Head of finance jobs

Job overview

Becoming the Head of Principal Donors at the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women is a fantastic opportunity to be part of lasting progress for women across the globe, ultimately contributing to a fairer, more equal and prosperous world.

You will lead and manage the Foundation’s philanthropy programme, working closely with our senior leadership team, the CEO and our founder to personally cultivate and steward the Foundation’s principal donors. This includes overseeing our recently formed Accelerate Circle – a select group of visionary philanthropists who help drive the Foundation’s fundraising through their networks.

We are seeking an exceptional relationship manager who thrives on external engagement and networking with key stakeholders. You will have a proven track record of establishing and managing global communities of HNWIs and fundraising volunteers, raising high six figure or seven figure donations annually.

In this role, you will be responsible for over £1 million of unrestricted income critical to delivering the Foundation’s goal of reaching one million women entrepreneurs. You will deliver excellent stewardship of our existing donors and cultivate new prospects.

About the role

Are you a strategic, compassionate, leader with a deep commitment to equality, justice and human rights?

Stand Against Racism & Inequality (SARI) is seeking a new Head of Services to join our senior leadership team and help shape the future of our frontline work. This is a unique opportunity to lead a passionate team delivering casework support, training, education, and community outreach to tackle hate crime and promote safer, more inclusive communities.

As Head of Services, you’ll oversee our day-to-day service delivery—ensuring it remains high-quality, trauma-informed, and aligned with our values. You’ll help us meet our contractual commitments, identify emerging needs, and strengthen our impact. You’ll also play a key role in developing staff, representing SARI externally, and supporting organisational strategy, income generation and policy.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading and supporting the delivery of SARI’s casework, education, and training services.

• Managing and mentoring staff across multiple teams and workstreams.

• Identifying patterns and trends in hate crime and feeding this into local responses.

• Representing SARI at public events, forums, and in the media.

• Contributing to strategic planning, policy development, fundraising and partnerships.

• Supporting the wellbeing, supervision and development of staff through inclusive and empowering leadership.

About you

We’re looking for someone with:

• Strong leadership and staff management experience.

• A deep understanding of discrimination, oppression and equalities issues.

• Experience of delivering support or advocacy services to marginalised communities.

• Excellent communication skills and a confident approach to partnership working.

• A strategic mindset and ability to juggle operational demands with long-term planning.

• A values-led, trauma-informed approach that centres service users and staff wellbeing

What we offer

• 25 days annual leave + bank holidays (rising by 1 day per year to 30 days)

• Hybrid and flexible working

• External trauma-informed 1:1 and group supervision

• A supportive, inclusive and mission-driven team

• The chance to make a meaningful difference to people’s lives

To apply

Visit our website to download the application pack and apply. We warmly welcome applications from people from diverse backgrounds, especially those with lived experience of discrimination or marginalisation.

Hybrid Working
Permanent, Full Time, 40 hours per week
Salary: £55,000 per annum

We are looking for a self-motivated and results driven Head of Finance and Administration to join World Horse Welfare in a newly created role reporting to the Director of Finance, IT & Administration, line managing three members of the Finance and Administration team.

In this vital role, you will ensure strong financial controls across all areas of the charity, manage income and expenditure, and lead on statutory accounts preparation, payroll, VAT, pensions, and tax compliance. As a key business partner, you will work closely with budget holders of all levels, providing data and analysis on the performance of charity operations, including the four Visitor Centres, to ensure excellent financial foresight and planning, as well as enabling the senior leadership team to make timely strategic decisions. You’ll also oversee governance responsibilities such as annual statutory filings, insurance, fleet management and reporting on the annual carbon footprint.

We are looking for a qualified accountant who has experience of charity finance at a similar level, an in depth understanding of charity VAT and experience running in-house payroll processes. You will have the ability to explain financial information and produce financial reports for a wide variety of audiences. High level of IT skills particularly around data manipulation and Microsoft Excel is essential. As a line manager to three members of staff, you’ll have previous experience in managing a team in a supportive and effective manner. Experience of a retail environment, familiarity with fundraising methods and regulations, and experience of finance system implementation is highly desirable.

The role is based in Norfolk and is currently a hybrid split of 2 days in our head office in Snetterton and 3 days at home. You may be required to attend events around the UK so the ability to travel occasionally is necessary.

World Horse Welfare takes great pride in being realistic, compassionate and forward-thinking, and you will be expected to share these values.

Benefits include a generous pension scheme and cash health plan, paid employee sickness absence scheme, death in service of 4 x annual salary and a minimum of 31 days’ holiday (including bank holidays and mandatory shutdown between Christmas and New Year).

World Horse Welfare is committed to championing equality and diversity in all aspects of employment and in the services that it provides. We encourage applications from under-represented groups, particularly ethnically diverse communities, LGBTQ+ and disabled people.

Closing date for applications: Wednesday 2nd July 2025

About Kinship

We are Kinship. The leading kinship care charity in England and Wales. We’re here for kinship carers – friends or family who step up to raise a child when their parents aren’t able to. 

Together, let’s commit to change for kinship families.

About the role

We are seeking a technically capable, qualified accountant with strong knowledge of the Charities SORP to provide effective stewardship and oversight of the Finance function at Kinship. You will be responsible for financial controls, management accounting and ensuring the effective delivery of ‘business as usual’ financial management.

As well as producing monthly management accounts, you will be responsible for running the annual budget and the year-end processes, preparing for the yearly external audit and ensuring that the organisation complies with statutory obligations.

You will prepare papers for and attend the quarterly Finance Committee meetings and will liaise with a range of stakeholders including auditors, the bank and investment managers.  You will be the ‘go to’ business partner at the charity, supported by the Chief Operating Officer and Fractional Chief Financial Officer.

You will manage a team of two colleagues – a Senior Finance Officer and a Payroll Manager – providing them with guidance, coaching and support to enable them to perform effectively. You will also collaborate and work with Directors and senior managers across the organisation to inform them on performance against budget and conditions of funding, as well as supporting fundraising and commissioning bids. 

You will have excellent communication skills and will be able to organise conflicting priorities around the monthly management accounts cycle, while supporting the achievement of our strategic objectives. You will be flexible and adaptable in your approach to supporting transformational change in our processes and systems, as well as dealing with, and leading on, the day-to-day financial management. 

This is a broad and challenging role for a dynamic and systems-driven individual who wants to grow within the organisation, proactively problem solve and help colleagues to deliver on our mission.

Essential requirements include:

• Fully qualified ICAEW, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent
• In-depth understanding of accounting principles, standards and the Charities SORP, and experience of applying these in a service delivery organisation
• Experience managing a Finance function in a charity with £1-10m annual turnover
• Experience of line management and developing a team using approaches that are empowering
• Experience of Business Central, or the ability to quickly learn a new accounting system
• Excellent Microsoft Excel skills with the ability to use Pivot Tables and other functions to analyse large data sets

What we’ll offer you 

Kinship offers 30 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays (pro-rata for part-time) as well as a generous pension scheme. We have an excellent wellbeing offer including the Employee Assistance Programme and clinical supervision. We will invest in your professional development with training and career development opportunities.

Kinship is committed to championing equality, diversity and inclusion.  We believe our work is greatly enhanced by the varied backgrounds, experiences and views represented within our teams.  We aim to create inclusive teams, celebrate differences and encourage everyone to join us and be their true self at work. We therefore encourage applications from anyone who fits our values, whatever their religion or belief, sex, gender identity, race, age, sexuality or disability and are actively seeking candidates that can bring real innovation and commitment to us. 

This is a fantastic time to join a supportive and well-established team within an organisation with rapid growth ambitions. This role will be what you make it and we’re looking for someone to seize this opportunity!

How to apply

Please apply via Charity Job with your CV and a cover letter of no more than 2 pages for the attention of Joshua Marks. Please include your notice period and earliest availability to start in your cover letter.

• Application deadline:      8.00am on Monday 7 July 2025
• First interview:                 Online - Wednesday 9 and Thursday 10 July
• Second interview:          In-person (Vauxhall, London) - Wednesday 16 and Thursday 17 July [2 hours                                                     including Excel and presentation task]

Kinship reserves the right to close applications early on receipt of sufficient applications. Apply early!

We are working in partnership with Emmaus Village Carlton (EVC), a flagship Emmaus community, who give hope and a sense of belonging to those who have experienced homelessness or social exclusion by creating a safe and supported community and opportunities to develop. They are a respected local charity and social enterprise with a unique self-funded model, and capacity for up to 45 Companions to live and gain work experience on site, who are supported by the staff team and volunteers.

They are now seeking a new Head of Finance, who will be a pro-active member of the Senior Leadership Team and actively contribute to the smooth running and ongoing development of the organisation. The Head of Finance will provide effective leadership of the financial management of EVC, across both the social enterprise and charitable objectives, as well as overseeing administrative and IT support, working closely with the IT support provider and the Administration Assistant to achieve good operational performance.

With a sharp rise in homelessness being seen across the country and the cost-of- living crisis heavily impacting local communities, this is a hugely exciting time to join a dynamic organisation with a strong purpose and unique approach to supporting people experiencing homelessness.

The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate the following:

• Fully qualified accountant (ACCA, ACA, CIMA) or part qualified with significant relevant experience.
• 3+ years’ experience in financial reporting, financial planning, strategic planning and budgeting.
• 3+ years’ experience in a senior management / leadership role.
• Experience of managing in house payroll systems, including HMRC and pension requirements. 

We are seeking an agile and resilient individual, who is highly self-motivated and demonstrates integrity, compassion and empathy. 

For more information, please contact Katherine Anderson-Scott, Associate Director of Charisma Charity Recruitment.Your application should be submitted through the Charisma website and include your CV and supporting statement.

We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, or other category protected by law.

Location: Emmaus Village Carlton, Bedfordshire, MK43 7LQ / scope for occasional homeworking

Closing date: 17th July 2025

Charisma vetting interviews must be completed by the EOD on the 24th July prior to shortlisting on the 25th July

Interviews with Emmaus Village Carlton: TBC

About the Minster Centre

The Minster Centre is a registered charity and company limited by guarantee that provides training in psychotherapy and counselling and an affordable therapy service.

It was founded in 1978 as the first Integrative psychotherapy and counselling training in the UK and is a leading psychotherapy training institution. Now based in Queens Park, NW London, it runs training ranging from open access introductory courses to post-graduate degrees validated by Middlesex University. The Minster Centre caters for around 300 diploma and MA students each year. It is registered with the Office for Students.

The Minster Centre Psychotherapy & Counselling Service (MCPCS) also provides a safe, affordable and professional counselling service to people over the age of 18 who are experiencing a range of difficulties. The service is provided by senior trainees who are in the process of completing their therapy training.

The Centre has an annual turnover of £1.8 million and over 80 staff, most of whom are part-time. For further information about the Centre please visit the Minster Centre website

Role purpose

The Minster Centre is seeking to develop and further professionalise its operations and is recruiting to a new Head of Finance role. This is a part-time, flexible role for two days per week in the first instance. Some time in the office will be needed to work alongside other staff and key stakeholders – this can be managed flexibly alongside working from home. The role would therefore suit someone who wants to balance an interesting and senior role alongside other responsibilities or interests.

The Head of Finance will oversee the financial operations of the charity, owning and ensuring compliance to financial policies and procedures. You will provide strategic financial guidance to the Management Committee and contribute to the delivery of the charity’s financial strategies.

Early priorities will be:

• A review of existing financial policies and procedures to support the ongoing effective running of the charity.
• Working with the Lead team to ensure the charity’s finances are sustainable long-term

A full job description and person specification is available in the Recruitment Pack at the bottom of this page.

Terms and conditions

Salary: Pro rata, £55,000 FTE

Hours: 14 hours per week in the first instance, hybrid working. Exact hours open to negotiation. Some flexibility will be required to attend key meetings.

Contract: Fixed term appointment to end July 2028, in the first instance.

Holidays: 33 days including bank holidays, pro rata

Key working relationships: Management Committee (4 staff who collectively lead the organisation). This post will report to that Team and be line managed by one of them), Finance Administrator, HR and Governance Manager, Quality Manager and Registrar.

How to apply

Please apply using the application forms with a covering email to Afua Pierre by 12 noon on Thursday 17th July, however we reserve the right to close the recruitment process once we have received sufficient high quality applications.

For further information please contact the Director, Lissie Wright by email to arrange an informal conversation.

We particularly welcome applications from people from underrepresented groups, including people from global majority communities, the LGBTQIA+ community, care leavers, people with disabilities and people from other minorities.

Role: Head of Finance
Hours: 37 hours per week
Contract: Permanent  
Salary: £55,690 – £62,682 per annum
Closing date: Thursday 10th July at 9:00am
Interview Date: Friday 18 July

Wigan & Leigh Hospice is a wonderful place to work. Our staff are our greatest asset providing the very highest standard of care. All our teams are all part of the Hospice team: working together to make the Hospice the best it can be. We have achieved Outstanding in the last CQC inspection. Our values: Compassion, Accessibility, Respect, Excellence, are at the heart of everything we do.

We are proud to offer a wide range of benefits, including:

· A warm and welcoming working environment,

· 35 days annual leave inclusive of bank holidays, increasing with length of service,

· Contributary pension scheme,

· Free car parking,

· Subsidised lunches,

· Cycle to Work Scheme,

· Shopping, leisure and holiday discounts,

· On demand GP,

· Westfield Health Cash Plan,

· Life Assurance,

· A range of Wellbeing initiatives.

The available role
As our new Head of Finance, you’ll be a key member of the Business Development Team - managing a small team and ensuring they deliver a high quality service. You will work closely with the Executive Team and Board of Trustees, ensuring they have a clear understanding of the hospice’s financial position.

You’ll be joining a values-led, CQC Outstanding rated hospice at a pivotal moment in our journey. Together, we are strengthening and evolving our services to meet changing needs across Wigan and Leigh, while staying rooted in our mission: to promote and provide outstanding care, specialist support and information for people experiencing and affected by life-limiting illness, dying, and bereavement.

As Head of Finance, you will lead the hospice’s budgeting process and audit process, as well as producing regular management accounts, forecasts, statutory returns and investments. You will work with managers from across the hospice to help them to better understand their own budgets and you will play a vital role in improving efficiencies and managing costs.

The role is available 37 hours per week, Monday – Friday, 8.30am – 4.30pm (Friday 4pm finish), on a salary of £55,690 - £62,682 per annum. A hybrid approach to work, with the option to work from home 1–2days per week, depending on the needs of the service.

How to apply
To apply for this role, please send your CV along with a one-page supporting statement explaining why you believe you’re the right fit to HR Department. 

Job Description can be accessed via Application Form tab on our website.

Application deadline: Thursday 10th July at 9:00am

Interviews: Friday 18th July

Our Interview Process
As part of the initial interview process, you will take part in a panel interview and be asked to prepare a presentation to share with the panel.

You’ll also have the opportunity to tour our hospice.

If you’d like to find out more about the role or have an informal conversation, please get in touch with our HR team. 

If you have not heard from us within two weeks after the closing date, this will mean you have been unsuccessful this time.

Successful appointments will be subject to Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Services Check (DBS) check.

About us
Wigan and Leigh Hospice is a well-established charity which has been operating since 1983. We provide a wide range of palliative care services to people with advancing life-limiting illnesses of any diagnosis and to those people important to them. The support we offer is tailored to meet individuals’ physical, social, spiritual and emotional needs. 

We are committed to protect the privacy and security of your personal information. To see how we do this please visit our website and read our “Role Applicants Data Protection Compliance Statement (Privacy Notice)”.

An exciting position has arisen for a Head of Finance to join an excellent Community Foundation on a permanent basis. The postholder will be reporting directly to the CEO and will be part of the executive team, leading a team of 7.

Key responsibilities:

• Lead, manage and improve the Trust’s finance function and provide accurate, timely and relevant financial reports as required by the CEO
• Be the Executive Lead of the Finance Audit and Risk Committee, ensuring timely papers to the CEO and to the Committee and Board as required
• Ensure the provision and reporting of financial accounts, forecasting and large-scale project/programme budgets
• Oversight of the legal and financial statutory processes in line with the Charity Commission and Companies House requirements, including the annual audit
• Allocating tasks for timely responses and keeping all colleagues abreast of progress
• Monitor, cash flow, reserves, analysis of performance against the organisation’s annual business plan and dashboard as it relates to the finance function
• Contribute to the overall leadership of the Trust and to the Trust’s future strategic and operational planning
• Direct line management of 3 staff, indirectly manage 7
• Ensuring an excellent service to all budget managers, enabling them to make effective use of all systems and monitor and manage their income and expenditure
• To attend the Executive Team meetings and provide reports

Successful candidate profile:

• Qualified Accountant (ACCA/CIMA/ACA)
• Significant track record in a Head of Finance / FD role for a Charity
• Experience of implementing enhanced reporting tools
• Experience of cost-effective procurement in line with policy
• Extensive staff management experience

Salary: up to £80,000 per annum + excellent benefits

Working pattern:  on site

Hours: 35 per week

Location: West London

Duration: Permanent

Agency Reference Number: J81925

This vacancy will be actively shortlisted so early applications are encouraged to avoid missing out.

Venn Group is an equal opportunities employment business and employment agency and welcomes applications from all candidates.

We are a small but mighty team, with huge ambitions to transform more lives of those who live with an intellectual disability, through the power of sport.

If you are just looking for a job, then we are probably not for you. However, if you are an experienced finance and business operations professional able to demonstrate strategic and operational ability around financial planning and processes as well as delivering cost effective, efficient and fit-for-purpose business services, then we would like to hear from you.  Charity finance experience and experience in a similarly broad role covering other areas of business operations including IT, risk management, data protection & data management and health & safety is a must.

We continue to be focused on our vision to create an inclusive world for all, driven by the power of sport, through which people with intellectual disabilities live active, healthy and fulfilling lives. We are a small, but growing, team with huge ambitions, and applicants must be comfortable operating in an environment where working under your own initiative is expected and encouraged.

We are looking for people who are passionate about Special Olympics and are completely aligned with our values. We are authentic. We act with honesty, integrity and respect. We are creative and innovative. We love to embrace difference and doing things differently. We are brave, courageous, resilient and determined. We listen and are led by the voice of our athletes. We are always kind. We are Inclusion in Action.

We are continuing to build a high-performing team who care for each other and care about our cause. Our athletes are incredibly inspirational, courageous and insightful people, and they deserve a team who are equally committed and passionate about our mission.

This is a permanent, home-based role. There will be the requirement to attend internal and external meetings or events which will involve travel away from home and working outside of normal hours.     

The role is both strategic and operational in nature and represents a fantastic chance to join an amazing charity at an exciting time of growth.

For job role specifics please see the Job Description.

What We Can Offer 

· Competitive salary circa £33,000 (£55K FTE) per annum depending on experience. 

· 15 days holiday on appointment plus pro rata bank holidays and one extra day for your Birthday. 

· Stakeholder Pension Scheme from appointment. 

· Time off in Lieu (TOIL) for out of hours work. 

· Flexible working. 

· Health Cash Plan

How to Apply

To apply, please send a covering letter (maximum 2 pages) explaining why you wish to work for Special Olympics GB. It is important that all prospective employees understand our mission and are driven by our cause. Please be specific about how your skills and experience will help you undertake this role and how they match the requirements of the Job Description and Person Specification. Generic letters and agency approaches will not be considered. Please also include your CV.

First stage interviews will be held week commencing 28th July 2025.

Safer Recruitment 

Special Olympics Great Britain is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The suitability of all prospective employees or volunteers will be assessed during the recruitment process. The successful candidate will be required to complete regular safeguarding training and undertake a DBS/PVG check relevant to the requirements of the role. For this role that will involve a Basic Disclosure. 

Equal Opportunities

Special Olympics GB is committed to equality and diversity and encourages all sections of the community, particularly those living with a disability, who meet the job requirements to apply.

Other

The job holder will need to provide evidence of their ability to live and work in the UK and will be required to undertake a basic DBS check.

We will only contact those who have been selected for interview.

We request no contact from agencies.

Are you a values-driven finance leader who thrives on making a difference—not just in spreadsheets, but in people’s lives?

At Catalyst Support, we believe in doing finance differently. We're looking for a Head of Finance and Resources who is not only technically skilled but proactive, people-focused, and ready to roll up their sleeves. This is a hands-on role with strategic reach—perfect for someone who enjoys balancing high-level planning with real-time problem-solving.

This is more than just a finance role—it’s an opportunity to shape the future of a truly purpose-driven organisation. We’re looking for a confident and approachable leader who thrives on collaboration, brings clarity to complexity, and drives excellence within a growing finance and operations function.

Location: Woking / Hybrid (on-site presence ideally 3 times per week)

Salary: £53,000–£55,000 DOE per annum (pro rata if part-time)

Permanent | Full-time (35 hrs/week) – open to part time discussions

About Us

Catalyst Support, is a respected non-profit organisation in Surrey that’s been supporting people facing mental health challenges, substance use, and wellbeing needs for over 35 years. Operating with values at the heart of everything they do, Catalyst empowers communities through responsive, high-quality services and compassionate care.

About the Role

Reporting directly to the CEO, the Head of Finance and Resources plays a pivotal leadership role across the organisation. You’ll be responsible for strategic financial management, operational support functions, and leading a small finance and business support team. You’ll also sit on the Senior Leadership Team, contributing to organisational planning, compliance, and resource management.

Key responsibilities include:

· Overseeing budgeting, forecasting, and financial performance tracking

· Producing insightful analysis and reporting for leadership and trustees

· Managing bank reconciliations and monthly management accounts

· Ensuring compliance with statutory and regulatory frameworks (Charity Commission, HMRC, Companies House)

· Maintaining accountability for restricted funding streams and service-level finances

· Leading financial input into bids, tenders, and strategic planning

· Overseeing payroll, pensions, contracts, suppliers, and insurance

· Supporting office management, property, and operational infrastructure

Who We’re Looking For

We’re on the lookout for someone who is both technically confident and people-oriented—a leader who understands that finance is a partner in transformation, not just a function of compliance.

You will be:

· A qualified accountant (ICAEW, ACCA, or equivalent)

· Experienced in senior finance roles, ideally in the charity or non-profit sector

· Proficient in Xero and advanced Excel

· Approachable and collaborative, with the ability to influence and support teams across the organisation

· Hands-on when needed, with strong attention to detail and a proactive mindset

· Comfortable balancing strategic oversight with day-to-day management

· Committed to working in a mission-led, values-driven environment

You will thrive in this role if you:

· Bring clarity to complexity and confidence to decision-making

· Enjoy working alongside operational and service delivery teams

· Want to align your financial skills with meaningful social impact

· Are motivated by purpose and excited to help grow a community-based organisation

The Richmond Project 

Job title: Head of Finance & Compliance – Part Time
Salary: £65,000pa - £75,000pa FTE
Hours: Part time - 3 days per week
Hybrid Working: 2-3 days a week is required at their office based in Central London

About Us

We believe that building confidence with numbers can change lives. The Richmond Project, created and led by Akshata Murty and Rishi Sunak, identifies and supports innovative initiatives that drive social mobility by helping families break down barriers to numeracy. Our organisation is brand new, and we are looking to build out the founding team with exceptional talent from across all sectors.

Role description

As we begin to grow, we’re looking for a highly experienced Head of Finance & Compliance to ensure best-in-class financial governance, statutory obligations, and operational compliance.

This is a senior, hands-on role ideal for someone who has worked in a similar capacity within the charity or social enterprise sector. You’ll take ownership of our financial reporting, charity and company filings, risk management processes, and ensure we’re meeting all regulatory requirements — so our team can focus on delivery with confidence.

Key responsibilities

Finance

• Oversee day-to-day financial processes, working closely with external accountants.

• Lead budgeting and forecasting processes alongside the CEO.

• Monitor cash flow, manage financial risk, and prepare internal finance reports for the Board.

• Ensure timely and accurate preparation of annual accounts and external audit process.

• Support fundraising by preparing financial inputs for grant proposals and reports.

Governance & Compliance

• Act as Company Secretary: manage Board meetings, minutes, filings, and statutory record-keeping.

• Ensure full compliance with Companies House, Charity Commission, HMRC, and other statutory bodies.

• Maintain and update key internal policies (e.g. safeguarding, data protection, finance policy).

• Support risk register maintenance and ensure appropriate insurance coverage.

• Work closely with the CEO on contract management and legal compliance.

What we're looking for

• Significant experience in a senior finance, governance, or company secretarial role in the charity or non-profit sector.

• Strong working knowledge of UK charity finance and regulatory obligations. The organisation will be making grants from an early stage, so experience with grant-giving will be highly valuable.

• Excellent attention to detail, reliability, and professional integrity.

• Confident managing external advisers and auditors.

• Comfort with ambiguity and excitement at the prospect of an entrepreneurial, mission-driven organisation

• Passion for improving numeracy, providing opportunity, and social impact.

• Relevant qualifications (e.g. ICSA, ACCA, ACA, or CIPFA) are desirable but not essential if equivalent experience is demonstrated.

How to apply

If you would like to apply, please send an up-to-date CV to Simon Bascombe from Harris Hill via the apply button. 

Interim Head of Finance & Operations

Career Ready is a social mobility charity that believes that every young person deserves the opportunity to enjoy a rewarding future.

We were founded in 2002 by leading business figures with a mission: to boost social mobility by empowering young people and giving their talents a platform from which to flourish. Since then, we’ve grown in England and Scotland to support young people in areas of need.

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced, qualified Finance professional to lead our Finance & Operations function.

About the Role

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer the Interim Head of Finance & Operations leads on and assumes day to day responsibility for providing high quality, strategic financial management for Career Ready.

You will lead on business operations to ensure the ongoing effective functioning of the charity and drive sustainable growth.

The Interim Head of Finance and Operations plays a key role in leading greater organisational efficiency and simplifying processes and will continue the delivery of a project plan reflecting the 2025-30 strategy.

You will play a critical role in driving the increased quality of Career Ready’s offer to our stakeholders in line with our strategy, vision and values.

Member of our SMT, comprising of the CEO, Director for Scotland, Director of Programme and Partnerships and Heads of functions.

This is an interim role to cover a period of maternity leave.

Main responsibilities and accountabilities

· Lead, direct and manage the finance and operations functions, overseeing two direct reports, ensuring they deliver a high-quality service to all internal and external stakeholders and are seen as adding value, in enabling Career Ready to achieve its vision and strategic objectives through its people. 

· Continue the delivery of a project plan reflecting the 2025-30 strategy, ensuring that activities happen at pace, are deadline-driven and achieve a high level of impact.

· Assume overall responsibility for the financial management of Career Ready, working with the SMT to ensure high quality and effective use of charitable funds.

· Input into and review the financial elements of funding applications and ensure that fund accounting processes align with funders’ requirements for project reporting.

· Produce financial reports for various stakeholders, as well as leading on financial modelling.

· Have oversight of all financial and accountancy matters including month end reports, management accounts, cash flow management, compliance, tax liability, presentation of management information and KPIs. Ensure that the CEO and Trustees are provided with accurate, timely information and analysis. 

· Oversee and coordinate the fully managed payroll services with the external bureau for all Career Ready employees and for some internship students (Jun to Aug during the Summer)

· Administration of the Staff Opt-In Pension Scheme, including onboarding new staff (Royal London)

· Act as a role model in our ‘one team’ culture. Lead in the development of efficient working practices across the charity, creating momentum and supporting motivation within the charity. 

· Lead risk management strategies and internal control procedures to minimise the risk of loss, or damage to, Career Ready’s assets. 

· Prepare and submit annual operational budgets and annual accounts to the CEO for review and approval.

· Draft and deliver papers for Trustees and Finance and Fundraising Committee (F&FC) meetings. 

· Attend Board and F&FC meetings to present papers and answer questions related to areas of expertise. 

· Provide day to day line management of the Senior Finance Officers and support their ongoing growth and development.

· Management of organisational governance and compliance activities, including policy management.

· Oversee and manage the organisation’s risk management register and process, with input from SMT.

· Oversee reviews and renewals of all insurance policies that affect the organisation.

· Lead on the compliance of statutory and charity regulatory reporting, giving guidance to colleagues where required.

· Ensure any changes to processes and procedures across the function are clearly documented.

Person Specification

Essential skills and experience

•  Belief and commitment to Career Ready’s mission and values
• Qualified (ACA/ACCA/CIMA/AAT) accountant with at least 5 years’ experience in financial management including budgeting, preferably in the charity sector.
• Significant experience in producing management and financial accounts
• Skilled in financial reporting and producing VAT returns
• Preparing for and ensuring a successful year-end audit, and demonstrable knowledge of UK Charities SORP and other reporting standards
• Experience in budgeting to support strategic decision making.
• Financial dexterity and strong analytical skills.
• Strong IT skills, including advanced MS Excel skills and extensive of using an accounting software, preferably Xero
• Excellent organisational and prioritising skills and ability to work independently and with autonomy
• Strong starter finisher with ability to lead and drive projects
• Knowledge of charity governance and compliance requirements
• Ability to build excellent relationships and have effective engagement with stakeholders
• Good communication skills and ability to communicate financial concepts to non-finance staff
• Attention to detail
• Ability to present financial information to various audiences
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and sensitivity of financial information
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to cope with competing demands to deadlines
• Honest and dependable

Desirable skills and experience

• Experience of leading a team, strong team building skills
• Line management experience
• Experience of using MS Planner or other project management tools
• Genuine interest in the work done by the Charity
• Experience of using a CRM (Salesforce)
• Degree in financial management or accounting

Full details are provided in the candidate pack

Salary and Benefits

Salary: £52,000 to £54,000 FTE (salary will be pro-rata for part time hours)

28-35 hours per week.  Career Ready is committed to supporting condensed/flexible working patterns.

Permanent and remote.  Travel to London required on an occasional basis

You will be rewarded with the following benefits:

· 6% contribution to personal pension plan, subject to 3% employee contribution.

· Annual leave: 27 days per annum plus bank/public holidays (pro rata for part time). The charity is also closed between Christmas and New Year. Career Ready also allows flexible use of some Bank & Public Holidays

· Cycle to Work Scheme

· Access to both our Reward Gateway Portal and an Employee Assistance Programme.

· Flexible working

· Work from home allowance and paid travel expenses.

We regret that Career Ready is unable to offer visa sponsorship and candidates must be able to demonstrate their right to work in the UK. In accordance with our commitment to safeguarding, offers of employment are subject to completion of a DBS check. 

Timetable

Applications close at 9am on Monday 21 July 2025 

Please note that the closing date may be brought forward if we receive strong applications.

This is an interim role to cover a period of maternity leave, with a provisional start date of late September for a handover period.

Interim Head of Finance (3–4 months)
Location: Central London
Salary: c. £65,000–£79,000 (pro rata) Day rates apply
Start: ASAP

An excellent opportunity has arisen for an experienced Interim Head of Finance to join a group of leading independent schools in central London for a 3–4 month assignment.

This short-term post will support a newly integrated shared finance function, providing leadership and stability at a critical time of change. The schools involved have strong academic reputations, rich histories, and are committed to delivering excellent education to a diverse student body.

The Role

• Lead a cross-site finance team to deliver efficient, effective finance services

• Provide clear, robust financial planning, reporting, and analysis to senior leaders and governing boards

• Partner with external finance teams on operational and strategic finance matters

• Support budget setting, monitoring, and cost improvement initiatives

• Champion service excellence for internal and external customers

• Foster collaboration and professional development within the finance team

​About You

We’re seeking a qualified accountant (CCAB/CIMA) who is immediately available and can demonstrate:

• Significant senior-level experience in financial and management accounting

• Strategic financial leadership, ideally within education, charity, public sector, or similarly complex settings

• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills

• A track record of improving processes and delivering service excellence

• Experience leading teams through change and embedding collaborative cultures

✨ Why Join?

• Shape and strengthen a shared finance function at a pivotal moment

• Work with engaged leadership teams committed to improvement

• Enjoy a professional, collaborative culture in central London

• Make a meaningful impact during a time of transition and challenge for the sector

This is an interim post for 3–4 months, perfect for an experienced finance leader seeking a rewarding short-term role in a high-profile environment.

How to Apply
If you’re ready to bring your expertise to this important interim assignment, please send your CV as soon as possible.

For a confidential discussion about the role, get in touch with Rosemary Pini at Allen Lane