About Edward’s Trust
Edward’s Trust is a local West Midlands charity providing support for bereaved children, young people, and parents. We have 36 years of experience and operate at the highest level, providing qualified counselling and holistic support for complex or prolonged grief. We do not set time limits and the service is completely free. We do not get Government funding; therefore, we rely on donations to keep this vital service going.
Our Values
RESPECT
We will act with integrity in all that we do, being mindful and considerate to all. We respect and remember those who have died. Respect is a constant that embraces diversity and uniqueness of experience.
HOPE
A feeling of trust in tomorrow. We embody, instill and empower a feeling of trust in tomorrow. Hope is the hand to hold. We have a vision that one day there will be a universal understanding of life-changing grief.
HOLISTIC
Complete and all encompassing. We acknowledge and respond to the needs of the whole person: mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. We recognise the total experience of grief, promoting a holistic approach to bereavement care.
SUPPORT
Enabling with compassion and care. We provide responsive support that is appropriate, relevant and meaningful to each individual. Together in safety and strength. Encouraging society to respond appropriately to people facing loss and surviving bereavement
EXCELLENCE
Embracing professional integrity and creative innovation. We are passionate about providing exceptional services and maintaining the highest standards in all that we do. Excellence is valuing people. We are committed to driving innovation and change.
Role summary
If you’re ready for your next fundraising role, taking a step up and pushing yourself whilst working in a small but mighty team, this role really is for you. This role is a critical part of the fundraising puzzle to deliver the Edward’s Trust fundraising growth plan for 2026 and increase income and services in the local West Midlands area. This role allows you to apply your fundraising skill and knowledge and have a real and measurable impact." This Senior Fundraiser will report to the Interim Head of Fundraising, with a plan to lead the team from June 2026 with a comprehensive handover.
This role will deputise for the interim Head of Fundraising when required and has huge potential for professional growth. This role will be an exciting opportunity to work with the leadership team to develop and implement the Edward’s Trust income generation strategy, and we are particularly interested in candidates that have grown corporate income. You will be individually responsible for Corporate, Legacy, and Regular Giving fundraising.
Working with interim Head of Fundraising, you will enhance the donor experience, ensure relationships are strong and that excellent personalised communication systems are in place and that we are truly audience led. You will be required to support other members of the Fundraising Team on fundraising activities where extra resources or senior representation may be required.
You will be responsible and accountable for ensuring the database (Donorflex) is maintained by the Fundraising Team alongside the Head of Fundraising.
You will be responsible for supporting the Head of Fundraising in reviewing systems and processes and ensuring that the Fundraising Team is working efficiently and in accordance with regulatory and legal requirements and best practice.
The role will involve managing and tracking the Fundraising Team budget through direct line management when appropriate and you will be required to create monthly reports and updates as well as Trustee Reports, and, when needed, to reforecast income/expenditure, liaising with the senior leadership team.
We are open to flexible/hybrid working requests which can be discussed at interviews.
Supporting bereaved families with care, compassion and hope across the West Midlands



The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
About MSF UK
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) provides life-saving medical care to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters and exclusion from healthcare. MSF UK exists to maximise the support we provide to this work — by raising funds, advocating for patients, and ensuring our organisation is strong, accountable and sustainable.
MSF UK has grown significantly over the past 5 years, almost doubling our income to just under £100m. As MSF UK enters a new strategic period to 2031, with ambitious plans to grow income further and increase our impact for patients, the strength, resilience and integrity of our financial foundations have never been more important.
The Role
The Financial Controller plays a critical role in safeguarding MSF UK’s resources so they can be used where they are needed most.
You will lead the financial accounting function, ensuring MSF UK’s finances are accurate, compliant and well-controlled, while also driving continuous improvement in systems and processes. Building on strong existing foundations, you will help modernise and streamline financial operations so they remain fit for a growing and increasingly complex organisation.
Working closely with the Director of Finance & Services, the Head of Financial Planning & Analysis and colleagues across MSF UK and the wider MSF movement, you will ensure that financial stewardship actively supports humanitarian impact.
What You’ll Do
You will lead MSF UK’s financial accounting function, balancing rigour, efficiency and service. This includes:
- Ensuring strong financial stewardship: leading statutory accounts, audit, tax compliance and regulatory reporting, including to MSF International.
- Maintaining robust controls: safeguarding MSF UK’s assets through effective internal controls, risk management and reserves oversight.
- Overseeing core financial operations: ensuring accurate, timely processing of transactions, payments and financial records.
- Managing funds and grants: overseeing restricted and unrestricted funds and MSF grant flows, ensuring donor and organisational requirements are met.
- Leading systems and process improvement: driving automation, system enhancements and improvement projects to improve efficiency and user experience.
- Leading and developing the team: managing and supporting a high-performing financial accounting team and fostering a collaborative, improvement-focused culture.
- Trusted technical advisor: providing clear assurance and expert accounting and tax advice to senior leaders, trustees and colleagues.
About You
You are a fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or equivalent) with significant experience leading a financial accounting function in a complex organisation. You bring strong technical expertise, sound judgement and a commitment to integrity and transparency.
You are:
- Confident leading statutory reporting, audit and tax compliance.
- Experienced in improving systems and processes, including through technology and automation.
- A collaborative leader who values developing people and building strong relationships.
- Motivated by purpose, with a desire to use your skills to support a mission that matters.
Experience in the charity sector, managing complex VAT environments or working within international organisations is desirable.
Why Join MSF UK?
You’ll join a values-driven organisation where strong financial control is seen as fundamental to humanitarian impact. You’ll be trusted to lead, improve and innovate — ensuring MSF UK remains accountable, resilient and able to respond to the needs of patients around the world.
If you are motivated by MSF’s mission and want your financial leadership to make a meaningful difference, we would love to hear from you.
Recruitment timetable
Application deadline: Sunday 25th January
Shortlisting:week of 26th January
First stage interviews: week of 2nd February
Second stage interviews: week of 9th February
How to apply:
Please send your CV and letter of motivation via the link by Sunday 25th January. For an informal conversation about the role, please contact our exclusive partner, Bryony Thomas via the Allen Lane agency website.
MSF UK is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to diversity and creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We encourage applications from all sections of our diverse community.
OVERALL PURPOSE OF THE POST
This strategic and outward-facing role will be instrumental in expanding the School’s network of supporters and maximising philanthropic income as we celebrate our Centenary in 2026. The postholder will take a leading role in identifying, cultivating, and securing new major donor relationships - building a strong and sustainable pipeline of prospects capable of making transformational gifts to support the School’s vision and long-term priorities as it seeks to uphold its global standing as a centre of performance excellence in classical dance from London base.
This position offers an exceptional opportunity for an experienced development professional to play a pivotal part in shaping the School’s next chapter. Working closely with senior leadership, the postholder will design and deliver innovative engagement strategies to attract new supporters, deepen relationships with key prospects, and communicate the School’s impact and ambitions with clarity and passion. The role requires a proactive and strategic relationship-builder with the confidence to engage high-level individuals and the insight to convert interest into enduring philanthropic partnerships in support of the future of the performing arts at the highest level.
CONTRACT TERMS
Hours: 35 hours per week, Monday - Friday
Salary: £45,000 per annum
Location: Upper School, Covent Garden
Start Date: March/April 2026
Annual Leave: 30 days per annum
MAIN DUTIES
Donor Cultivation and Relationship Management
- Build and nurture strong, long-term relationships with new and existing supporters through personalised engagement strategies informed by the Head of Development
- Represent the School at meetings, events, presentations and functions to cultivate connections with prospective donors
- Collaborate with senior leadership and the Donor Relations Team to ensure high-level donors are onboarded seamlessly and receive tailored stewardship and recognition.
Strategic Fundraising Planning
- Develop and implement strategies to attract new major donors, aligning with the School’s fundraising priorities for UK in-year activity, as well as USA and Asia development
- Work with senior leadership to set fundraising targets, track progress, and report on performance across each giving level prioritising annual donations of £50k+ per annum.
Proposal Preparation
- Collaborate with content, communications and marketing team colleagues to create compelling materials that articulate the School’s mission and strategic priorities
- Contribute to the planning and delivery of fundraising campaigns, events, and initiatives to engage, cultivate and convert prospective supporters.
Prospect Research and Identification
- Maintain and update the active prospects pipeline, ensuring all opportunities are tracked and appropriately prioritized with touchpoints and assigned relationship leads
- Contribute to the invitations tracker to ensure all prospects are engaged with in a systemised and relevant way according to location, interest, propensity to give.
Monitoring, Reporting, and Analysis
- Maintain accurate records of donor engagement and interactions in the CRM system improving and refining systems and processes as part of a growing department
- Monitor progress against fundraising targets, providing regular reports and insights to senior leadership on pipeline value from identification to stewardship stages
- Analyse donor trends, sector insights and curate feedback to refine engagement strategies.
Team Collaboration and Leadership
- Work closely with colleagues across Development and the Senior Leadership Team as well as Artistic and Academic staff to refine the propositions and align fundraising priorities
- Host year-round events with the Development Team to enable all prospect engagement
- Mentor and support junior staff involved in development activities where appropriate.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential Criteria:
- Proven experience in donor cultivation and relationship management - Demonstrated success in building and sustaining 5 and 6 figure annual relationships with major donors and key stakeholders.
- Strong organisational and project management skills - Capacity to manage multiple donor relationships, events/projects, and fundraising initiatives simultaneously, while maintaining attention to detail in a dynamic office environment.
- Strong strategic fundraising expertise - Ability to design, implement, and evaluate fundraising strategies that align with institutional priorities and deliver measurable outcomes.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills - Skilled at engaging and influencing diverse audiences through persuasive written and verbal communication, including at senior levels.
- Proficiency in proposal and campaign development - Experience preparing compelling fundraising proposals, campaign materials, and event strategies that inspire donor support.
- Analytical and reporting skills - Ability to monitor, interpret, and report on fundraising performance, donor trends, and engagement metrics using CRM and data analysis tools.
- Collaborative teamwork - Proven ability to work effectively across departments and with senior leadership, collaborating with colleagues to achieve shared goals.
- Ethical commitment and alignment with institutional values - Demonstrated integrity, discretion, and commitment to advancing the mission and values of the School through responsible fundraising practices.
Desirable Criteria:
- A knowledge and appreciation of ballet, the arts, performance, elite sport
- Understanding of 501c3 and Endowment Fund structures
- Previous experience of using Salesforce.
SAFEGUARDING DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and recognises that safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility. The School expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment to children’s safeguarding and to share this child-centred approach. This approach means that staff must consider, at all times, what is in the best interests of the child. Additionally, the following is expected of all staff:
- To uphold the School’s policies relating to safeguarding and child protection, behaviour, health and safety and all other relevant policies
- To promote and safeguard the welfare of children and young persons for whom you are responsible and come into contact with
- To report any safeguarding concerns using the relevant channels, such as informing the Designated Safeguarding Lead, in a timely and appropriate manner
- To ensure full compliance with all statutory regulations, particularly the most recent Keeping Children Safe in Education, and to communicate concerns to the Designated Safeguarding Lead, other relevant staff of The Royal Ballet School or local children’s services as appropriate.
This job information cannot be all encompassing. It is inevitable over time that the emphasis of the job will change without changing the general character of the job or the level of duties and responsibilities entailed. Consequently, this information will be periodically reviewed, revised and updated in consultation with the post holder to reflect appropriate changes.
We are committed to creating an environment where all our employees feel part of our team and can flourish, regardless of their background. We’re proud to be an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.