Chief Financial Officer

Job Title: Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Reports To: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Dotted Line To: Treasurer/Chair of the Finance and Audit Risk Committee (FARC)

Role purpose
As Chief Financial Officer, you will lead the organisation’s financial strategy, governance, and controls to ensure robust, compliant, and timely financial management. You will partner with the CEO and Board to shape strategic planning and resource allocation, steward external reporting and funding compliance, and develop a high-performing finance function. You will drive financial policy, risk management, and system integrity while delivering insightful financial information to enable informed decision-making across the Senior Leadership Team and the Board.

Key responsibilities

Strategic financial leadership

• Lead the development and execution of the organisation’s financial strategy aligned with its mission and strategic plan.
• Partner with the CEO and Senior Leadership Team to formulate long-term financial forecasting, scenario planning, and capital allocation.
• Provide proactive financial insights to influence strategic decisions and performance measurement.

Budgeting, forecasting, and planning

• Own and oversee the annual budgeting process, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and funder requirements.
• Lead quarterly forecasting cycles, consolidating inputs from all departments and presenting variance analysis and corrective action plans.
• Maintain long-range financial planning models and cash flow projections, linking them to strategy and risk appetite.

Governance, controls, and risk management

• Develop, implement, and monitor robust financial policies, internal controls, and assurance processes.
• Lead enterprise risk management for finance-related risks, maintaining a risk register and ensuring timely mitigation actions.
• Oversee compliance with statutory and funder-specific reporting requirements; ensure accuracy and timeliness of submissions.
• Ensure compliance with applicable accounting standards, regulatory requirements, and funder terms; maintain documentation for audit readiness.

External reporting and funder relations

• Ensure timely statutory financial reporting, audits, and funder reporting obligations.
• Manage relationships with external auditors, funders, and regulatory bodies; respond to inquiries and provide high-quality information promptly.
• Coordinate with the Finance/Audit Committee (FARC) and Treasurer on financial oversight and reporting cycles.

Financial systems, data, and process improvement

• Oversee the integrity and security of financial systems, data governance, and financial analytics.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives to automate processes, enhance data quality, and increase efficiency and scalability.
• Ensure the accuracy and completeness of FA (Finance Administrative) outputs, with a focus on technical quality and reliability.

Payroll governance and HR collaboration

• Coordinate with the HR function on payroll governance, compliance, and related controls; ensure accurate and timely payroll processing and reporting.
• Review payroll calculations and payments in partnership with HR; drive process improvements to reduce risk and error.

Team leadership and development

• Build, mentor, and develop a high-performing finance team; promote professional development and succession planning.
• Set clear objectives, performance metrics, and accountability standards; provide coaching and performance feedback.

Finance operations and reporting

• Produce and oversee key financial outputs, including monthly management accounts, quarterly financial reports, and annual financial statements.
• Lead the preparation of management reporting for the CEO, Senior Leadership Team, and the Board; present financial results and insights clearly and succinctly.
• Ensure the technical accuracy and completeness of FA’s work output; coach and support the FA on technical requirements and ensure proper understanding and execution.
• Define, monitor, and report on key financial and operational KPIs; provide timely explanations for variances and corrective actions.
• Produce quarterly financial reports for internal and external stakeholders, ensuring clarity, accuracy, and compliance with funder specifications.
• Ensure readiness and responsiveness to ad hoc information requests from the Treasurer, FARC, and the Board.

Person specification

• Professional qualifications: Chartered Accountant (or equivalent) preferred; CPA or CMA acceptable.
• Experience: Minimum 8 years of senior financial leadership experience, preferably in nonprofit/charity/NGO sector, with proven success in budgeting, fundraising finance, and governance.
• Technical skills: Advanced proficiency in ERP/financial systems, financial planning tools, and data analytics; strong knowledge of accounting standards relevant to funders and statutory reporting.
• Leadership: Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor, and develop finance teams; strong collaboration and influencing skills at executive and board levels.
• Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication; ability to explain complex financial concepts to non-financial stakeholders.
• Risk and compliance: Track record of building robust controls, risk management frameworks, and compliance programs.
• Personal attributes: Strategic thinker with hands-on delivery style; ethical, transparent, and mission-driven; able to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.