Head Of Finance And Central Services Jobs in Charing Cross, Greater London

Job title: Interim CEO

Reporting to: Board of Trustees

Location: Our main office is in London (near Kings Cross). We support remote working and recognise the importance of staff meeting in person for work and social purposes and aim to find a happy balance between the two. We actively encourage applications from candidates based across the UK.

Contract: Temporary. Expected to be c. one year depending on start date. We are open to secondments.

Benefits: 36 days’ leave pro rata, inclusive of bank holidays, employer contribution to pension, flexible working with opportunity to work from home.

Hours: 4-5 days per week Monday to Friday (please state your preferred working pattern in your application)

Start date: November / early December (negotiable)

We are looking to recruit an interim CEO, to cover up to one year’s maternity leave. This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced senior leader who is used to working in a fast paced, dynamic organisation with a focus on achieving results.

Key Responsibilities

1. Charity Governance: Working with the ELT and the charity’s Board of Trustees and Committees to lead the charity. Communicating progress against KPIs and challenges effectively, overseeing budgets and risk, and identifying resources needed.

2. Charity Leadership: Working with ELT, to act as an internal and external figurehead for the charity, embodying its culture and modelling its values, and supporting the development of staff across the organisation.

3. Executive Decision Making: Working with SLT to make decisions on key charity priorities and policies, e.g. expansion plans, programme adaptations, major resourcing decisions, and recruitment of senior staff.

4. Business Development: Working with the charity’s CPO to source new business opportunities both in terms of growing and expanding the charity’s core programmes and identifying new innovations and funding. This includes managing key stakeholders (e.g., senior leaders in colleges, sixth forms and training providers).

5. Operations and Finances: Working with the COO to ensure the financial stability of the charity and protecting and managing the charity’s assets.

6. Impact: Overseeing the work of the Director of Impact to ensure that the charity strengthens its approach to monitoring and evaluation, and that all preparations are successfully completed ahead of a potential independent external evaluation of our core programme in 25/26.

7. External Affairs: Overseeing both our fundraising and advocacy workstreams, including the development of relationships with new funders and politicians and policymakers. Representing the charity at external events (including certain conferences and fundraising events), and safeguarding the charity’s reputation and values, ensuring that risks are properly recognised and mitigated.

Required Experience / Characteristics

• Clear commitment to the work of the charity, its mission and its values
• A proven senior leader, with experience of delivering against ambitious targets across multiple departments or programmes and working with a Board of Trustees or directors
• An excellent relationship builder, including the development of commercial relationships with senior stakeholders (e.g., in the education sector, third sector and/or government)
• Demonstrable experience in exercising strategic development and sound judgment
• Strong line management skills, including evidence of managing and developing teams and nurturing autonomous senior leaders
• Strong interpersonal skills, with experience of managing diverse stakeholders including senior leaders, funders, politicians and/or policymakers
• Knowledge of the education system, including the policy and political context
• Clear vision for why you want the role, what you will bring as a leader and your own personal development
• Experience of overseeing budgets, risks and contingencies
• Experience of sales within the education sector and/or fundraising

 Desirable Experience

• Experience of overseeing quality assuring processes and/or impact measurement

We are passionate about diversity and inclusion and strongly encourage applications from people from black and minority ethnic backgrounds. We are committed to ensuring that all applicants are treated fairly and with respect, irrespective of their actual or assumed background including gender, sexual orientation, marital status, age, race (including colour, nationality and ethnic origin), religion/belief or disability.

This is a UK-based post and applicants must be living in and have the right to work the UK; if applicable please detail your visa status in your covering email. Get Further is an equal opportunities employer and will not discriminate against any candidate on the basis of any characteristic protected by the Equality Act 2010.