Finance officer jobs

We are looking for an entrepreneurial leader to relaunch and build the next phase of the UK Democracy Network: a national network that helps organisations working to strengthen democracy across the UK connect, collaborate and coordinate more effectively.

This is a rare opportunity to shape a growing national network. The Network already has strong foundations, sector backing, and three years of core funding secured. The next step is building it into an independent, trusted and influential organisation that helps the democracy sector work together more effectively.

About the Network

The Democracy Network exists to help make collaboration across the democracy sector more effective. It connects organisations, practitioners and professionals across the UK democracy ecosystem, helping to reduce duplication, strengthen relationships, share intelligence, and enable more coordinated collective action.

About the host organisations

The Network is jointly incubated by two organisations with deep roots in UK civic tech, democratic education, and sector-wide network building:

The Politics Project supports young people to use their voice by giving them access to brilliant democratic education. They work with young people, teachers, youth practitioners and politicians to help them learn about, teach and actively participate in democracy. The Politics Project also leads the Democracy Classroom Network, a sister network of over 100 organisations across the democracy, education and youth sectors which support over 3,500 teachers and youth practitioners to engage young people in democracy.

Democracy Club produces the most comprehensive election data in the UK. Established in 2010 and registered as a Community Interest Company in 2015, it runs the national polling station finder Where Do I Vote and candidate lookup service Who Can I Vote For, serving election information to millions of UK voters each year and supplying data to the Electoral Commission. Democracy Club brings a mailing list of 35,000, an active community of 1,200 volunteer contributors collaborating on election information, and strong digital and data expertise to the Network.

Our vision for the Network

Over the last year, we have carried out extensive consultation with members of the UK Democracy Network, the Network’s Steering Group and funders. Through this process, we have developed a new vision for the Network that is designed to reflect and support the diversity of the democracy sector, and the wide range of approaches, perspectives and organisations within it.

Our model is built around a series of smaller thematic, geographic and demographic-based “hubs” within the wider Network. These hubs will create spaces for organisations and individuals working on particular issues, in particular places, or with specific communities to collaborate more effectively, while remaining connected to the wider democracy ecosystem.

Alongside this, the Network will support stronger coordination and information sharing across the sector through activities such as a monthly bulletin, shared events, an annual conference and practical tools and databases that help partners collaborate more effectively.

Importantly, we want to build on and strengthen the excellent work that already exists across the democracy landscape, rather than duplicate it. Over time, we also hope the Network can help incubate and support new hubs and collaborations around emerging issues and opportunities within the democracy sector.

About the role

The Network will be delivered by a small core team: a Network Director (this role), a Network Manager (in post), and a Network Coordinator (to be recruited).

Our medium-term ambition is for the Network to become an independent organisation in its own right. We see this role as central to shaping that transition, with the successful candidate expected to lead the Network into its next phase as an independent organisation over the course of the grant period. 

Key responsibilities

The Network Director provides overall leadership of the Network and is responsible for its long-term sustainability and strategic direction. 

Specifically: 

• Strategic leadership. Set strategic direction for the Network in consultation with members, hosts and the Steering Group / Board.

• Represent the Network. In networking and fundraising events, high-level roundtables and in high-profile relationships with government, funders, media and sector leaders.

• Lead on fundraising. Develop relationships with major funders, alongside Harriet Andrews at The Politics Project, building a diversified, sustainable funding base.

• Oversee the Network's transition to an independent legal structure. Support the establishment of the Board, working with Harriet Andrews and Sym Roe to recruit members with a mix of professional expertise and elected network representatives.

• Build an inclusive, supportive team culture. Line manage the Network Manager and Network Coordinator.

• Oversee monitoring and evaluation. Lead reporting to funders, and support the annual review process with the team and Steering Group / Board.

Person specification

We are looking for a values-driven, experienced, strategic leader. They will have strong people and financial management skills, and the ability to build trusted relationships across the democracy sector. They will be an excellent communicator, comfortable leading through complexity and change, and motivated by a commitment to strengthening UK democracy. 

The postholder will be expected to work in-office two days a week and attend regular in-person engagements in London.

Benefits

• 33 days’ annual leave pro rata, including Bank Holidays (with three days off between Christmas and New Year).

• 4% employer pension contribution.

• 2 working days / 15 hours of volunteer leave a year.

• Cycle to Work scheme.

Further information about the role and job specification can be found in the Candidate Recruitment Pack.

Equity, diversity and inclusion

The UK democracy sector has historically been less diverse than the country it serves, and we want to help change that, starting with how we recruit. We particularly welcome applications from people who are underrepresented in democracy sector leadership, including people of colour, disabled people and people from working-class backgrounds.

How to apply

Please apply via charity job with the following:

• Your CV (no more than two pages).

• A supporting statement of no more than 500 words, setting out how your experience, skills and knowledge meet the person specification and why you are drawn to this role.

The closing date is 11.30pm, Sunday 14th June 2026.

We will shortlist on the basis of the supporting statement against the person specification.

Good systems enable better care.

We’re so grateful for all our supporters. We want them to feel valued as they generously support our mission to empower churches to end homelessness in the UK. And to do that well, we need someone who is passionate about people, data and systems. Great supporter care depends on accurate data. 

Are you highly organised, great with people and confident working with CRM systems? Do you have excellent attention to detail and enjoy improving processes, data quality and reporting? 

This is an exciting, varied and hands-on role combining supporter stewardship, CRM management, reporting and insight. You’ll play a key role in ensuring supporters receive excellent care and stewardship, while taking ownership of CRM data quality, reporting and continuous improvement across our systems. 

Reporting to the Fundraising Lead, you’ll support the development of our CRM, maintain high standards of data quality, producing clear reporting and insight, and help improve how we use data across the organisation. You’ll play a key role in future CRM developments. 

As part of a small but growing team, you’ll work closely with colleagues across the organisation, so the ability to build strong relationships and collaborate effectively is essential.

We are passionate about combining professional excellence with spiritual passion. The first quality we look for in our staff is a commitment to the work we do, matched by integrity and a desire to live out our values. A deep commitment to the Christian faith is essential, alongside the ability to communicate the nuance of our faith-driven work sensitively, maturely and passionately.

This is a hybrid role across our Peterborough, Nottingham, Cambridge and Norwich offices, alongside home working. Wednesdays are a regular team day in Peterborough and are a key part of how we work together. We usually work in person around two days per week, with flexibility on the rest of the pattern. 

We are committed to staff wellbeing and offer a range of benefits including generous annual leave, retreat days, sabbatical leave, an employee assistance programme and a generous workplace pension.

Help us strengthen how we use data to serve our mission. 
Help us empower churches to end homelessness in the UK. 

Lloyds Bank Foundation 

Funding and Compliance Lead 

Starting Salary: £55,479 (outside London); £58,983 (London-based). Plus 3.6% increase following successful completion of probation period. 

Contract: Full-time, permanent contract (we are open to conversations about flexibility – so please ask) 

Location:  London-based role with expectation of hybrid working from our London office 

About Lloyds Bank Foundation 

Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales is an independent charitable foundation, backed by Lloyds Banking Group and the people within it. We want everyone to be in a good place – personally, in a home that’s a good place to live, and in a community that’s a good place to belong. 

We play our role by connecting and catalysing community-led change, providing the money, time, tools and connections that build organisations’ capacity and capability, to make people’s lives better and their communities stronger. 

We back people and communities across England and Wales to make that happen, because when you back brilliant people, brilliant things happen. 

About the Role 

This is a key leadership role responsible for ensuring the Foundation delivers high-quality, transparent and equitable funding practices across its work. 

As Funding and Compliance Lead, you will lead the end-to-end funding and compliance function, bringing together assessment, contract management, risk and grant management to ensure decisions are robust, proportionate and aligned with regulatory and sector standards. 

You will play a critical role in strengthening systems and ways of working, improving consistency, quality and the experience of applicants and funded partners. Working closely across the organisation, you will ensure that funding and compliance activity is aligned with our strategy and supports effective delivery of community-led change. 

You will also lead and develop a high-performing team, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement. 

About You 

We’re looking for an experienced and collaborative leader with strong expertise in grant management, compliance and risk. You will bring a track record of delivering high-quality funding processes, alongside experience of improving systems and ways of working. 

You will be confident navigating complexity, balancing rigour with pragmatism, and ensuring that processes are both robust and accessible. Strong analytical skills, attention to detail and the ability to use data and insight to inform decisions are essential. 

You will also be an effective people manager, able to support and develop others while creating a positive and inclusive team culture. A strong commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion and the Foundation’s values is key. 

How to Apply 

Please click ‘Apply’ to be redirected to our website, where you can download the Candidate Information Pack and find details of how to apply. 

For an informal conversation about the role and application process, please contact our recruitment partner, Atkinson HR via the contact information provided in the candidate pack.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion 

We hold Disability Confident Employer status (Level 2) and are working towards full status by 2027. This means that if you're a disabled applicant and your CV and application answers clearly demonstrate that you meet the essential criteria for the role, we will invite you to interview. 

More broadly, we are committed to building a diverse team that reflects the communities and people we work with. We believe that diversity of background, experience and perspective makes us stronger and helps us make better decisions. We actively welcome applications from people who are under-represented in the charity sector, including people from Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic communities, disabled people, and those with experience of the issues our funded charities work to address. 

Key Dates 

Closing Date: Midday, Monday 15th June 

First Interview: Thursday 25th June 2026 

Second Interview: Monday 6th July 2026