Head of principal gifts jobs

Role:  Head of Finance

Location:Hybrid (on-site 3 days per week in Sheffield)

Our offer to you

We pride ourselves in being a great place to work, providing a supportive culture with opportunities to grow and develop your career, achieve a healthy work life balance and to be recognised for the great work you do. You will receive:

• Competitive salary and pension scheme
• 33 days holiday (inclusive of bank holidays) - increasing to 38 days over 5 years
• Hybrid, Flexible working
• Cycle to work scheme Electric Vehicle Scheme
• Health and Wellbeing portal – access to financial, health and wellbeing support and an Employee Assistance Programme
• Discounts – you will have access to Blue Light and NHS Discounts as well as discounts on mobile phones, gym membership, cinema tickets, restaurants, holidays and shopping

About Us

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a team of over 1,400 employees and over 31,000 volunteers, united by our goal of saving lives through essential first aid services, training and campaigning.  As a charity with rich heritage and a long history of serving humanity, we are proud of our past and excited about creating a healthier, safer, more resilient future. 

St John Ambulance works at the heart of communities, supporting and enabling them to access and receive physical and mental health first aid. We do this through developing and providing effective community response and outreach services (e.g. Ambulance response & Nighttime Economy) and using our longstanding expertise to empower people with vital clinical skills and the confidence to use them (e.g. our Volunteers and Community Advocates, NHS Cadets and Young Responders programmes). There is also a buoyant social enterprise network which delivers first aid training and supplies medical consumables to businesses and consumers.

Job Summary

We’re looking for an experienced and forward-thinking finance leader to play a central role in shaping the future of the finance team at St John Ambulance. Reporting to the Finance Director (who reports directly to the CEO), this is a high-impact position at the heart of our finance transformation journey—ideal for a self-motivated, qualified accountant who thrives on change and making an impact.

As a senior leader within the organisation, you’ll be instrumental in driving the evolution of our finance function, leading and developing a large, multi-disciplinary team. You'll bring deep expertise across a broad range of finance disciplines and be excited by the opportunity to embed best practices, streamline processes, and strengthen financial governance.

This is more than a technical role—it's a strategic leadership opportunity. You'll collaborate with senior stakeholders across the organisation and externally, using your communication and influencing skills to shape decision-making and support our charitable mission.

You’ll oversee the delivery of timely, accurate management accounts and play a key role in providing high-quality financial reporting to our Trustees and Finance Committee. You'll also take the lead on our statutory audited accounts, acting as the principal contact for both internal and external auditors.

With additional responsibility for cashflow forecasting, treasury management, tax compliance, VAT, and gift aid, this role ensures St John maintains robust financial governance. While charity sector experience is an advantage, it's your passion for making a difference and your leadership in finance that will set you apart.

About You

• Educated to degree level with a full professional accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, or CIMA).
• Significant post-qualification experience (PQE) in senior financial accounting roles, with strong technical expertise.
• Proven track record in producing annual statutory accounts and successfully managing external audit processes.
• Extensive experience leading and developing large finance teams within complex organisations, driving performance and accountability.
• Skilled in preparing management accounts, income and expenditure reports, and cash flow forecasts to support strategic decision-making.
• Demonstrated success in finance team transformation, implementing process improvements, and enhancing financial controls.
• Experienced in stakeholder engagement at all levels, including Board reporting, and providing expert technical accounting advice to support change and excellence.

About the Role

• Lead statutory and management reporting: Oversee the production of audited statutory financial statements and timely completion of the external audit. Ensure best practice in external financial reporting and take full responsibility for the accuracy and delivery of monthly management accounts.
• Own cash flow and balance sheet management: Lead the preparation of the charity’s monthly rolling cash flow forecast and ensure full ownership of the balance sheet, including timely and accurate reconciliations.
• Strengthen financial controls and working capital: Ensure effective financial processes and controls within transactional teams to manage working capital and drive continuous improvement in financial operations.
• Oversee compliance and tax: Identify, manage and control financial risks, including tax compliance. Provide expert technical accounting advice and ensure the charity remains fully compliant in all taxation matters, including VAT and gift aid.
• Drive counter fraud and governance improvements: Act as the financial lead for the charity’s control environment and counter fraud framework. Champion improvements in fraud awareness, culture, and control.
• Manage key external relationships: Serve as the main contact for the charity’s bankers and investment managers, and act as secretary to the Finance Committee and Investment Advisory Group.
• Optimise treasury and investment performance: Lead treasury activities to maximise returns on working capital and investments, ensuring alignment with the charity’s strategic objectives.
• Develop team and performance culture: Foster a high-performing finance team through regular 1-1s, development reviews, and team meetings. Embed a strong performance management culture in line with St John Ambulance policies.

Please see the job description for more detail (this can be viewed on our website or once you click apply)

If you are a current St John Ambulance employee, please apply here: Click here

For all other candidates, or St John Ambulance volunteers wishing to apply: please apply below

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive high volume of applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

St John Ambulance are committed to increasing the diversity of our team and making sure we best reflect the diversity of the communities we serve.At St John, everyone is valued and supported to thrive, we have several networks including Multi Culture, Disability and Accessibility, Pride, Family and Carers and Women’s groups.  We do not tolerate any form of discrimination and engender a sense of belonging for all, by creating an environment of mutual respect, where we value unique differences and demonstrate authentic allyship. We believe passionately in equality, diversity and inclusion.

St John Ambulance is committed to safeguarding and we promote safe recruitment practice. Therefore, all successful applicants will undergo pre-employment checks, including DBS Clearance, as part of the onboarding process, if applicable to the nature of the role

Please note: St John does not accept speculative CVs and will only review CVs sent in application for an advertised vacancy.

The Freedom Fund

The Freedom Fund is a global non-profit dedicated to ending modern slavery. Since 2014, we’ve invested over $100 million into frontline organisations and coalitions, helping to shift power to local actors and create lasting systems change. Our new strategy doubles down on this commitment, investing in anti-slavery movements, fostering collaboration, and working as a trusted partner to the incredible people and organisations driving this work forward. 

Senior Strategic Partnerships Manager - Individual Philanthropy

This is a key role of the Freedom Fund’s partnerships team, responsible for leading and implementing the organisation’s individual fundraising strategy. This is a strategic, high-autonomy role with responsibility for developing and managing a global portfolio of individual donors and prospects, guiding them through all stages of the donor lifecycle - from identification and cultivation to solicitation and stewardship. The SSPM will lead the design and execution of a donor experience strategy to enhance engagement, deepen relationships, and increase long-term support. They will also manage and coordinate the strategic involvement of senior leadership - including the CEO, Managing Director of External Relations, and Head of Strategic Partnerships - in high-level donor engagement.

The SSPM will directly supervise at least one team member supporting both individual and foundation fundraising, and may manage additional staff as the individual giving function grows. They will collaborate closely with colleagues across the organisation - including the Events Manager, Communications team, and Programs teams - to develop compelling donor materials, shape engagement opportunities, and ensure alignment of messaging and strategy.

This role offers an exciting opportunity for a dynamic and values-driven fundraiser to build and lead a critical function within a fast-paced, global organisation working to end modern slavery.

Based in New York and reporting to the Head of Strategic Partnerships, the postholder will work collaboratively with colleagues across the U.S. and U.K. to grow and steward a portfolio of high-net-worth individuals and help shape the broader strategic partnerships strategy.

Interview process: 2 stage interview process: week commencing 9th June 2025 .

Please see the job description for all details.

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People – Prospect Research Team Manager

Location: Options for role to be site-based (Buckinghamshire or East Yorkshire), hybrid or home-based contract with regular travel for team collaboration, meetings and occasional donor events.
Salary: £50,000 per annum.

Contract: Permanent, full-time hours. 

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, whose mission is to see a time when no deaf person feels alone, is seeking a Prospect Team Manager to identify, qualify and deliver high-quality prospect insight to support transformational giving across their philanthropy and high value programmes.

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People has been creating life-changing partnerships between hearing dogs and deaf recipients since 1982. As well as acting as an ear to their partners and alerting them to sounds, the charity’s clever and expertly trained dogs help deaf people to live life with confidence and independence, whilst providing love, companionship and emotional support.

Following on from a strategic review, the charity is now looking to build a new Income Generation Directorate, to enable them to transform many more lives across the UK. This role will be critical to help Hearing Dogs reach their goals to diversify income, grow their philanthropy programme and increase engagement and impact.

Reporting to the Head of Philanthropy, this is a strategic and hands-on leadership role that will shape how the charity uses data, research and insight to drive significant growth in income from major donors, corporate partners and other high-value supporters. You will lead the Prospect Research function, developing and delivering a proactive, insight-led prospect research strategy to support the charity’s ambitious fundraising goals, as well as working to identify potential major donors amongst individuals, trusts and corporates.

The successful candidate will have a strong background in prospect research including identifying and prioritising prospects, network mapping, ethical screening and developing gift capacity ratings. You will be a proactive, strategic thinker with a collaborative outlook and a high attention to detail.  You will also possess excellent analytical and communication skills. Experience in setting up or significantly developing a prospect research function would be an advantage.

This is an exciting opportunity to shape and build a high-impact research function at a moment of huge growth for the charity, with the flexibility of working remotely or spending time at Hearing Dogs’ stunning bases in Buckinghamshire or Yorkshire, with friendly and passionate staff and their four-legged friends.

If you want to lead the pack and help deaf people leave loneliness behind Please download our Candidate Pack for further information [PDF], which includes details on how to apply.

Closing date: Monday 21st July, 9.00 am. 

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People – Case for Support & Impact Manager

Location: Options for role to be site-based (Buckinghamshire or East Yorkshire), hybrid or home-based contract with regular UK travel for meetings and pitches.
Salary: £50,000 per annum.

Contract: Permanent, full-time hours. 

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, whose mission is to see a time when no deaf person feels alone, is seeking a Case for Support & Impact Manager to develop completing, donor-centric materials that articular the impact, urgency and strategic importance of the charity’s work.

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People has been creating life-changing partnerships between hearing dogs and deaf recipients since 1982. As well as acting as an ear to their partners and alerting them to sounds, the charity’s clever and expertly trained dogs help deaf people to live life with confidence and independence, whilst providing love, companionship and emotional support.

Following on from a strategic review, the charity is now looking to build a new Income Generation Directorate, to enable them to transform many more lives across the UK. This role will be critical to help Hearing Dogs reach their goals to diversify income, expand their philanthropy programme and increase engagement and impact.

Reporting to the Head of Philanthropy, this role will be responsible for translating complex programmes and ambitions into clear, inspiring and emotionally resonant content for high-value supporters including major donors, trusts, foundations and corporate partners. The post-holder will also collaborate across different organisational departments to ensure that the charity’s vision, impact and funding needs are effectively communicated and tailored for different audiences to help secure transformational income.

Essential experience for this role includes a proven track record in developing high-quality fundraising cases for support, proposals or donor communications in a charity or social impact setting. You will have outstanding writing and storytelling skills with the ability to adapt engaging and persuasive content as required. As well as excellent project management and organisational skills, you will have a strong understanding of high-value fundraising, particularly philanthropy and trusts and foundations funding.

This is an exciting opportunity to help shape the voice and story of one of the UK’s most impactful and inspiring charities, with access to the most inspiring case studies out of the amazing partnerships the charity creates between deaf individuals and their expertly trained hearing dogs. You will also have the opportunity of working remotely or spending time at Hearing Dogs’ stunning bases in Buckinghamshire or Yorkshire, with friendly and passionate staff and their four-legged friends.

If you want to lead the pack and help deaf people live well with hearing loss Please download our Candidate Pack for further information [PDF], which includes details on how to apply.

Closing date: Monday 28th July, 9.00 am.