Director of Finance

• Influence the financial strategy of a leading UK charity
• Help drive the strategy of one of the UK's largest charity retailers

About Our Client

Barnardo's exists to make sure children and young people are safer, happier, healthier and more hopeful, by running over 800 specialist services across the UK, and campaigning to change the way that support system work for the better. They have been changing childhoods and changing lives for over 150 years, and will be here for as long as they are needed. Barnardo's are proud to be the UK's largest children's charity - reaching over 350,000 children, parents and carers last year.

In the financial year of 2022-23 their total income was £315.3 million.

Job Description

The Director of Finance role is essential in maintaining the charity's fiscal health, supporting income generation, and managing financial risks. It will provide strategic support to the Executive Leadership Team and strategic direction and oversight to a large and diverse finance team, ensuring robust financial management, proactive financial planning and commercial decision support.

This role is one of the Senior Leaders of the Business Services Directorate, which includes essential support functions such as finance, HR operations, technology, data, property, procurement, audit & assurance, legal, and company secretary. The Director of Finance reports directly to the Corporate Director of Business Services, who also serves as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

The Director of Finance will lead a team of approximately 70 finance colleagues and manage an expenditure budget of up to £35 million.

The key responsibilities include:

• Developing and implementing financial strategies to support the charity's goals, ensuring the charity's funds deliver the most positive impact for children and young people.
• Supporting and driving income growth and commercial decision making in the business development, retail and fundraising teams.
• Leading and mentoring the finance team, ensuring they provide high-quality financial data and support.
• Managing the charity's reserves, investments, and treasury functions.
• Overseeing budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting processes.
• Maintaining the highest standards of financial control and compliance.

The Successful Applicant

Experience in a voluntary or public sector environment is not necessarily required. Alignment with the charity's mission and values, a strong track record and a commercial outlook is more important.

Education/Knowledge

• A qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA or equivalent) with significant financial and management accounting knowledge and an robust understanding of financial control frameworks and cash flow and treasury management.

Experience

• Experience of operating at a senior level in large complex organisations with geographically spread operational delivery models.
• Proven experience in a group accounting structure and of project management.
• Experience of engaging and influencing a range of stakeholders, including at Board level, with complex information in a clear, simple and straightforward manner which enables and empowers them to act accordingly.
• Proven track record of successful leadership, making complex decisions and recommendations and acting as a champion of change.
• Experience of collaboration and engagement with non-finance managers, including those from other specialisms, to deliver organisational and operational objectives.
• Significant experience of using financial systems and technology to drive change and efficiency. Microsoft D365 experience advantageous. Other standard package, experience (particularly Excel) also expected.
• Demonstrable ability to plan and organise high volume workloads and conflicting scheduling and client priorities for the department ensuring timely achievement of deadlines.

What's on Offer

This is a hybrid working role and requires attendance on average once per week at Barnardo's offices, either in Euston or at a Regional Office (this may vary week to week).

Salary is £100-£110K + benefits

Employer contributory pension scheme

This is a permanent appointment.

This role closes on 13th September.

Where specific UK qualifications are required we will take into account overseas equivalents. All third party applications will be forwarded to Page Executive.