Director of Finance
Reference: APR20256942
Location: Flexible/Remote in England, with travel to RSPB Offices and HQ Sandy SG19
Salary: £86,059.00 - £109,346.00 Per Annum
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full-Time, 37.5 hours per week.
Benefits: Pension scheme (7%), Life Assurance scheme, 26 days' annual leave (plus bank holidays)
The RSPB Finance Director role is a crucially important role for RSPB, reporting to the Executive Director for Finance, Governance and Strategy, and a part of the RSPB's senior leadership group.
What's the role about?
This is an opportunity for the successful candidate to:
- Drive the Finance department across all areas, including financial operations and budgeting and forecasting.
- Provide advice and support to the wider Finance, Governance and Strategy Directorate, Board, and other senior leaders on finance-related matters with a focus on strategy implementation.
- Engage with the Finance Committee and Audit and Risk Committee, leading on all financial matters.
Essential skills, knowledge and experience:
- Fully qualified accountant (UK-recognised qualification such as ACA, ACCA, CIMA)
- Successful track record of inspiring, managing, and delivering large scale organisation-wide projects
- Demonstrable track record in the successful leadership and management of a Finance team in a multi-faceted and geographically dispersed organisation
- Successful track record in developing excellent working relationships between internal directorates and external stakeholders
- Experience of both internal and external financial reporting and the related regulatory environment in the charity sector
- Experience of control systems that manage risk effectively and provide assurance on the efficiency and effectiveness of financial processes and compliance with relevant regulatory frameworks
- Knowledge of the main direct and indirect tax frameworks related to the charity sector
- Experience in creating and communicating a compelling vision for directing and motivating the Finance team
Desirable skills, knowledge and experience:
- Investment management experience
- Defined benefit pension scheme arrangement experience
Please note this is a remote working role that can be conducted flexibly within the UK, however the successful candidate will be expected to travel to RSPB offices (including The Lodge in Sandy, Bedfordshire) on a monthly basis.
Closing date: 23:59, Wednesday 4th June 2025
We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from June 2025.
Interested?
If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our recruitment partner's website to complete your application for this position.
We are committed to developing an inclusive and diverse RSPB, in which everyone feels supported, valued, and able to be their full selves. To achieve our vision of creating a world richer in nature, we need more people, and more diverse people, on nature’s side. People of colour and disabled people are currently underrepresented across the environment, climate, sustainability, and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we are particularly interested in receiving your application.
The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role will require standard pre-employment checks. This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
As part of this application you will be asked to provide a copy of your CV and complete a short form, which includes an optional cover letter section. Please use this cover letter section to detail how you meet the criteria listed above, as this will form the basis of our shortlisting. Contact us to discuss any additional support you may need to complete your application.
No agencies please.
The RSPB brings people together – people like you – to protect the things that matter to us all.



Location: Remote in Europe
Salary: Depending on experience (including unpaid and other experiences) and capacity to take on responsibility, the salary range is:
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£73,135 - £79,230 for the United Kingdom
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€60,150 - €76,263 for France
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€83,439 - €89,399 for Netherlands
If the successful candidate is outside of the UK, France, or NL, the salary and benefits will be adjusted based on local market equivalencies.
About Us
The Sunrise Project is a global network of independent organizations united by a common mission: scaling social movements to drive the global transition beyond fossil fuels. We've developed a unique model that combines strategic grant-making with campaigning, supporting interconnected organizations to create powerful change aligned with our mission.
The Sunrise Project Inc. is a proud member of The Sunrise Project network. Our organizational culture is dynamic and adaptable. We're committed to supporting our team members to thrive as we tackle the urgent challenge of climate change. We believe that a diversity of experiences and perspectives strengthens our strategies, teams, and movements.
The Sunrise Project Inc. takes the broadest possible view of diversity and encourages First Nations people, people of colour, people living outside of cities, people living with disabilities, neurodiverse, and LGBTQIA+ people to apply. We are continually working on becoming a better workplace for everyone. Find out more here.
About the Program
The Europe Regional Finance program has evolved out of our Financial Regulation and Policy Program that began in 2019 with a narrow focus on European central banks. Since then, we've expanded to shape financial regulation and policy globally to accelerate clean energy and create lasting systemic change in how public finance addresses climate challenges. Now the Europe Regional Finance program will focus on EU Policy and Finance and UK Policy and Finance.
About The Role
The purpose of this role is to contribute to achieving the objectives in the EU Financial Policy and Regulation project, specifically the work on public finance, fiscal policy and industrial strategy. Together with partners and allies, this role will help stop the political polarisation of net zero and contribute to building the broader case for public investment by establishing and propagating a narrative linking the opportunities of the clean energy transition with improving conditions for households and communities. This role sees the big picture and can translate it into actionable plans for maximum impact.
We support networks of organisations to work together to achieve outcomes that would not be possible by individual organisations acting alone. We expect all roles at Sunrise to actively support the capacity building of these networks and partner organisations.
About You
You have experience working on public finance, fiscal policy, or industrial strategy. You understand what it takes to hold the big picture, and translate complicated campaign strategies into actionable steps. You enjoy digging into the policy details, but are able to focus on the key ways to move the campaign forward for maximum impact. You’re able to work with diverse networks of organisations from trade unions to business leaders. You have a strong understanding of the political context which dictates our work and what's possible, but also innovative in thinking through solutions and opportunities to do things differently. You have experience working in Europe. You’re flexible and willing to change course when needed and respond to opportunities, but are able to keep the systemic change we want to achieve in mind.
Key Responsibilities
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Leads on the development and implementation of high-impact campaign strategies and tactics to achieve our programmatic goals, objectives, and key results, in accordance with our values and JEDI commitments.
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Sources, builds, and maintains strategic relationships with key partners, facilitating collaborative efforts to co-develop and implement strategies.
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In collaboration with the research team, identifies and develops a plan to fulfill complex research and analysis to inform the development of effective campaign strategies and plans.
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Provides strategic advice to partners and community groups to enhance the strategic impact of their campaigns.
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Ensures alignment between global public finance work and associated projects across the wider Global Finance Program.
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Fosters the development and growth of a well-informed, effective, and powerful network and individuals dedicated to our cause, and contributes to the broader movement's progress.
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Designs and evaluates grant proposals and strategies in collaboration with partners, manages grants and oversees a portfolio of grantees ensuring the delivery of high-impact initiatives to support the movement's impact.
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Drives and facilitates inclusive and transparent strategic decision-making processes, including campaign evaluation and impact reporting.
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Acts as a key influencer, coach, and strategic advisor, and may manage consultants and/or teams with responsibility for the management, development and growth of others.
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Regularly evaluate projects at 3 months, 6 months and annually during the first year and every 6 months after that.
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Aligns programmatic strategies and OKR’s with Sunrise’s Values and mission.
Required skills and experience
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Advanced level campaigning experience in European public finance, industrial strategy, and fiscal policy in a similar role including unpaid, grassroots or lived experience.
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Proven experience researching, building, and incubating new strategies in consultation and coordination with partner organizations.
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Ability to work with the team to execute grants.
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Ability to successfully manage across cultures, and a track record of creating inclusive work cultures, both internally and with partners.
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Demonstrated ability to work in a very dynamic environment with a high degree of flexibility and agility.
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A high level of emotional intelligence with excellent interpersonal communication and group facilitation skills.
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A passion for action on climate change and a commitment to social justice, equity, diversity.
Desirable Skills and Experience
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Experience grant making would be beneficial.
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Experience working fundraising would be an advantage.
Job requirements
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You must have full working rights in the country in which you will be working. The Sunrise Project is unable to sponsor applicants for employment visas.
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Previous employment reference checks will be required for successful applicants.
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Attend local in person partner events as appropriate.
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Intermittent travel with advanced notice may be/is required.
How Sunrise supports its staff
The Sunrise Project is committed to creating a workplace that supports our staff to do their best work and develop professionally. Sunrise has the following in place to help us achieve that, noting pro rata will apply for part time staff and/or temporarily appointed-fixed term staff. The successful candidate will be hired via a Professional Employment Organisation (PEO) on behalf of the Sunrise Project, so conditions of employment may vary.
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Statutory benefits and entitlements of the country/province in which you are employed.
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Sunrise may provide additional benefits, where in-country entitlements are less than our standard package, where applicable including:
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Paid Parental Leave that is gender-neutral & inclusive of all types of families, incl. Parental Return To Work & Keeping In Touch Program
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Life Leave (up to 40 days p.a. for significant personal reasons)
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Public Holiday + Cultural Leave
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Workspace Benefits incl: Macbook & accessories, initial $2,000* for home workspace & IT equipment + $800* every 2 years + up to $75/mth phone/data/internet (equivalent local currency) .
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Shared office support
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Additionally we offer:
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Flexible Working Policy
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VIDA - An AI tool to support your health and wellbeing
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Regular all-org and team meetings & retreats
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Learning & Development Program incl. a professional development budget for every staff member
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Coaching & manager support with regular 1:1 meetings
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Annual performance & development reviews with 360 feedback
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A co-developed work plan to ensure clarity on your role & key responsibilities
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We provide our staff with a voice on issues that concern them via consultation, caucuses, working groups, and surveys.
How to apply for this job
We recognise that racism, sexism, ableism, homophobia, classism and other forms of discrimination creates structural barriers that impact opportunities to formal education and experience.
You’ll be taken to Be Applied to complete your application.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.