{Closed to New Applicants} International Finance Director #942 @ Est. International NGO in London

To provide strategic financial leadership, and maintain robust systems, controls, and donor compliance across the organisation. Responsible for organisational financial strategy, budgeting, reporting, external audits, risk management, and supporting programme delivery through high-quality financial oversight. This 'hands-on' role requires the Director of Finance to execute daily tasks as well as overseeing, and mentoring, others within the team to undertake what is required.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership & Financial Planning
  • Lead the organisation’s financial strategy ensuring sustainability and alignment with mission and organisational priorities.
  • Advise the CEO and Board on financial performance, risk, and scenario planning.
  • Develop long-term financial models and cashflow forecasts.
  • Provide financial insight to strategic decisions, business cases, growth opportunities, and operational planning.
• Financial Management & Control
  • Oversee and execute specific tasks relating to financial operations including accounting, treasury, cash management, payroll, and banking.
  • Ensure monthly, quarterly, and annual financial closes are accurate and timely.
  • Maintain and strengthen internal financial controls across central team and country/project operations.
  • Implement efficient systems and processes to support a lean but compliant financial environment.
• Budgeting & Organisational Performance
  • Lead the annual budgeting process.
  • Monitor budget performance, variances, and financial KPIs, providing clear analysis for senior leadership.
  • Support budget holders to understand forecasts and make informed decisions.
• Donor Finance & Grant Compliance
  • Oversee donor grant finance, ensuring compliance with institutional donor restrictions and requirements.
  • Ensure accurate, timely donor financial reports and statements of expenditure.
  • Maintain strong cost allocation methodologies and restricted/unrestricted funds management.
  • Support proposal development with budgeting, pricing, and value-for-money analysis.
• Audit & Assurance
  • Lead the annual organisational audit: prepare schedules, financial statements, and required disclosures.
  • Ensure compliance with charity accounting standards (SORP).
  • Oversee financial donor audits, ensuring timely, accurate responses and evidence.
  • Strengthen processes to maintain a clean audit trail across all offices and functions.
• Risk Management
  • Contribute to the organisational risk register by recording and presenting on financial risks to the Board and Finance and Audit Committee.
  • Lead on fraud prevention, detection, reporting, and investigation standards.
  • Ensure compliance with anti-money-laundering legislation and act as MRLO for the organization.
  • Implement financial due diligence for donors, suppliers, and country operations as required to meet organisation and donor policies.
• Oversight of International Operations
  • Ensure strong financial management of new country programmes creating and reviewing and renewing policies as required.
  • Support secondees in new countries ensuring they are paid and can make payments as required.
  • Support the development or review of financial systems, capacity, and reporting in relation to new country expansion work.
  • Oversee financial arrangements for countries where the INGO has no legal entity, including fiscal hosts, secondee payments, and contract structures.
  • Ensure multi-currency management, FX exposure monitoring, and cashflow forecasting.
• Leadership, Management & Culture
  • Lead, mentor, and develop the finance team to achieve operational excellence.
  • Promote a culture of integrity, accountability, and financial literacy across the organisation.
  • Provide training and guidance to programme and non-finance staff.
  • Uphold the organisation’s values, safeguarding principles, and anti-corruption commitments.

Person Specification

Essential

• Worked as a Finance Director or as a Head of Finance (with autonomy of decision making and board reporting duties).
• Strong understanding of charity accounting standards and regulatory requirements.
• Senior-level finance experience in an INGO, charity, or multi-country organisation (preferably with operations in the Global South).
• Fully qualified accountant (ACCA, CIMA, ACA, CPA or equivalent).
• High integrity, sound judgement, and commitment to NGO values.
• Demonstrable experience with institutional donor compliance.
• Experience leading annual audits and preparing financial statements.
• Strong leadership and team management skills, including developing staff.
• Strong budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis skills.
• Experience managing multi-currency environments and international financial operations.
• Ability to communicate financial information clearly to non-finance staff, senior leaders, and Boards.

Desirable

• Experience working with local partners and capacity-strengthening in the Global South.
• Knowledge of risk management frameworks and counter-fraud systems.
• Experience with digital transformation of financial systems.
• Familiarity with grant management systems and cloud-based accounting tools.
• Understanding of tax, registration, or legal issues related to INGOs working without in-country entities.
• Lived and worked in Sub Saharan Africa.

For further information, and to apply, please visit our website via the “Apply” button below.