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Interim Head of Finance & Operations
Career Ready is a social mobility charity that believes that every young person deserves the opportunity to enjoy a rewarding future.
We were founded in 2002 by leading business figures with a mission: to boost social mobility by empowering young people and giving their talents a platform from which to flourish. Since then, we’ve grown in England and Scotland to support young people in areas of need.
We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced, qualified Finance professional to lead our Finance & Operations function.
About the Role
Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer the Interim Head of Finance & Operations leads on and assumes day to day responsibility for providing high quality, strategic financial management for Career Ready.
You will lead on business operations to ensure the ongoing effective functioning of the charity and drive sustainable growth.
The Interim Head of Finance and Operations plays a key role in leading greater organisational efficiency and simplifying processes and will continue the delivery of a project plan reflecting the 2025-30 strategy.
You will play a critical role in driving the increased quality of Career Ready’s offer to our stakeholders in line with our strategy, vision and values.
Member of our SMT, comprising of the CEO, Director for Scotland, Director of Programme and Partnerships and Heads of functions.
This is an interim role to cover a period of maternity leave.
Main responsibilities and accountabilities
· Lead, direct and manage the finance and operations functions, overseeing two direct reports, ensuring they deliver a high-quality service to all internal and external stakeholders and are seen as adding value, in enabling Career Ready to achieve its vision and strategic objectives through its people.
· Continue the delivery of a project plan reflecting the 2025-30 strategy, ensuring that activities happen at pace, are deadline-driven and achieve a high level of impact.
· Assume overall responsibility for the financial management of Career Ready, working with the SMT to ensure high quality and effective use of charitable funds.
· Input into and review the financial elements of funding applications and ensure that fund accounting processes align with funders’ requirements for project reporting.
· Produce financial reports for various stakeholders, as well as leading on financial modelling.
· Have oversight of all financial and accountancy matters including month end reports, management accounts, cash flow management, compliance, tax liability, presentation of management information and KPIs. Ensure that the CEO and Trustees are provided with accurate, timely information and analysis.
· Oversee and coordinate the fully managed payroll services with the external bureau for all Career Ready employees and for some internship students (Jun to Aug during the Summer)
· Administration of the Staff Opt-In Pension Scheme, including onboarding new staff (Royal London)
· Act as a role model in our ‘one team’ culture. Lead in the development of efficient working practices across the charity, creating momentum and supporting motivation within the charity.
· Lead risk management strategies and internal control procedures to minimise the risk of loss, or damage to, Career Ready’s assets.
· Prepare and submit annual operational budgets and annual accounts to the CEO for review and approval.
· Draft and deliver papers for Trustees and Finance and Fundraising Committee (F&FC) meetings.
· Attend Board and F&FC meetings to present papers and answer questions related to areas of expertise.
· Provide day to day line management of the Senior Finance Officers and support their ongoing growth and development.
· Management of organisational governance and compliance activities, including policy management.
· Oversee and manage the organisation’s risk management register and process, with input from SMT.
· Oversee reviews and renewals of all insurance policies that affect the organisation.
· Lead on the compliance of statutory and charity regulatory reporting, giving guidance to colleagues where required.
· Ensure any changes to processes and procedures across the function are clearly documented.
Person Specification
Essential skills and experience
- Belief and commitment to Career Ready’s mission and values
- Qualified (ACA/ACCA/CIMA/AAT) accountant with at least 5 years’ experience in financial management including budgeting, preferably in the charity sector.
- Significant experience in producing management and financial accounts
- Skilled in financial reporting and producing VAT returns
- Preparing for and ensuring a successful year-end audit, and demonstrable knowledge of UK Charities SORP and other reporting standards
- Experience in budgeting to support strategic decision making.
- Financial dexterity and strong analytical skills.
- Strong IT skills, including advanced MS Excel skills and extensive of using an accounting software, preferably Xero
- Excellent organisational and prioritising skills and ability to work independently and with autonomy
- Strong starter finisher with ability to lead and drive projects
- Knowledge of charity governance and compliance requirements
- Ability to build excellent relationships and have effective engagement with stakeholders
- Good communication skills and ability to communicate financial concepts to non-finance staff
- Attention to detail
- Ability to present financial information to various audiences
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and sensitivity of financial information
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
- Ability to cope with competing demands to deadlines
- Honest and dependable
Desirable skills and experience
- Experience of leading a team, strong team building skills
- Line management experience
- Experience of using MS Planner or other project management tools
- Genuine interest in the work done by the Charity
- Experience of using a CRM (Salesforce)
- Degree in financial management or accounting
Full details are provided in the candidate pack
Salary and Benefits
Salary: £52,000 to £54,000 FTE (salary will be pro-rata for part time hours)
28-35 hours per week. Career Ready is committed to supporting condensed/flexible working patterns.
Permanent and remote. Travel to London required on an occasional basis
You will be rewarded with the following benefits:
· 6% contribution to personal pension plan, subject to 3% employee contribution.
· Annual leave: 27 days per annum plus bank/public holidays (pro rata for part time). The charity is also closed between Christmas and New Year. Career Ready also allows flexible use of some Bank & Public Holidays
· Cycle to Work Scheme
· Access to both our Reward Gateway Portal and an Employee Assistance Programme.
· Flexible working
· Work from home allowance and paid travel expenses.
We regret that Career Ready is unable to offer visa sponsorship and candidates must be able to demonstrate their right to work in the UK. In accordance with our commitment to safeguarding, offers of employment are subject to completion of a DBS check.
Timetable
Applications close at 9am on Monday 21 July 2025
Please note that the closing date may be brought forward if we receive strong applications.
This is an interim role to cover a period of maternity leave, with a provisional start date of late September for a handover period.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
The National Landscapes Association represents the UK’s 46 National Landscapes – legally protected places where nature and people thrive together. We lead and champion action to protect and restore these special landscapes for the benefit of everyone.
We’re looking for a Data and Evidence Officer to support our work on the Gower Landscape Connections project and across the wider Association. If you’re passionate about using data to tackle the climate and nature crises, and can turn complex information into powerful insight, this could be the role for you.
You’ll be responsible for sourcing, analysing and mapping ecological, climate and socio-economic data to inform practical conservation planning. Working closely with the Gower team, as well as the Association’s Nature-based Solutions programme, you’ll help develop systems that drive landscape-scale action. You’ll also play a central role in maintaining and evolving our GIS tools, supporting bids for major nature recovery funding.
We’re looking for someone with experience handling both statistical and spatial data, who communicates clearly and can collaborate across teams. You should be as comfortable working with detailed evidence as you are thinking strategically about long-term impact. If you care deeply about nature, evidence, and equitable solutions, we’d love to hear from you.
Swyddog Data a Thystiolaeth – Cysylltiadau Tirwedd Gŵyr
Mae Cymdeithas Tirweddau Cenedlaethol yn cynrychioli 46 o Dirluniau Cenedlaethol y DU – lleoedd sydd wedi’u diogelu’n gyfreithiol lle mae natur a phobl yn ffynnu gyda’i gilydd. Rydym yn arwain ac yn hyrwyddo camau i ddiogelu ac adfer y tirweddau arbennig hyn er budd pawb.
Rydym yn chwilio am Swyddog Data a Thystiolaeth i gefnogi ein gwaith ar brosiect Cysylltiadau Tirwedd Gŵyr ac ar draws gwaith ehangach y Gymdeithas. Os ydych chi’n angerddol am ddefnyddio data i fynd i’r afael â’r argyfyngau hinsawdd a natur, ac yn gallu troi gwybodaeth gymhleth yn fewnwelediad pwerus, gallai’r rôl hon fod yn addas i chi.
Byddwch yn gyfrifol am ddod o hyd i ddata ecolegol, hinsawdd a chymdeithasol-economaidd, ei ddadansoddi a’i fapio i lywio cynllunio cadwraeth ymarferol. Gan weithio’n agos gyda thîm Gŵyr, yn ogystal â rhaglen Atebion yn Seiliedig ar Natur y Gymdeithas, byddwch yn helpu i ddatblygu systemau sy’n sbarduno gweithredu ar raddfa dirwedd. Byddwch hefyd yn chwarae rhan ganolog yn y gwaith o gynnal a datblygu ein hoffer GIS, gan gefnogi ceisiadau am gyllid ar gyfer adfer natur.
Rydym yn chwilio am rywun sydd â phrofiad o reoli data ystadegol a gofodol, sydd yn cyfathrebu’n glir ac yn gallu cydweithio ar draws timau. Dylech fod cystal wrth weithio gyda thystiolaeth fanwl ag ydych chi wrth feddwl yn strategol am effaith hirdymor. Os ydych chi’n poeni’n ddwfn am natur, tystiolaeth, ac atebion teg, hoffem glywed gennych.
Lead and champion activity, working with National Landscapes, to protect and restore the UK's most outstanding landscapes and make sure everyone can e




The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Senior Grants Officer Location: Fully Remote Salary: £30,000 per annum plus benefits We are recruiting for a Senior Grants Officer. The Fundraising Department at The Forward Trust plays a crucial role in supporting our mission to empower individuals to break the cycles of addiction, crime, homelessness and unemployment. Our team is dedicated to securing vital funds, generating around £2million per year, through various channels, including grants, events, corporate partnerships, and individual donations. We work collaboratively across departments to develop and implement effective fundraising strategies, ensuring that we can continue to provide life-changing services to those in need. One of our unique strengths is the ability to place our service-users at the heart of everything we do, including fundraising. With around a third of our workforce in active recovery and/or having had experience with the criminal justice system, and access to our community of over 28,000 individuals who have benefitted from our support, we can provide living proof of our long-lasting impact. By joining our team, you will be part of a dynamic and passionate group committed to making a tangible difference in people's lives. Role Responsibilities An exciting opportunity has arisen within our Fundraising Team to help grow and maximise income from trusts and foundations and other grant giving organisations. As an integral part of the team, you will identify, engage, and approach new grant giving organisations as well as maintain and strengthen relationships with existing supporters to secure funding for our life changing and life-saving services across prisons and communities in the UK. Over the last two years, we have been working hard to lay the foundations to be able to engage and secure more supporters and advocates for the organisation, enabling us to increase the amount of charitable income we secure. With a new strategy, team structure and customer relationship systemin place, it is a great time to be joining a passionate, fun, and target-driven team within a motivating and inspirational environment. You will be working as part of a team of 10 and the role is fully remote with expectation to travel to Vauxhall once per month. You will also be expected to have the flexibility to attend events and be able and willing to travel to the services in the organisation and supporting fundraising events. Please not you will need at least 1 years' experience of trust and grant fundraising. The Ideal Candidate We are looking for a excellent communicator who is good at building and maintaining relationships and who has writing and fundraising experience. Please also see a list of skills and experience needed for this role below;
About Us We are The Forward Trust, the social enterprise with charitable status that empowers people to break the often interlinked cycles of crime and addiction to move forward with their lives. For more than 25 years we have been working with people to build positive and productive lives, whatever their past. We believe that anyone is capable of lasting change. Our services have supported thousands of people to make positive changes and build productive lives with a job, family, friends and a sense of community.
To Apply If you feel you are a suitable candidate and would like to work for the Forward Trust, please click apply to be redirected to their website to complete your application. |