Senior finance business partner jobs in st ives, cambridgeshire

Job Description

In this pivotal role, you are responsible for ensuring not only the efficient and effective operation of the organisation, but also the quality of public engagement and the achievement of CSC’s annual direct revenue targets. You help steer and coordinate all of CSC’s workstreams, translating the organisation’s vision into action that is grounded, sustainable, and scalable. Your remit includes oversight of all public and school engagement, operations at the Trinity Centre, and outreach delivery for remote-site pop-ups.

People and talent management sit at the heart of this role. CSC is powered by an exceptionally skilled, passionate, and committed team, and your primary responsibility is to create the conditions in which they can thrive. You coordinate planning across functions, define clear pathways forward, remove obstacles, and keep priorities aligned—empowering others to do their best work.

You are a thoughtful, supportive, and trusted leader—respected for your fairness, clarity, and calm. You set high standards, not through pressure, but by fostering a culture of growth, accountability, and mutual respect. You understand the value of developing individuals and teams, nurturing talent while keeping the organisation agile and focused.

Empathy, clarity, and accountability are central to your leadership approach. You bring a “firm but fair” ethos to everything you do—balancing care with rigour, and ensuring people feel valued, heard, and united in purpose.

You lead CSC’s budgeting, cost control, and direct revenue generation, working closely with the Finance Director to oversee all financial operations. Beyond finance, you are responsible for maintaining and evolving the IT and business systems that underpin CSC’s day-to-day operations—ensuring the organisation can coordinate effectively, track progress, and resolve issues with a solutions-focused mindset.

Leveraging Cambridge’s world-class deep-tech ecosystem, you help ensure CSC remains at the forefront of best-in-class management systems and processes. You assess their potential for cost-effectiveness and operational value before planning and managing implementation.

You also work in close partnership with the CEO and Board to identify organisational risks and develop robust mitigation strategies—ensuring CSC remains resilient, responsive, and well-positioned for the future.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the implementation of CSC’s annual operational plan, aligning delivery with strategic priorities, managing budget adherence, and reporting quarterly to the Board on progress and performance.

• Oversee the organisation’s engagement with the public, schools, and local communities, including activity at the Trinity Centre and through outreach initiatives.

• In coordination with fellow Directors, support the CEO in translating their vision and strategy into actionable workflows by setting measurable goals, assigning clear ownership, and guiding team leads to develop practical delivery plans—overseeing progress and ensuring alignment throughout.

• Develop and maintain a corporate dashboard that provides a clear, at-a-glance view of the organisation’s performance against its annual plans—offering an ongoing health check throughout the year.

• Ensure regular, focused cross-team check-ins are in place to support coordination, align workflows, and provide timely visibility of upcoming activities and priorities.

• Line-manage the Visitor Experience Manager and Engagement and Logistics Lead.

• Support the Visitor Experience Manager in setting and achieving annual direct revenue targets, while ensuring Cambridge Science Centre serves as a vibrant showcase of the organisation’s brand and values.

• Support the Engagement and Logistics Lead to ensure the delivery team is well-trained, motivated, and equipped to deliver high-quality engagements. Oversee the development of fair and forward-planned rotas, and ensure any unassigned delivery capacity is allocated in a way that maximises value for CSC while supporting individual development and growth.

• Support the Outreach and Innovation Manager to integrate their team’s workflow with that of the Delivery and Visitor Engagement team.

• Ensure that each team member has a clearly defined individual development plan reviewed and agreed annually, with regular check-ins to keep progress on track and ensure ongoing support throughout the year.

• Set and regularly review CSC’s corporate policies to ensure they remain current, relevant, and understood by all staff.

• Ensure all staff receive appropriate training to maintain a safe, low-risk environment for both colleagues and the public at all times—covering safeguarding, health and safety, de-escalation, and emergency procedures.

• Review all CSC contracts at key development stages to ensure commitments are clearly understood, feasible, and aligned with the organisation’s capacity to deliver.

• Oversee CSC’s contractual fulfilment and organisational risk management, including asset tracking and oversight in coordination with the Visitor Engagement Manager and Product Development Officer. Work alongside the Finance Director to maintain and review the company’s risk register on a six-monthly basis, ensuring risks are monitored and mitigated effectively.

• Oversee the implementation and ongoing management of IT, HR, and business systems—ensuring effective staff training, consistent usage, and accessible support to maximise organisational efficiency and impact.

• Manage CSC’s documentation policies, digital archiving, and workspace structures (e.g., Google Drive), including the assignment and oversight of access permissions to ensure clarity, security, and ease of use.
   

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

• Brings a solutions-oriented mindset and a practical, inclusive approach to problem-solving, underpinned by a positive and collaborative “can-do” attitude.

• A seasoned line and team manager who leads with a “firm but fair” ethos—valuing clear communication, personal accountability, and empathetic leadership to foster a supportive and high-performing team culture.

• Proven experience overseeing spaces, systems, and logistical operations, preferably within a public venue environment, with a strong understanding of the practicalities of day-to-day visitor management and operational delivery.

• An inclusive and approachable leader with a natural curiosity, you foster an open-door culture and ask the right questions to help people and teams explore ideas and reach effective solutions.

• You are detail-oriented and methodical, ensuring that planning is assigned, completed, and maintained. You work well in advance to create plans that are clear, comprehensive, and easy to follow—making sure everyone understands their role and is committed to achieving shared goals.

• Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills.

• Confident and literate in IT networks and business systems, with the ability to navigate, implement, and support digital tools that enhance organisational efficiency.

• Driven to deliver timely, high-quality outcomes in everything you do.

• Proven ability to adapt quickly and effectively to changing priorities.

• A commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

• A collaborative work ethic that enables you to work effectively with colleagues and partners across a diverse range of projects and disciplines.

• Achieve a satisfactory enhanced DBS check.

Desirable Criteria

• Proven experience managing public engagement across multiple sites, including coordinating dynamic pop-up exhibitions and events.

• A keen interest in staying informed about global developments and emerging trends in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

• Customer service skills and experience.

• A qualification or training in business or operational management would be advantageous, but relevant experience and skills will also be highly valued.

• Full clean driving license

Working Conditions
The primary locations for this role will be Cambridge Science Centre's Head Office at 44 Clifton Road, Cambridge, CB1 7ED (assigned desk or workspace) and the Cambridge Science Centre at Trinity Centre, Cambridge Science Park, CB4 0FN (hotdesking model).

In addition, there will be travel (primarily driving with a company or hire vehicle) to the semi-permanent centre (Inspire Wisbech Centre, Wisbech, PE13 1AR) and, on occasion a variety of locations across the East of England.

We offer the option of flexible hybrid working where and when possible.

Advancement Opportunities

CSC invests in its staff through a structured career-planning framework. As a senior staff member, your training will focus on developing best practice within the areas you manage, tailored to both organisational goals and your professional growth. These individual development opportunities are reviewed and planned annually, ensuring your continued progression and alignment with CSC’s strategic objectives.

Standard working hours are 7.5 hours per day

Parking and bike storage are available at both CSC locations.

Benefits include:

• 25 days annual leave, plus Bank Holidays

• Mental health support in partnership with BetterHelp

• Contributory pension scheme

Recruitment Process and Timeline:

To apply for the position of Director of Operations and Engagement at Cambridge Science Centre, please submit your CV and a Cover Letter explaining why you are interested in joining the Centre and how your skills and experience align with the role.

At CSC, we’re committed to equity, diversity and inclusion in all areas of our work. We actively welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, especially those underrepresented in science engagement.

Job Title: CEO

Reporting To: Chair of Trustees

Salary: £50,000 Pro Rata 

Working Hours: 28 hours per week (4 days). Job share applications will be considered.

Location: Hybrid/ Prepare to travel to London several times a year for industry events. Prepared to travel to other destinations in the UK on occasion.

Contract Type: Permanent

About Us

Safer Waves was set up in 2019 to provide support to merchant seafarers who have experienced sexual assault, sexual harassment or gender discrimination on board.

Safer Waves provides an anonymous email support service, run by volunteers who are trained in responding to disclosures of sexual violence, and who understand the specific challenges experienced when these events happen onboard a vessel.

We work with shipping companies, industry leaders, law enforcement and maritime training providers to raise awareness of sexual violence within the maritime industry, and to improve the support that is available to seafarers who experience it.

Job Purpose

For the first 5 years, Safer Waves has been a volunteer-led organisation. We are now in the exciting position of being able to recruit a CEO, and we are looking for an individual who has the passion to see this new organisation thrive in the maritime welfare sector.

As the head of a small and rapidly developing organisation, the CEO role will be extremely varied, with the opportunity to shape the organisational structure as needed. The CEO will work closely with the trustee board and Operations Manager to deliver the strategy, improve sustainability and financial resilience, manage risk and deliver high-quality services to our beneficiaries.

We are a growing organisation, and this is a unique opportunity to grow and innovate with the organisation and to contribute to our future success. Applicants will need to be prepared to take on a wide range of tasks at the outset including compliance, accounting, training, public speaking, banking, leading volunteers, engaging with external partners and funders, overseeing the website and email service and many other tasks.
 

Responsibilities & Accountabilities 

The CEO reports directly to the Trustee Board and is responsible for the following:

• Strategy: Shape and deliver the charity's strategy over the next five years, whilst also ensuring the day-to-day running of the charity remains effective.

• Finance: Maintain and develop relationships with funders, and find new funding streams for the charity. Prepare budgets and control spending accordingly.

• Risk management and compliance: Work with the trustees to ensure strong governance, including effective management of risks and compliance with current legislation.

• Relationships: Build and maintain relationships with international organisations including charities, shipping companies, law enforcement and government agencies among others.

• Line management: Manage staff and volunteers

• Communications and Outreach: Work with the Operations Manager, Trustees and volunteers to raise the profile of the charity and increase the number of seafarers reached

Person Specification

Essential 

• Experience in being self-sufficient and driving progress, ideally in a business or charity setting.

• Senior Management Experience

• Able to demonstrate alignment with the core values of Safer Waves.

• Knowledge and understanding of supporting survivors of sexual violence

Desirable

• Experience working in the charity sector. 

• An understanding of the maritime sector

Your cover letter should address and provide evidence to support each of the essential criteria and the desirable criteria if applicable.

Context and Background

The NSPCC’s commitment to fight for every childhood is only made possible through the support of people across the UK. Over 80% of the NSPCC’s vital work is funded by public support. We are committed to providing the best possible experience for our supporters and ensuring that a supporter centric approach is taken in all the work we do.

The Individual Supporters department is responsible for the largest single source of income for the NSPCC and we are committed to recruiting new supporters to help grow our income. The Direct Fundraising team has been established to ensure best practice and a high quality supporter experience through one-to-one fundraising channels.

We are looking for a self-motivated, enthusiastic and well-organised professional to join the team.

Candidates for this position should have experience  and skills that cover:

• Highly developed written communication skills to understand, interpret and present complex information in a clear and persuasive way for a range of audience
• Well-developed ability to apply effective numeracy skills in entering and recording financial data, interpreting, analysing, and presenting financial data in clear and accurate format to meet desired outcomes
• Experience in using Windows based software packages including word processing, excel spreadsheets, e-mail and the internet, in order to deliver tasks and projects.
• Willingness to travel within the UK via car or public transport to conduct mystery shopping. 
• Being dynamic and a team player is essential.

Join us at this exciting time and you’ll become part of a team that cares about the work they do and the people they work with. You’ll discover opportunities to grow, along with challenges and a shared purpose that’ll bring the best out in you. And you’ll get to find your own way to make a difference that means more, and that impacts millions of young lives. We want to ensure roles are accessible and inclusive of everyone, which is why the NSPCC offers a high degree of flexibility around ways of working.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) is at the heart of what we do. At the NSPCC, we understand how important it is that our workforce is representative of the people we support and who support us. We believe that every individual has the right to be their true self and to live a full life without prejudice, fear or barriers. This is the starting point for all our commitments and actions and underpins our commitment to be there for all children.

Job purpose

This role sits in our Direct fundraising Team within the Individual Giving department. The key purpose of the job is to:

•  Support the Associate Head and Senior Fundraisers to continue to grow and develop face-to-face direct recruitment and telephone fundraising activity at the NSPCC.
• To work with Senior Fundraisers and Associate Head within the Direct fundraising team to deliver agreed campaigns in line with business requirements.
• Advocate and reinforce the team’s ethics and values across compliance, safeguarding, supporter experience and best practice fundraising.
• Enhance the supporter experience and protect the NSPCC’s reputation when working with professional fundraising agencies.
• Through mystery shopping, call listening and other activities, ensure all activity, by agency partners and relevant internal teams, is compliant with regulation, codes of practice and NSPCC policies.
• Monitor campaign performance and income, ensuring that campaign KPIs and metrics are reported accurately and consistently.
• Monitor expenditure, including financial processes such as raising POs, checking invoices and reporting against budgeted expenditure figures.
• Work with data, including checking data selections for telephone activity.
• Work effectively with other departments within Individual Giving, Communications and Fundraising Directorates and other functions within the NSPCC to maximise income for children. Also working with external agencies to deliver large scale campaigns.
• Work as part of a larger team to meet the same objectives and work effectively with other teams within the NSPCC to maximise income for children.
• Working on behalf of stakeholders and representing brand values in the work that you produce. Being dynamic and a team player is essential.

Main duties and responsibilities

1. With the Associate Head of Direct Fundraising, agree and deliver face-to-face and telephone  direct fundraising activities in line with the Individual Supporters department’s annual business plan and budget to enable the NSPCC to plan its activity and services.
2. Work with the Associate Head to maximise the opportunities by which the fundraising activity can contribute to the NSPCC’s mission of fighting for every childhood over and above fundraising objectives.
3. Be responsible for the development of relationships and delivery of income from potential supporters engaged through face-to-face activity
4. Work with internal NSPCC support teams to set up new agencies and campaigns.
5. Keep up to date on best practice and developments within the charity sector generally and particularly changes to fundraising regulations, compliance and codes of practice relating to direct dialogue fundraising. Updating existing or creating new processes and working with agencies to implement changes in activity.
6. Work with internal compliance teams and external agencies to plan and implement a monitoring schedule in line with the most up to date codes of practice, guidance and regulations.  This should include regular mystery shopping and call listening.
7. To work with the Associate Head to maximise the opportunities by which the fundraising activity of the Direct Fundraising team can contribute to the NSPCC’s mission of ending cruelty to children over and above fundraising objectives.
8. To carry out research through a range of sources, including the Internet, Intranet, publications and other external contacts, including other charities, in order to obtain relevant information that can contribute to the fundraising activities of the Direct fundraising team.
9. To work cross-functionally to ensure that fundraising activities are managed and developed in a way that maximises income for the NSPCC.
10. To undertake specific fundraising projects and activities as necessary or as required to support the department’s fundraising as a whole.

Responsibilities for all staff within the Income Generation directorate

• A commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people.
• To update databases and supporter information systems on a regular basis in line with Data Protection legislation and NSPCC policy and procedures.
• To actively participate in regular department and team meetings, contributing to strategy, discussions and decisions which will be beneficial to the Directorate and wider NSPCC activities.
• To adhere to all the NSPCC’S service standards, policies and procedures.
• To evidence an understanding of and commitment to the demonstration of NSPCC’s values.
• To maintain an awareness of and comply with NSPPC data protection regulations and to ensure currency of changing GDPR regulations.
• To be responsible for personal learning and development, to support the learning and development of others and the whole organisation.
• To work in a manner that facilitates and encourages inclusion.
• To be pro-active in identifying ways to improve personal and team performance.
• To maintain an awareness of own and others’ Health and Safety and comply with the NSPCC’s Health and Safety policy and procedures.
• To take personal responsibility for keeping up to date with NSPCC work to end cruelty to children, including securing updates on project and service developments and general NSPCC news.

Key Relationships - Internal

• Reports to Associate Head – Direct Fundraising.
• A member of staff in the Direct Fundraising team, within the wider Individual Supporters department.
• Work with Compliance Team to mitigate risk and ensure compliance in face-to-face activity.
• Work with Finance Department to assist with reporting budget and reforecast all activity.
• Engage with staff in other NSPCC functions, as necessary to increase engagement between potential supporters and professional fundraisers to further fundraising relationships. 

Key Relationships – External

•  Work with a range of agreed agencies to engage the public through a supporter centric approach to fundraising, providing engaging content and materials, and ensuring that professional fundraisers align with our values and cause whilst maintaining high levels of compliance.

Person Specification

Skills and abilities

1. Highly developed written and verbal communication skills to understand, interpret and present complex information in a clear and persuasive way for a range of audiences.
2. Ability to collect data from various sources, analyse findings, identify opportunities, evaluate their viability and present findings clearly in a way that meets desired outcomes.
3. Well-developed ability to build, manage and develop relationships with individuals within an organisation and externally and achieve objectives through these relationships.
4. The ability to plan, monitor and implement projects/events/initiatives to agreed deadlines often with conflicting priorities.
5. An ability to organise and plan own work, identifying conflicting demands and establishing clear priorities in order to meet agreed objectives.
6. Well-developed ability to apply effective numeracy skills in entering and recording financial data, interpreting, analysing, and presenting financial data in clear and accurate format to meet desired outcomes.

Knowledge and experience

1. Experience in using Windows based software packages including word processing, excel spreadsheets, e-mail and the internet, in order to deliver tasks and projects.
2. A personal commitment to ending cruelty to children.

Personal characteristics

1. Commitment to apply NSPCC’s values and behaviours to all aspects of work.
2. Willingness to travel within the UK via car or public transport to conduct mystery shopping and to work flexibly in approach to work and/or work time requirements.

Safer Recruitment

As an organisation, we are committed to creating and fostering a culture that promotes safeguarding and the welfare of all children and adults at risk.

Our safer recruitment practices support this by ensuring that there is a consistent and thorough process of obtaining, collating, analysing and evaluating information from and about candidates to ensure that all persons appointed are suitable to work with our children and adults.

The recruitment and selection of our people will be conducted in a professional, timely and responsive manner and in compliance with current employment legislation, and relevant safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance.

Our principles:

•  Always seek to recruit the best candidate for the role based on merit including their skills, experience, motivation and competencies. Our robust recruitment and selection process should ensure the identification of the person best suited to the role and the organisation.
• Committed to diversity and equality of opportunity and will interview all applicants (internal and external) who self-declare at application as having a disability and who meet the minimum requirements in the person specification of the vacancy they are applying for.
• We will make reasonable adjustments at all stages of the recruitment process in order to enable successful candidates who declare disabilities to start working or volunteering their time with us.
• Any current member of staff or volunteer who wishes to apply for vacancies and is suitably qualified will be considered and addressed fairly and objectively based on their merit.
• As an organisation committed to safeguarding, we will ensure all under 18’s joining the organisation will have ongoing risk assessments to ensure their role and activities are safe and appropriate
• All documentation relating to candidates will be treated confidentially in accordance with the GDPR legislation.