the most out of them.
• Strong storytelling skills and experience creating multimedia content, with grounded confidence to adapt master narratives and campaigns to diverse audiences.
• Spotless attention to detail and commitment to the development of high-quality outputs aligned with the organisation’s strategic objectives.
• Solid grasp of digital analytics, social listening tools, and the ability to translate data into insights, creating accessible reports and actionable recommendations.
• Continuous curiosity and understanding of current digital trends, best practices, and emerging platforms.
• Ability to work with and mentor a diverse array of colleagues from different backgrounds and cultures at all levels and experience.
• An inclusive, respectful, and collaborative mindset is a must.

Bonus if you have:

• Experience using project management tools like Mondaycom and Miro
• Comfortability using creative platforms like Canva and Adobe Creative Cloud