Interim - Head of Finance

Contract: Interim, immediate start until mid-November 2026
Reports to: Chief Operating Officer

The Role

We are seeking an experienced and highly hands-on Interim Head of Finance to join an international not-for-profit organisation for a short-term assignment.

The key priority will be to hold the fort during a period of transition, ensuring the day-to-day finance function continues to operate effectively before providing a comprehensive handover to the incoming permanent Head of Finance.

This is very much a hands-on, sleeves-rolled-up role. Alongside overseeing the finance function, you will be comfortable getting into the detail yourself, including making payments, managing payroll and VAT returns, maintaining accurate financial information and supporting the migration to a new banking provider.

A significant project during the assignment will also be leading the development of the organisation’s 2027 annual budget.

Key Responsibilities

• Take ownership of the day-to-day finance function throughout the interim period.
• Manage and support the Finance Officer.
• Maintain accurate and timely financial information, reporting and controls.
• Take a hands-on role in payments, payroll and VAT returns.
• Manage and oversee the organisation’s Xero accounting system.
• Lead the migration to a new banking provider, ensuring a smooth transition and appropriate controls.
• Lead the preparation of the 2027 organisational budget, working closely with senior leaders and budget holders.
• Provide management information and financial advice to the COO, CEO and Senior Leadership Team.
• Support effective management and reporting of restricted donor funds, including appropriate allocations and cost recovery.
• Work with fundraising colleagues on grant budgets and donor financial reporting where required.
• Ensure key financial and statutory deadlines continue to be met.
• Maintain strong financial controls and ensure the finance function is well organised for the incoming permanent Head of Finance.
• Deliver a clear and comprehensive handover at the end of the assignment.

About You

We are looking for someone who can quickly get to grips with an organisation and operate with minimal supervision. You will be equally comfortable working with senior stakeholders and getting directly involved in transactional and operational finance.

You will ideally bring:

• A recognised accountancy qualification – ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent.
• Strong experience operating at Head of Finance / Financial Controller level within a charity, NGO or wider not-for-profit environment.
• Good working knowledge and practical experience of Xero.
• A genuinely hands-on approach, with the willingness to process payments and get involved in payroll, VAT and the day-to-day finance workload.
• Strong budgeting and forecasting experience, ideally having led an organisation-wide annual budgeting process.
• Experience managing and reporting on restricted donor or grant funding, including allocations.
• Knowledge of UK charity accounting and Charity SORP.
• Strong financial controls and process management experience.
• The ability to communicate financial information clearly to non-finance colleagues.
• The confidence to quickly establish priorities, keep the function running effectively and leave everything in good shape for the permanent postholder.

This would suit an experienced interim finance professional who enjoys getting stuck into the detail and can provide a safe pair of hands during a period of transition.