Director of Finance & Operations (Maternity Cover)

Term: Maternity Cover– 12 month fixed term contract

Location: Flexible hybrid mix of office-based in Bristol and home working

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer

Responsible: Financial Controller, Head of Grants, Head of Operations

Deadline for applications: Sunday 15th September

1st stage interviews: 23rd/24th September

2nd stage interviews: 29th/30th September

Please note we are looking for the successful candidate to start early to mid October to ensure a handover period with the substantive Director of Finance & Operations before she goes on maternity leave.

We’re using anonymised recruitment, so for an informal chat about the role, please contact Katie Walker at Katie.Walker@bwhospitalscharity.org.uk.

At Bristol & Weston Hospitals Charity, we do great things for everyone. From first breaths to final goodbyes, our work touches over 1.75 million patients across our hospitals. Together with our supporters, NHS colleagues and partners, we fund projects that bring comfort, hope and innovation to patients and their families.

We're looking for an experienced and strategic finance leader to join our Senior Management Team during an exciting period of delivery and growth following our recent merger with Southmead Hospital Charity.

This is a rare opportunity to use your expertise to help improve healthcare for patients, families and NHS staff across the region. Reporting directly to the CEO, you'll play a pivotal role in shaping the charity's future, ensuring strong financial stewardship, effective governance and operational excellence across the organisation so that together we can create the greatest possible impact.

About the role

As Director of Finance & Operations, you'll provide strategic leadership across finance, operations, governance, risk management and charitable grant-making. You'll work closely with the CEO, Trustees and senior colleagues, helping guide key decisions that support the charity's long-term sustainability and impact.

No two days will be the same. One moment you could be presenting financial insights to the Board, the next working alongside NHS colleagues to identify where charitable funding can make the greatest difference for patients, families and staff. You might be leading an operational improvement project, overseeing risk and governance, supporting investment decisions, or helping develop our people and culture. You'll also have opportunities to meet the incredible supporters, donors and fundraisers whose generosity makes our work possible, giving you a direct connection to the impact of the charity and the communities we serve.

You'll lead and support a talented team, including our Financial Controller, Head of Grants and Head of Operations, creating an environment where people can thrive and continue delivering outstanding results.

About you

We're looking for a qualified accountant with significant senior leadership experience in the charity sector and a track record of providing strategic financial leadership at executive or director level.

• A qualified accountant with significant executive / Director level experience within the charity sector.
• Experience working in a Board-facing role highlighting key issues and risk for a Board audience.
• Stakeholder management & building relationships – able to build positive relationships internally and externally. Equally confident dealing with Chair & other Trustees, external partners & contacts as well as volunteers, supporters and colleagues.
• Excellent analytical and communication skills & ability to translate complex financial data into understandable & accessible information to ensure transparency and clarity, especially to a non-finance audience.
• Financial management: Proven experience in cash flow management, budgeting, financial strategy and planning, and financial reporting, including preparation of management and year-end accounts.
• Audit and compliance: Experience with leading audits and year-end accounts preparation, compliance with charity accounting standards and filings.
• Experience of risk management and mitigation, and a good working knowledge of the regulatory environment for UK registered charities.
• Budgeting: Expertise in co-developing, producing and monitoring budgets.
• Risk management: Expertise in risk management practices and compliance with financial regulations.
• Experience leading IT or digital system change initiatives.

Most importantly, you'll share our commitment to improving healthcare and making a lasting difference for patients and communities across Bristol, Weston and beyond.

This is an opportunity to use your financial and operational expertise for a cause that matters. You'll join a passionate and supportive team and play a key role in helping the charity deliver extraordinary impact in our hospitals every day.

• 27 days annual holiday entitlement plus an additional day off on your birthday and a wellbeing day. Plus, an additional two days leave after five years of service.
• Commitment to hybrid and flexible working.
• Competitive pension scheme. We'll match employee pension contributions up to 8% (minimum 5%).
• Additional support via our enhanced Employee Assistance Programme, including up to eight sessions with a licensed counsellor.
• Life assurance cover - 4x annual salary
• Commitment to training and development with budget set aside
• Medicash health plan - claim cash towards a range of medical costs
• Free Blue Light Card that allows access to hundreds of discounts at major retailers.

Diversity & inclusion

Bristol & Weston Hospitals Charity is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion.

We are committed to a fair and inclusive recruitment process and use anonymised recruitment, removing personal details such as names and email addresses during shortlisting.

As a Disability Confident and Mindful Employer, we will offer an interview to a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role. If you wish to share information about a disability or long-term condition and would like us to consider any adjustments, please let us know in your application.