Head of Finance in London

Hours: part-time – 0.8 FTE, open to flexible working

Based in: Hybrid (London)/Remote

Benefits: 25 days Annual Leave (pro-rata), staff learning fund, enhanced parental benefits package, flexible working, staff benefits platform.

Why this role is important – and why you’ll make a difference doing it:

HOPE not hate is the UK’s leading anti-fascist organisation. Our mission is simple – to monitor and challenge the far right, to engage in the communities that are susceptible to them and to address the issues and policies which give rise to them. Our team includes researchers, educators, community activists and policy experts, as well as specialists with inside access to far-right groups.

We are looking for a Head of Finance to oversee the day-to-day finance function, providing insight that underpins strategic decisions and working closely with the Director of Operations to develop a long-term financial strategy to support our key priorities.

What you’ll be doing in this role:

• Strategic Financial Planning
  • Provide financial insight and analysis to support strategic decision-making across the organisation, working closely with the Director of Operations and Leadership Team.
  • Support organisational financial planning, including annual budgets, forecasting and cashflow.
  • Contribute to the development of a long-term financial strategy that supports sustainable growth and aligns with organisational priorities.
  • Maintain robust financial controls and contribute to financial risk management and governance across the organisation.
• Financial Operations
  • Oversee day-to-day financial activities, including monitoring cash flow and maintaining effective financial controls.
  • Implement and maintain effective financial systems and processes, identifying opportunities to improve and streamline existing systems.
  • Lead on financial policies, delegated authorities and financial governance frameworks.
  • Oversee financial monitoring and reporting for restricted funds, grants or project funding where applicable.
  • Oversee and develop the finance function, including any direct reports or outsourced providers.
• Reporting, Compliance and Governance
  • Oversee the preparation of management accounts, financial accounts and budget reports.
  • Produce monthly management accounts and work with the Director of Operations to prepare quarterly financial reports for the Board.
  • Oversee the audit process and liaise with external auditors in the preparation of statutory accounts.
  • Responsibility for financial policies, delegated authorities and risk-registers.
  • Support the Director of Operations in ensuring statutory and regulatory compliance requirements are met.
• Collaboration and Leadership
  • Provide clear financial reporting and insight to the Director of Operations and wider Leadership Team to support planning and organisational decision-making.
  • Work collaboratively with colleagues across the organisation to promote strong financial management and improve financial understanding where needed.

What success looks like in this role:

• Establishing a well-structured and effective finance function, introducing systems, processes and controls that support the organisation’s operations and growth.
• Embedding clear and insightful financial reporting and planning, giving the Leadership Team and Board greater visibility and confidence in financial decision-making.
• Working closely with the Director of Operations to strengthen financial sustainability and develop a long-term financial strategy aligned with the organisation’s priorities.

What you’ll need to do this role:

• Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA) or equivalent experience.
• At least 2 years’ experience working in a senior financial position.
• Ability to communicate financial matters to non-financial stakeholders and members of the team.
• Experience of management accounts production, financial accounts, forecasting and budget reporting.
• Knowledge of financial management and taxation including VAT.
• Understanding of financial governance, risk management and internal controls.
• Excellent IT skills across MS applications and financial systems.
• Proactive and results orientated, with great attention to detail.
• A passion for the work that we do and the HOPE not hate mission.
• Ideally, you will have proven experience within the charity or not-for-profit sector but this is not essential.
• We are looking for someone with the emotional resilience to work in a field that involves challenging content, good political judgement and awareness and the ability to work under pressure and reduced timescales.

We believe that our work will be at its best if it is created by people with a range of backgrounds and experiences. We are keen to interview people who will add diversity to our team. We are an anti-fascist organisation, which strives to be an effective ally in the wider fight against racism and inequity.

How to apply:

To apply, you’ll need to answer the below questions:

• Please tell us why you’re applying for this role at HOPE not hate at this time and what you see as the biggest challenge in the role?
• Please give an example of when you have used financial insight to influence a strategic decision in an organisation. What analysis did you provide and what was the outcome?
• HOPE not hate works with challenging and sometimes distressing material. How do you maintain resilience and good judgement in such environments?

Then just send your answers and CV in the subject line ‘Head of Finance – Application’.