Chief Operating Officer

About Beyond Autism

We are experts in delivering autism education services from pre-school to 25. BeyondAutism is a nonprofit organisation, driving change in the world of autism education to ensure autistic children and young 
adults access an education which empowers a life full of choice, independence and opportunity. We do 
this by creating positive educational experiences, training for the professional team around a child, and 
information, resources and support for families and carers.
Our services:
We deliver rapid and sustained outcomes in our Early Years’ service by working with parents and children 
together. Empowering parents to feel resilient and confident in meeting the needs of their child leads to 
aspirational, informed choices creating a positive and successful step into primary education.
Our two schools and 2 Post-19 services have a specialist curriculum that ensures sustained success beyond the 
age of 25, setting children and young adults up with the skills and independence to lead a life of their choosing.
By teaching them the academic and life skills they need and through the promotion of a happy, caring 
environment, we nurture the confidence, independence and self-belief to enable them to make the most of the 
next stage of their life or education.
We also work more widely, activating networks and building local capacity with our solution focused Outreach 
team. Our unique BeyondAutism Fast Responder® service works at the point of crisis to change the national 
picture and reduce school placement breakdown

Our Values

At BeyondAutism we are:
Dedicated to delivering excellence
Developing expertise, outstanding services and positive engagement, always seeking to go above and beyond 
expectations.
Committed to Behaviour Analysis, underpinned by the science of Applied Behaviour Analysis and Verbal 
Behaviour
Contributing to research and ensuring our staff continually develop and share best practice that ensure 
aspirational outcomes are achieved for autistic individuals.
Respectful
Embracing diversity, showing integrity, acting with compassion and always treating people with dignity.
Proud to challenge
Listening, changing thinking, shifting attitudes and educating

Overview:

• As COO you will be BeyondAutism’s second-in-command and be responsible for the financial well-being 
of the charity, financial and commercial strategy and day-to-day operational excellence.
• The overarching purpose of the COO position is to work with the CEO on defining the financial and 
operational strategy of BeyondAutism and then to implement it, thereby enabling the charity to deliver its 
charitable objects.
• You will provide strong leadership of the finance function, being proactive, outward facing and an 
exceptional manager of stakeholder relationships.

Responsibilities
• Leadership and management of a senior team to deliver business plans in pursuance of the strategic 
objectives.
• Developing and leading the finance and operations functions (HR, Facilities, and Projects) so that they 
facilitate the growth and reach agenda.
• Provide leadership on Finance and Accounting strategy, to optimise BeyondAutism’s financial performance.
• With the CEO and Heads of Services, ensure that our regulatory services remain outstanding.
• To deputise for the CEO as required.
Strategic leadership
• Delivering results during a period of unpredictability, negotiating with and influencing senior stakeholders from 
a variety of disciplines (political, commercial, and Local Authority).
• Leading the operations functions so that they are proactive, outward-facing and viewed as an essential partner 
in the decision-making process.
• Increasing the commercial capability throughout the organisation, with a focus on delivering value for money 
through effective contract and supplier management.
• With the Heads of Services, review the model for service delivery as part of implementing the reach strategy. 
This will include the service models currently operating in London.
• Building and enacting transformational change to the commercial strategic decision making in collaboration 
with the CEO.
• With accountability for procurement and contract management, you will demonstrate ongoing improvement to 
processes and transparency, working to create a system in which it is faster and easier to satisfy Trustee 
scrutiny and meet accountability requirements.
• You will operate collegiately with the Senior Management Team to ensure we build effective customer 
relationships and deliver services that meet the needs of the end-user.
• You will be accountable for an Operational Blueprint that delivers growth for the organisation.
• Assess the revenue opportunity versus the risk and cost profile of the pricing/operating models.
• Advise on strategic implications resulting from legal and regulatory changes.
• Define and oversee adherence to policies and procedures.
• Own and apply commercial scrutiny.
• Establish and embed a system to track and monitor all contracts, tracking all changes regardless of risk 
attributed to the given clause.
• Localise and translate standard contract templates where applicable and maintain these templates.
• Provide risk advice to the Senior Management Team.
Financial leadership and management
• Ensure that company financial systems are robust, compliant and support current activities and future 
reach/growth.
• Ensure that all regulatory requirements are met including the Charity Commission, Ofsted and Company Law.
• Take a lead role along with the CEO in arranging finance in accordance with Trustee strategy.
• Ensure appropriate reporting of the month end is timely and informs decision making.
• Write and share a monthly analysis flagging key risks and, with the CEO, ensure actions are taken to mitigate 
risks.
• Provide reporting against budget/forecast, ensuring viability of each service within full cost recovery 
parameters.
• Provide executive summary reporting to Trustees.
• Lead the budget setting process, liaising effectively with each member of SMT and the finance team.
• Presentation of Budget to Trustees.
• Reflect and present information in appropriate formats for internal and external use.
• Take the lead as appropriate on specified projects, following our project management processes.
• Ensure your team are supported and skilled in new service development.
About the role
5
Facilities
• Senior leadership oversight of the facilities strategy, including health and safety compliance, appropriate and 
robust contracts and a viable maintenance cycle.
• Through your leadership team, ensure quality and compliance systems and processes are embedded, 
informative and enabling of a learning organisation.
• Ensure that BeyondAutism has the best affordable IT infrastructure and resources.
• Ensure that our premises are fit for purpose, in the right place, at the right time. 
HR
• Senior leadership oversight of the people strategy ensuring swift action and appropriate scrutiny of our 
recruitment and retention strategy.
• With the CEO and wider SMT ensure that BeyondAutism is an employer of choice within our sector.
• With the Head of HR, support in the design and implementation of key HR strategic initiatives and drive 
performance improvements across the HR team.
Projects
• Senior leadership oversight of the project portfolio, specifically driving sustainability and viability through our 
reach agenda.
• With the Projects Manager, ensure deadlines are met and projects are delivered within agreed budgets.
• Ensuring reporting is timely and data rich to underpin decision-making.
General responsibilities
• To understand, adhere to and actively implement all the policies and procedures of BeyondAutism.
• To safeguard children and vulnerable adults at all times.
• To undertake training as required.
• Assist with other work, events and projects as needed.
• Any other duties that the Chief Executive Officer may reasonably require.

If selected for interview you will be required to fill out a full application form for safer recruitment purposes. There will be a 2-stage interview: The first stage will be a remote Teams interview. Successful candidates will then be invited to attend a face-to-face interview