The Social Interest Group (SIG) is partnering exclusively with Robertson Bell in the search for a Chief Financial Officer. SIG is a dynamic charity and social impact organisation committed to delivering high-quality services and sustainable impact across the communities it serves. With a focus on long-term growth, transformation and financial sustainability, SIG operates with professionalism, integrity, and a trauma-informed approach. The organisation is committed to fostering an inclusive, collaborative, and innovative culture that empowers staff and promotes excellence.
The Role
The Chief Financial Officer is a pivotal member of the Executive Leadership Team, reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer. You will provide strategic and operational leadership across finance and procurement, ensuring robust financial governance and delivering high-quality insight to support organisational decision-making.
Key responsibilities include:
- Lead SIG’s financial strategy, planning, and operational delivery to drive organisational growth and sustainability.
- Advise the CEO, Board, and senior leaders on strategic financial decisions, presenting complex information in an accessible way.
- Lead financial transformation and improvement initiatives, optimising systems and infrastructure.
- Provide oversight of budgeting, financial reporting, forecasting, and risk management.
- Lead the Finance team, fostering a culture of accountability, innovation and continuous learning.
- Ensure compliance with statutory, regulatory, and charity finance requirements, upholding the highest standards of governance and stewardship of public funds.
- Support income generation, strategic partnerships, and long-term financial planning.
- Maintain and review risk registers, business continuity plans, and organisational performance frameworks.
Candidate Requirements
We are seeking a highly capable, strategic, and commercially aware finance professional with:
- Professional accountancy qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA) with full membership of a recognised body.
- Significant senior financial leadership experience in the charity or not-for-profit sector.
- Proven experience in strategic financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and reporting.
- Experience of leading financial transformation and change programmes.
- Experience presenting complex financial information to Boards and non-financial stakeholders.
- Strong understanding of charity finance regulations, SORP, governance, and compliance.
- Exceptional analytical, project management, and strategic planning skills.
- Ability to lead, influence, and inspire cross-functional teams and senior stakeholders.
- Commitment to SIG’s values, trauma-informed approach, and inclusive leadership.
Desirable:
- Relevant postgraduate qualification in finance, leadership, or management.
- Experience of overseeing IT.
- Experience in income generation, business development, or securing external funding.
Location
Hybrid working with twice a week in-person attendance required at SIG’s head office in London.
Please submit your CV to Robertson Bell, SIGs exclusive recruitment partner.
Registered Charity
101 - 500
Empowering independence through trauma-informed solutions and dynamic partnerships that keep people out of prison, out of hospital and off the streets
Thank you!
Sydenham Garden is seeking to appoint a Grants, Trusts and Statutory Fundraising Lead for two days per week on a fixed term contract for two years. They will join our team of 14 staff and 70 volunteers supporting people living with mental ill-health and dementia in south-east London.
Position: Grants, Trusts and Statutory Fundraising Lead
Contract: Fixed term for 2 years
Hours: 0.4 FTE 15 hours per week
Salary: £38,000 pro rata
Annual leave: 33 days including bank holidays pro rata
Location: Sydenham Garden Resource Centre, SE23 2LW or working from home – minimum 1 day a month in office
Application closing date: 9am Monday 13 April
Interview date: Friday 1 May
Our Organisation
Sydenham Garden, based in Lewisham in South-East London, is a special, unique and beloved wellbeing centre utilising its gardens, nature reserve and activity rooms to help people living with and recovering from mental and physical ill-health. We were established in 2002 and will celebrate our 25th anniversary in 2027. We provide nature and arts based creative, social and therapeutic activities for co-workers (the name we give our primary beneficiaries). People are referred to us from community organisations and health professionals and we use an integrative approach where those with different degrees of mental and physical ill health come together with volunteers from the local community to reduce social exclusion and prejudice. Each year we work with on average over 250 co-workers and over 70 volunteers.
About you
You’ll have experience in building relationships with a range of Trusts, Foundations and statutory funders, drafting compelling funding proposals and demonstrating impact through high-quality reports. You’ll have excellent communication and people skills and feel comfortable both thinking strategically and managing competing priorities day-to-day. Most importantly, you’ll thrive in a small team working to make a big impact for people living with mental ill-health and dementia.
Why you should join us
Sydenham Garden is a small team rooted in our local community, and that community is at the centre of everything we do; from the people we support, to the volunteers and neighbours who get involved in our gardens and our work in all sorts of ways.
We work collaboratively, support each other across different areas of the organisation, and aren't afraid to try new approaches and learn from what doesn't work. We're values-led, we care deeply about our impact, and we hold ourselves accountable to the people and communities we serve.
We're also confident advocates for our work, and comfortable making the case for Sydenham Garden to funders, partners and the wider community.
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Sydenham Garden is committed to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI). We want to build a diverse and inclusive staff, volunteer and trustee team where everyone feels that they belong and that reflects the profile of the communities we serve. Therefore, we will welcome and consider applications from candidates of all backgrounds and protected characteristics, and we particularly encourage applications from people of African or Caribbean heritage to ensure our staff team represents the communities we serve.
