Director of Finance in London

Team: Finance. Responsible to: Director of Global Operations/Interim Deputy Executive Director. Key Relationships: Finance team, Senior Leadership Team, Regional Directors, Trustees. Contract: Initial 6-month contract: Interim to Permanent. Working Hours: 37.5 hours per week. Salary: £80,000 gross per annum. Location: London, UK. (ARTICLE 19 is a flexible employer and encourages a hybrid working environment. The frequency of time in attending the office and working from home is to be agreed with the successful candidate.)

Who we are

For 40 years, ARTICLE 19 has worked for a world where all people everywhere can freely express themselves and actively engage in public life without fear of discrimination. Working through international mechanisms and in partnership with our donors, we combined research, campaigning, and cutting‑edge legal analysis, to make real impact on the way freedom of expression is seen and felt by people all over the world.

But the world has changed, in part reflected in our most recent strategy The Power of Our Voices. Our attention has been focussed on how to meet the complex challenges and rapidly evolving context for human rights. Freedom of expression has been co‑opted by populists to protect their agendas of division and hate. Human rights are being routinely undermined by the actions of states that once protected our rights through institutions. And corporate power, particularly in the digital realm remains vastly in excess of the ability of governments to regulate them.

ARTICLE 19 has deep insight into these challenges and has been transforming from an international \"think‑do\" organisation (working locally and internationally), to one that is truly global in its approach to rights‑based problems facing so many communities. We are transforming into an organisation that works with communities, rather than for them. We are transforming to meet the world as it is, rather than the world we wish it to be.

We are a dedicated team of human rights campaigners, activists, technologists, researchers, policy specialists, and community builders. Working with partners all over the world, from Taiwan to Sao Paolo, we generate solutions which deal with real problems in real time to meet actual needs. Building on decades of policy analysis, standard setting and cutting‑edge research through our nine operational hubs, we work in service to the human rights movement, defending the defenders, protecting democratic processes, and challenging corporate power over our digital lives.

Our mission is simple: to reclaim freedom of expression and return it to the people.

Your contribution to the team

ARTICLE 19 is undergoing a period of transformation which includes the updating of our global human rights strategy, our operating model and governance. As Director of Finance, you will play an important role in leading the Finance Team through a period of change, as well as providing input to the changes underway. At the core of the role is operational leadership of ARTICLE 19's finances the London based Finance team and key focal points across the regional offices.

This position requires fluency in finance operations, and the ability to provide hands‑on support to staff, while also contributing to a strategic and operational context in transition.

The ideal candidate will be comfortable operating in an international organisation with experience in leading during times of change, embedding new practices and ways of working and team building to produce deliverables for the longer term.

What you can expect in a typical day

• Plan oversee, execute and implement ARTICLE 19's global operating budget for 2027, strengthening budget monitoring, reporting and cashflow forecasting, and provide timely financial position oversight across projects, teams and the organisation.
• Produce Management Accounts to track current year expenditure against the latest forecast, undertake a material assessment of current year expectations.
• Present financial forecasting, remodelling and management accounts to the Board and Board‑delegated governance bodies.
• Work closely with the Finance Team to transition to a smooth month‑end reporting schedule and prepare monthly and quarterly management accounts.
• Work with the Financial Controls team to reconcile all balance sheet items to date and work on a cash flow report.
• Oversee the implementation of the Finance systems plan for 2026 and into 2027 in conjunction with The Finance System Project lead.
• Provide the financial modelling and costings that the Executive team need to evaluate organisational change options.
• Oversee the International Grant Accountant team, ensuring effective financial business partnering to grant holders, provision of accurate cost allocations and enforce compliance with donor financial and cost recovery requirements.
• Fully implement ARTICLE 19's financial policies to ensure compliance and identify and close gaps in controls where necessary.
• Fully implement ARTICLE 19's financial policies to ensure compliance and identify and close gaps in controls where necessary.
• Ensure compliance with statutory, legal and taxation requirements across the UK, Netherlands, US and Canada (including the Charity Commission submission and Companies House filings).
• Review and strengthen the control environment and accounting processes.
• Support project, donor and global audits.
• Ensure day‑to‑day financial obligations of the International Office are met.

Knowledge and Skills

• Deep, hands‑on technical financial competence with the ability and willingness to get into the detail
• Strong attention to detail to work with the team to bring the accounting transactions and month end closures up to date
• Strong systems literacy, including experience implementing or migrating finance systems.
• Calm, accurate delivery under audit and reporting deadlines.
• Clear communication of financial information to non‑finance audiences, including senior management, the Treasurer and the Board.
• Strong initiative and follow‑through, with the ability to work efficiently under pressure, independently and as part of a team.
• Effective people management skills across a dispersed finance function.

What you will bring to the role

Person Specification

Education:

• Full membership of a UK recognised accountancy body.

Work experience:

• Professional finance experience at senior management level in an international, multi‑donor organisation.
• Proven understanding and ability to deliver accurate and timely financial reporting.
• Proven ability to implement, improve and manage financial systems and controls, including during periods of transition.
• Proven delivery of statutory audits and UK and compliance (ideally including US/Canada/EU)..
• Demonstrable understanding of grant management and cost allocation concepts/ methodologies.
• Demonstrable experience of people management, including of finance and administration staff and coordination of dispersed finance functions.
• Experience operating in a fixed‑term or interim capacity, stabilising a finance function during change, is an advantage.

Other requirements:

• Ability to work well under pressure, self‑direct, and prioritise a heavy and varied workload against tight deadlines.
• Commitment to equal opportunities, non‑discrimination and working effectively in a multi‑cultural environment.
• Willingness to work outside normal working hours, including weekends and evenings, when necessary.
• Commitment to the mission and values of the organisation.
• Must already have, or be able to obtain, the right to work in the UK.

Our Reward Package

• Salaries are determined by our salary scale.
• We offer comprehensive benefits including a range of well‑being plans; generous paid leave and public holidays; family friendly policies; an attractive leave policy; and wellness days.

Our commitment as an equal opportunities' employer

Our mission is to welcome everyone and create inclusive teams. We celebrate individuality and encourage you to join us and be your authentic self at work with the freedom to have responsibility, autonomy, and creativity within your role.

Our Culture and our Values

We are a people centred and flexible employer, friendly and a passionate global organisation who live and breathe the same mission and values. We strive to be agile and work collaboratively and are committed to DEI and staff wellbeing.

Like many organisations we inspire towards what we call core values. Here is a summary of what we expect from ourselves.

Our values

Integrity

• We hold ourselves to the high standard we set for others.
• We are coherent on matters of law and policy wherever we work in the world.
• We value visibility, objectivity, and the accuracy of our work.

Transparency

• We know good information can enable powerful action.
• We are clear, open, and honest in our dealings with each other and the outside world.

Collaboration

• Our network of supporters and partners is the lifeblood of our organisation.
• We seek to build productive and inspiring relationships based on the trust our partners, supporters, and donors place in us.

Diversity

• We respect each other and we listen to each other.
• We actively defend those whose voices are marginalised.

Accountability

• We say what we mean and we do what we say, speaking with once voice wherever possible.
• We work hard to make sure our learning and reporting is the best it can be.

Tenacity

• We never give up.
• We are tenacious: we will find every possible avenue to seek changes in law and practice to secure the freedoms associated with our mission.

Innovation

• We are proud of our expertise and are always ready to share what we know.
• We seek to explore the boundaries of our field to advance the freedoms that we protect

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