Operations Officer

Imagine This is the only UK charity solely dedicated to supporting the mental wellbeing of seriously ill children and their families. Founded in 2014 by actors Sarah Parish MBE and Jim Murray MBE in memory of their first daughter Ella-Jayne, the charity has rebranded from The Murray Parish Trust to Imagine This in 2025. The charity is now leading a national movement to address a hidden mental health crisis in seriously ill children.

There are one million children in the UK facing life-limiting, life-threatening, and serious chronic conditions. These children are at much higher risk of long-term mental health difficulties that can become more complex and difficult to treat, on top of living with often complex medical needs. Imagine This provides imaginative, innovative and empowering projects to help them navigate their journey with connection, resilience and hope. Our vision is to reach every seriously ill child, and their families, across the UK by 2035, delivering diverse and impactful projects in hospitals, hospices and community settings.

This role will be responsible for an effective and compliant operations function (finance, HR, programmes/projects, governance). You will help the charity to scale its operations sustainably and ensure the charity complies with its legal and governance responsibilities. We are looking for a proactive individual who has an eye for detail in data and administration. You will be ambitious and entrepreneurial, with real vision and a passion for the cause. You will be resilient and collaborative, someone who is highly organised with the ability to juggle a diverse and high workload.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Finance and HR

• Liaise with outsourced bookkeepers (also payroll providers) to ensure timely/accurate information flow.
• Oversee income and expenditure budgets and performance, processing of donations and scheduled payments, and ensuring accurate and consistent coding.
• Work with accountants to support year-end accounts and coordinate annual report production.
• Produce and circulate monthly management accounts and other reports for the Board.
• Support Trustees with designated responsibilities e.g. finance, risk, governance.
• Oversee recruitment, onboarding and HR record-keeping (including freelancers).
• Maintain accurate, compliant data in our CRM (Donorfy), including prompt input of donations.

Charitable projects

• Support the planning and coordination of secured charitable projects, liaising with project partners, monitoring delivery milestones, payment schedule and working with the wider team to maximise success.
• Compiling project monitoring/evaluation data from project partners to support excellent impact reporting.

Governance and operations

Together with the volunteer Charity Secretary:

• Coordination of Board meetings and AGMs, agendas, papers and minutes.
• Maintain central registers (trustee attendance/terms, governance documents, policies, risk, safeguarding training etc).
• Fulfil statutory and regulatory responsibilities, including filing of annual accounts.
• Advise trustees on governance best practice, in line with Charity Commission guidance.
• Management of policies, procedures and operational systems (including the CRM) that strengthen internal controls and identify opportunities to improve cost efficiency.
• Prepare Quarterly reports for the Board, and upon request.
• Ensure compliance with relevant legislation and the Fundraising Code of Practice, including delivering the responsibility of data protection lead.
• Maintain relationships with volunteer Independent Advisors and commissioned service providers e.g. finance, HR and legal to ensure compliance/best practice.