Company secretary and head of compliance jobs
Governance Manager
Home/Office Based (Matlock)
Fixed, 37.5 hour per week permanent contract
£45,560 - £53,600 per annum
Our Governance Manager is responsible for managing and coordinating all governance work, providing support to the Board, CEO and Executive Team in all matters relating to governance and in particular for the Board and Committee meetings.
You’ll ensure that transactional activities are accurately completed within specified timeframes and co-ordinate all committees of the YHA Board and advise on and implement good governance practice.
Why work for YHA?
Join our team and enjoy a range of exclusive staff benefits that support your well-being and career growth:
- 10 nights free hostel stays per year for you and up to 3 friends or family
- Access to YHA’s staff discount and cash back portal
- Free YHA Membership each year
- Access to support via our Employee Assistance Program
What will you be doing?
- Lead and advising on all matters relating to governance including the constitution, memorandum and articles of association, standing orders and codes of conduct, including leading the implementation of any changes agreed by the Board.
- Provide best practice governance advice and support to the Chair, Board, CEO and Executive team, ensuring regulatory/codes of practice compliance, ongoing review of consultations on charity governance and promoting good governance in practice.
- Provide governance support to the Board, Audit and Risk Committee, Finance Committee, People, Remuneration, Impact and Engagement Committee, and the National Officers and Committee Chairs meeting and any other meetings linked to governance.
- Monitor changes in relevant governance legislation and the regulatory environment and take appropriate action.
- Project manage the organisation and delivery of the Annual General Meeting
- Plan and co-ordinate the annual Trustee induction programme.
- Responsible for the administration of the Company, for example: maintaining statutory company records and making the appropriate governance filings to Companies House and the Charity Commission.
- You’ll be the Company Secretary for YHA (England and Wales) and YHA Trading Limited.
- Assist the CEO and Executive with internal and external promotion, PR or other publications and events as required and particularly in relation to corporate governance and Board related issues.
- Develop relationships of trust and confidence, working pro-actively with the Chair, individual Board members, the CEO, Executive team, and external lawyers, where appropriate. You’ll be key in liaising between National Office teams and Board members.
What Skills and Experience do you need?
- Experience of providing governance support at Board level.
- Chartered Membership of the Chartered Governance Institute (or equivalent) or studying towards the qualification or suitable other experience. Experience of working independently, pro-actively and sensitively with senior stakeholders (Chair, CEO, Board members, Exec directors).
- Excellent project management skills and experience.
- Project team leadership skills and experience.
- Experience of budgetary control.
- Experience and in-depth knowledge of corporate and charity governance, including of company secretary functional requirements.
- Friendly, supportive, authoritative and approachable with the ability to adapt communication style to build positive relationships and provide proactive support for internal and external stakeholders at all levels.
- Able to take comprehensive and accurate minutes at speed.
- Able to adapt written communication style to deal with formal Board and governance communications, but equally at home with more informal communications when appropriate.
- Good level of IT skills particularly Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint and a working knowledge of portals for distributing and viewing board and committee papers.
- Very well organised, self-motivated and able to demonstrate initiative, to deal authoritatively with providing best practice advice, peaks and troughs in workload, and conflicting priorities including between departments and individuals.
- Able and willing to flex hours worked in order to cover Board and AGM meeting at weekends and frequent evenings and occasional early mornings (for committee meetings and distribution of Board and Committee papers) and travel to hostels throughout the network to support Board and other meetings, for which Time Off in Lieu will be provided.
- Flexible and adaptable, and willing to support the Chair, Board, CEO, Executive Team, and External Affairs Team.
- A good understanding of charity governance, operational and departmental organisation and requirements.
- A discreet and trusted confidante and source of advice for the Chair and CEO when needed, including tactful handling of sensitive/political issues.
- An advocate of YHA at all times, supporting our charitable object, vision and HEART values.
- Holds a current driving licence or able to travel independently, including to rural locations. For more information about the role and the skills and experience required, please refer to the job description.
At YHA, we understand the richness of life experiences, and we place just as much importance on lived experiences as we do on skills and knowledge. We provide a robust induction, ongoing training, and opportunities for personal growth. While certain roles may require specific skills, we welcome applicants from all backgrounds.
Who are YHA?
YHA is a social enterprise with a mission to enrich the lives of all, especially young people. YHA does this by providing brilliant hostel stays and experiences that improve physical health, mental wellbeing and life skills.
Enrich the lives of all, especially young people, by providing brilliant hostel stays and experiences that improve physical health & mental wellbeing.

The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Finance Manager
We are seeking a skilled and strategic Finance Manager to help shape the future of a newly merged charity supporting Cambridgeshire communities.
Position: Finance Manager
Salary: £41,942 - £45,099 pro rata (depending on experience)
Location: Huntingdon or Cambridge (min. 1 day/week onsite), with flexible home working
Hours: 21 hours per week
Contract: Permanent
Closing Date: Noon, 30 April 2025
Interview Date: Week commencing 12 May 2025
About the Role
As Finance Manager, you will be a vital member of the senior leadership team, overseeing the financial health and sustainability of the charity. Reporting to the CEO and Honorary Treasurer, you’ll lead on financial reporting, compliance, budgeting and strategic planning.
Key responsibilities include:
- Leading the finance function including reporting, forecasting, and compliance
- Advising the CEO and Board on financial strategy and governance
- Managing charity statutory accounts, audits and Companies House returns
- Developing and monitoring project budgets and cost controls
- Supporting payroll, pensions, invoicing and cash flow
- Acting as Company Secretary
- Managing a part-time Finance Officer
- Supporting community groups with finance-related training and advice
About You
You’ll be an experienced finance professional, ideally with charity sector knowledge and a passion for strengthening community impact.
You will have:
- AAT Level 3 or part-qualified accountant status (ACCA, CIMA, ICAEW, CIPFA desirable)
- Strong experience in financial reporting, budgeting and compliance
- Excellent communication and presentation skills
- Strong numeracy and analytical skills
- Proficiency in QuickBooks and Microsoft Office
- Experience supporting audits and managing restricted funds
- Knowledge of Charity and Company Law
- A collaborative, flexible and proactive attitude
About the Organisation
Support Cambridgeshire is the result of a merger between CCVS and Hunts Forum, two organisations committed to helping communities thrive. We offer support, advice, training and advocacy for voluntary and community groups across Cambridgeshire. Our work focuses on four core areas: representation, networks, organisation development and volunteering. Headquartered at the Maple Centre in Huntingdon, we also have offices in Cambridge and work flexibly to serve our communities.
Benefits include:
- 28 days annual leave (pro rata) + bank holidays + birthday off
- Flexible working and hybrid model
- Generous pension contribution
- 5 days personal development annually
- Disability Confident employer
Other roles you may have experience of could include:
Charity Finance Officer, Head of Finance, Financial Controller, Finance Business Partner, Senior Finance Officer, Treasurer, Finance Lead, Company Secretary.
We're looking for a strategic, analytical, and leadership-oriented Director of Governance and Assurance to join our Head Office located in Islington.
£85,000.00 per annum, working 35 hours per week.
Want to feel like you're making a difference? You'll feel at home here.
Making you feel at home here means helping you thrive in every way. That's why we offer a wide range of benefits, award-winning Learning & Development and a culture that welcomes all. These aren't token gestures - we've thought long and hard about how best to support our team. After all, our people are doing something amazing: helping to transform lives every day.
All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.
For a full job description, please visit our website.
As the Director of Governance and Assurance, you will provide sector-leading company secretariat, governance, and assurance, ensuring the governance structure efficiently manages regulated activities and commercial group entities. The post-holder will also advise and support the Chief Executive, Chair, and SLT on all aspects of regulation, corporate governance, and effective business conduct for the organisation, ensuring the highest standards of probity and according to statutory and legislative requirements.
The Director of Governance and Assurance will oversee risk management and assurance functions, ensuring effective systems for internal controls and regulatory compliance, including internal audit management. They will provide administrative support for Board and Committee meetings, including agenda planning, minute taking, and record keeping.
This role is a key contact with the Regulator of Social Housing and other external government or regulatory organisations including CQC and Ofsted.
The Director of Governance and Assurance must embody a strategic and principled leadership style, ensuring the highest standards of governance, risk management and regulatory compliance. This individual will demonstrate exceptional integrity, attention to detail, and the ability to navigate complex legal and regulatory landscapes with confidence. With strong analytical and communication skills, they will provide expert guidance to the Board and Senior Leadership Team while fostering a culture of transparency and accountability. Adept at balancing strategic oversight with operational efficiency, they will drive continuous improvement in governance practices, ensuring that Look Ahead remains resilient, compliant, and well-positioned to fulfil its mission in the housing and social care sector.
What you'll bring:
Skills
Leadership: Strong leadership and management skills to oversee governance and assurance functions.
Organisational skills: Extremely organised with a planned approach to ensure leading the activity in this remit.
Analytical Skills: Ability to analyse and interpret legal and regulatory requirements.
Communication: Excellent communication skills to provide clear advice and support to Board and Committee members.
Attention to Detail: High level of accuracy in record-keeping and compliance monitoring.
Qualifications
Educational Background: Typically, a bachelor's degree in business administration, law, finance, or a related field. A master's degree or MBA can be advantageous.
Professional Certifications: Relevant certifications such as Certified Governance, Risk and Compliance (CGRC), Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC), or Certification in Risk Management Assurance (CRMA) can enhance your credentials
Qualified Company Secretary
Experience
Leadership Experience: Significant experience in a senior leadership role, preferably within governance, risk management, or compliance.
Industry Experience: Significant experience in the Housing sector
Track Record: Proven track record of successfully implementing governance and assurance frameworks and driving improvements in organisational performance
About us:
Look Ahead is a leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. Our vision is to build better lives through social care and housing in local communities. As an organisation we deliver over 100 services, providing support to thousands of customers each year. Our mission is to co-design and deliver services that offer innovative social care solutions and support people to thrive. We work across mental health, homelessness and complex needs, young people and care leavers and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.
We have a strong social purpose and we live and work by our values:
We focus on Excellence and innovation.
We are Caring and Compassionate.
We are Inclusive and Trusted.
We work in Partnership and are One-Team.
Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.
If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.
We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.
We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.
Are you a highly experienced, driven and proactive finance & operations professional? Are you passionate about creativity and social impact? Would you like to join a multi-award-winning charity at a time of exceptional growth and impact? We would love to hear from you.
Create has just entered Year Five of its ambitious seven-year strategy to double its reach/impact by the charity’s 25th anniversary in 2028. As the charity progresses into this critical phase of development, we have been awarded a major (£320k) grant to support capacity building. This will enable the further implementation of Salesforce as the charity’s CRM, focusing on the project management and finance functions of operation, transforming efficiency and reducing administrative strain. This will be achieved by creating the position of Technical Project Lead to project manage and oversee implementation of Salesforce; increasing capacity in the finance team by appointing a Finance Manager; and implementing new cloud-based financial accounting software to work alongside Salesforce. This is an incredibly exciting time to join the charity and make your mark.
The Director of Finance & Operations will direct, administer and coordinate the financial, governance, HR, IT and operational activities of the charity in accordance with company policies and the Strategic Plan established by the Chief Executive (CE) and the Board of Trustees, and to assure the quality, effectiveness and efficiency of the planning, delivery and reporting of these activities.
Salary: £46,000-£51,000 per annum depending on experience.
How to apply
Download the application pack from our website which includes a full job description and person specification.
The deadline for applications is 9am on Wednesday 7 May 2025.
1st Interviews: Thursday 15 May at Create’s offices
2nd Interviews: Tuesday 20 May at Create’s offices
To apply, please send a completed application form with a short email providing a telephone number where you can be contacted in confidence.
Completed application forms should be returned to Create with the job title in the subject field).
Create is committed to a policy of equal opportunities embracing diversity in all areas of activity and welcomes applications from disabled people and people of all ethnicities.
No agencies / consultancies.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Birmingham Cathedral is a beautiful building with a wonderful community of worshippers, volunteers and staff. We are inspired by a strong sense of social justice, a passion for supporting those who are marginalised within the city and a commitment to celebrating all that is wonderful in our diverse city and diocese. We strive for our Cathedral to be fully representative of the richly diverse communities we serve, and have an unwavering desire to share God’s love, and the good news of Jesus Christ in a spirit of service.
Birmingham Cathedral demonstrates daily its attraction as a house of prayer to the people of the city and its international visitors. Alongside daily worship, enriched by the Anglican choral tradition, the Cathedral hosts diocesan, regional and national events and is responsive to immediate community needs for celebration and lament. With growing confidence and newly refurbished Burne-Jones windows, the Cathedral has a clear vision and strategy. The Cathedral’s strategic plan focusses on three priorities: Pray, Serve and Grow and gives Birmingham Cathedral a clear sense of purpose and direction.
The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is the senior lay officer in the Cathedral and has the responsibility for managing the business functions of the Cathedral and monitoring operational performance.
As COO. you will be pivotal to the delivery of the Cathedral’s vision and strategy and the development of business and operational plans to ensure delivery of the Cathedral’s strategic outcomes. You will work with the Dean and the Senior Management Team to develop and implement strategy and policy, ensuring good governance, the effective and professional administration of the Cathedral in compliance with all policies and procedures and relevant statutory legislation.
The Cathedral Chapter (our Trustee Board) is looking for a collaborative colleague who will enhance the Cathedral’s caring culture, working closely with the staff team, volunteers and the wider cathedral community. Chapter’s strategic priorities include working towards financial sustainability; reviewing the operating model of the Cathedral and managing change; working towards environmental sustainability; creating partnerships to support the Cathedral’s work with the vulnerable and marginalised and ensuring effective safeguarding.
Birmingham Cathedral is a Christian Church of the Anglican Communion and the seat of the Bishop of Birmingham. As the Church of England cathedral chur

The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
The Diocese of Chester is seeking to recruit a Property Officer to assist and support the Property Manager in providing efficient and effective management of the Diocese's property portfolio.
The successful candidate will be an excellent administrator, with working knowledge of spreadsheets. They will be able to deal with people sensitively and tactfully. Sympathy with the ethos of the church of England is essential.
The role will be based in Church House at Daresbury Park, Warrington, with some hybrid working available
The job description, person specification and application form can be downloaded from the Diocesan website - Please see website address in the attached documents or via the apply/redirect to recruiter button.
Closing date: Tuesday 6th May 2025
Interviews: Friday 23rd May 2025
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Are you passionate about building relationships, inspiring philanthropy, and making a lasting impact? Gloucester Cathedral is seeking a dynamic and ambitious Development Officer (Individual Giving) to join our dedicated Development Team.
This is a unique opportunity to play a key role in growing and managing the Cathedral’s individual giving income streams. Working closely with the Head of Development, you’ll implement and develop our regular giving and mid-level donor programmes, ensuring our supporters feel valued and engaged. You’ll also lead on donor stewardship, conduct prospect research, and play a pivotal role in managing our new CRM database.
Gloucester Cathedral is an iconic heritage site and a place of inspiration, faith, and community. Our ambitious fundraising campaigns, including In Tune: Music and Organ and The Cloister Project, aim to protect and enhance this extraordinary space for generations to come. Your work will directly contribute to preserving history while shaping the future.
We’re looking for highly personable individual who has experience in fundraising, marketing, or supporter engagement, and a track record of delivering excellent donor care. The successful candidate will have strong communication skills, a proactive and enthusiastic approach, and a willingness to work as part of a close-knit, supportive team.
This is a fantastic opportunity for a motivated and relationship-driven professional to take their next step in fundraising. If you’re ready to help shape the future of Gloucester Cathedral’s fundraising efforts, we’d love to hear from you!
Closing date is 9am on Monday 28th April 2025
Interview date in Gloucester 9th May 2025
Please note that CVs are not accepted.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.