Global financial controller volunteer roles in Birmingham

The International Youth Federation (IYF) addresses the challenges of youth inequality by creating global platforms that empower young people through education, leadership training, advocacy, and international collaboration.

The Challenge: Young people worldwide face unequal access to quality education, leadership opportunities, civic participation, and employment pathways—particularly in marginalized and conflict-affected communities. There is also a growing disconnect between youth voices and decision-making spaces, limiting their ability to contribute meaningfully to sustainable development and peacebuilding.

The Solution: IYF delivers youth-led programs, conferences, capacity-building initiatives, and policy engagement opportunities. By providing these platforms, we equip young leaders with the skills, networks, and confidence needed to drive social impact both locally and globally, ensuring youth voices are at the heart of national and international decision-making.

Overview
The International Youth Federation is an international non-profit youth organisation. It is neutral politically and non-denominational, aiming to empower youth worldwide.

The Finance Commission manages and oversees the financial resources of the IYF, ensuring the highest efficiency of financial management, the provision of accurate and adequately documented financial information, effective delivery of financial services, transparent utilisation of financial resources and effective financial controls.

Under direct supervision of the Secretary-General, the Chair of the Finance Commission (CFC) is responsible for supervision and guidance of the IYF Head Office financial operations, providing technical advice and support to the IYF Senior Management Team (SMT), and ensuring cross-unit cooperation and coordination. The CFC ensures a client-orientated approach and consistency with the IYF rules and regulations and good management practice.

The Chair supervises and leads the staff of the finance team and works in close collaboration with the Senior Management Team, Bureau of Management, programme and project teams, IYF HQ staff, and other partners, ensuring successful performance in Finance.

Mission Statement
To voluntarily represent, positively promote, and uphold the mission of “Empowering youth for a better world” in various programmes and opportunities throughout the IYF interventions across member countries.

Responsibilities
(A) Under delegated authority from the SG/USG, and in close consultation with the other management team members, the CFC provides strategic direction of the IYF financial operations with the following expected results:

• Advises senior management on finance-related issues affecting programme delivery and overall operations;
• Identifies approaches and modalities to achieve management targets and increased cost-effectiveness; and
• Promotes knowledge sharing and learning and active participation of the staff in the management practice.

(B) Under delegated authority, the CFC is responsible for the management of finance
operations:

• Financial management: the CFC will work to support and ensure the integrity of financial systems, review of budget requirements and consistently apply rules and regulations;
• Adjusts and realigns corporate systems to be more responsive to new directions and strategies;
• Proposes economies and plans to reduce operational overhead;
• Manages formulation of strategic budget, and
• Provides policy support, guidance and advocacy on the development, establishment and management of common services arrangements to/by participating organisations/agencies at all levels.

(C) Under the overall guidance and leadership of the SG/USG, the CFC supports partnership building on operational issues:

• Represents the IYF in inter-agency administrative meetings, ensures smooth cooperation between agencies on joint programmes;
• Advocates for the IYF services and delivery capacities with government counterparts, donor community, international financial institutions and the UN; and
• Identifies new approaches and measures to further enhance IYF delivery capacities, professional management and cost-effectiveness.

Location
The candidate must be based in the UK.

Experience
Finance experience, including financial systems and grant receiving, within an NGO, non-profit, INGO or IGO (such as the United Nations or European Union), government, charity, civil service, diplomatic, international development, or youth empowerment or similar organisation is ideal. 

Minimum Hours per Week:

4-6 hours per week

Duration:

6+ months

We believe that every child should have access to a quality education at a safe, inclusive school, with the opportunity to become a truly global citizen… do you too?

It’s an incredibly exciting time at African Adventures Foundation as we develop the vital programmes we deliver at the 34 partner schools we work with in Ghana, Kenya, and Zanzibar.

We have ambitious plans to help drive greater impact at our partner schools and are looking to strengthen our existing Trustee Board that’s full of energy and experience!

 Do you have experience in charity governance, delivering projects in an African culture and context, or delivering WASH or female empowerment/education/menstrual health programmes?

If so, read on… we’d be keen to hear from you about becoming one of our amazing volunteer trustees! 

Introduction to African Adventures Foundation

African Adventures Foundation is a registered charity set up in 2013 to provide support to 34 schools in developing areas of Ghana, Kenya and Zanzibar.

These schools provide education, health and food security, and social support to young people whose access to these basic services would otherwise be very limited. African Adventures Foundation helps by funding food security programmes, the construction of important school facilities, and hygiene projects that will benefit children’s health and education.

Our mission is to provide more children with a quality education and better opportunities in life.

 All trustees are responsible for governing a charitable company and directing its management and operation. They must also ensure that the trust complies with all legal and statutory requirements.

About the role

The Secretary supports the effective governance and administration of the African Adventures Foundation. The role ensures that the Board of Trustees operates efficiently, meetings are properly organised and recorded, and the charity complies with regulatory and administrative requirements. The Secretary works closely with the Global Chair, Treasurer, and other Trustees to ensure the charity follows best practice in governance and maintains accurate records.

As an ambassador, they also support external stakeholder and donor activities ensuring compliance to the standards required. 

Key Responsibilities 

Governance and Administration

• Support the Global Chair in ensuring AAF is effectively governed and operates in line with its governing document.
• Ensure trustee meetings are properly administered, including preparing agendas, coordinating papers, and taking accurate minutes.
• Ensure that trustee decisions and discussions are clearly recorded and stored appropriately.
• Maintain up-to-date records of trustees, governance documents, and key organisational information, including steward of the governance schedule for all territories.

Meeting Management

• Ensure that trustee meetings are properly administered and recorded.
• Circulate agendas, minutes, and supporting papers to trustees in a timely manner.
• Ensure other meetings, such as the Annual General Meeting (AGM), and key organisational events are properly administered.
• Ensure that minutes from meetings are approved and maintained as part of the charity’s official records.

Compliance and Record Keeping

• Ensure that records required by regulators are properly maintained, including those required by the Charity Commission for England and Wales.
• Maintain accurate governance documentation, including trustee appointments, resignations, and declarations of interest.
• Ensure that Charity Commission and other relevant organisation records are maintained and kept up to date.

Regulatory Reporting

• Ensure required information is filed with regulators in accordance with statutory deadlines.
• Submit annual returns and other required filings to regulatory bodies in the correct format and within required timescales.
• Support the Board in ensuring compliance with relevant guidance from bodies such as the Charity Commission for England and Wales and the Fundraising Regulator.

Monitoring Actions and Board Support

• Maintain an action log for trustee meetings.
• Monitor committee member action points and follow up where necessary.
• Support trustees by ensuring they have access to relevant governance information and documents.
• Assist the Board in maintaining good governance practices and transparency.

What we are looking for

• Strong, organisational and administrative skills.
• Ability to take clear and accurate meeting minutes.
• Good attention to detail and record-keeping ability.
• Understanding of governance responsibilities within the UK charity sector.
• Ability to communicate effectively with trustees and stakeholders.
• Previous experience as a charity trustee or secretary.
• Ideally familiar with governance requirements of the Charity Commission for England and Wales.
• Experience supporting boards, committees, or governance structures.

Terms of appointment

Terms of office

• Trustees are appointed for a 2-year term of office, renewal for 2 further terms to a maximum of 6 years.
• This is a voluntary position, but reasonable expenses will be reimbursed.

Time commitment (Estimated at one day per month, but can vary)

• Attend the board meetings – a mix of online and in person.
• Additional time for preparation and distribution of meeting documentation. Time to manage governance records and regulatory submissions throughout the year.

We are looking for people willing to bring energy, enthusiasm and commitment to the role, and who will broaden the diversity of thinking on our board. 

Responsibilities & Principles of all AAF trustee roles:

• Support and provide advice on AAF’s purpose, vision, goals, and activities. 
• Approve operational strategies and policies and monitor and evaluate their implementation.
• Ensure the effective and efficient administration of the organisation.
• Ensure that key risks are being identified, monitored, and controlled effectively.
• Provide support and challenge to the AAF executive and team in the exercise of their delegated authority and affairs.
• Keep abreast of changes in AAF’s operating environment.
• Contribute to reviews of African Adventures Foundation’s own governance.
• Attend Board meetings, adequately prepared to contribute to discussions.
• Use independent judgement, acting legally and in good faith to promote and protect African Adventures Foundation’s interests, to the exclusion of their own personal and/or any third-party interests.
• Contribute to the broader promotion of African Adventures Foundation’s objects, aims, and reputation by applying your skills, expertise and knowledge.

Essential qualities and attributes of all trustees

• Willingness and ability to understand and accept their responsibilities and liabilities as trustees, and to act in the best interests of the organisation.
• Ability to think creatively and strategically, exercise good, independent judgement and work effectively as a board member.
• Effective communication skills and willingness to participate actively in discussions. 
• A strong personal commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• A strong personal commitment to good financial management, and zero tolerance for corruption and misappropriation of our donors funds.
• Enthusiasm for our vision and mission.
• Willingness to lead according to African Adventures Foundation’s values.

This is an opportunity to play a key role in supporting the work of African Adventures Foundation. If you are organised, reliable, and motivated by making a difference, we would love to hear from you.