Chief Financial Administration Officer
Help shape the next chapter of The Conversation UK
This is an opportunity to take on a genuinely influential leadership role in an organisation with a distinctive public-interest mission.
The Conversation UK is evolving its leadership model. From January 2027, our Editor-in-Chief will become our most senior executive, accountable to the Board for strategy, editorial leadership and our most important external relationships.
As our new Chief Finance and Administration Officer (CFAO), you will work alongside the Editor-in-Chief as a key member of the senior leadership team. You will provide the financial insight, governance expertise and organisational leadership that enables us to make good decisions, manage risk well and invest confidently in our future.
Role Purpose:
Working closely with the Editor-in-Chief and senior colleagues, you will:
Provide organisational leadership
- Play an active role in strategy development and shaping significant organisational decisions.
- Bring an independent and commercially astute financial perspective to strategic discussions.
- Represent The Conversation UK with auditors, banks, professional advisers and colleagues across The Conversation's international network.
- Develop robust business cases for new initiatives and investments, balancing financial, strategic and reputational considerations.
Lead our finances
- Lead annual budgeting, longer-term financial planning and forecasting.
- Oversee management accounts, cash flow and financial reporting to the senior leadership team, Finance & General Purposes Committee and Board.
- Advise trustees on reserves, treasury and the effective use of surplus funds.
- Lead the year-end accounts and audit process, ensuring compliance with the Charities SORP and relevant Charity Commission, Companies House and HMRC requirements.
- Oversee financial controls, restricted funds reporting and value for money.
- Lead financial oversight of our commercial subsidiary, Universal Impact.
- Own income forecasting across membership, donations, grants and philanthropy.
- Assess the financial case for new initiatives, contracts and investments and constructively test assumptions.
Lead governance and compliance
- Act as Secretary to the Board, ensuring the Board and its committees operate effectively.
- Coordinate Board and committee papers, minutes and actions alongside the Editor-in-Chief.
- Support trustee recruitment, induction and Board development.
- Maintain the strategic risk register and lead on financial risk.
- Ensure our policy and compliance framework remains current and effective across charity, company and employment law, data protection, health and safety and safeguarding.
Lead our people processes
- Provide senior oversight of recruitment, contracts, appraisal, development and succession planning, supported by our external HR advisers.
- Lead our approach to equality, diversity, inclusion and belonging.
- Oversee annual pay reviews, performance management, payroll, pensions and benefits.
- Provide effective leadership and line management across key operational functions.
The role is expected to focus approximately 45% on finance, 25% on governance and Board matters, 20% on people and HR, and 10% on line management and wider organisational leadership.
About you
We are looking for someone who combines senior-level judgement with a practical approach. You will be comfortable advising and constructively challenging at Board level, but equally willing to get close to the detail when needed.
You will bring:
- A recognised accountancy qualification, such as ACA, ACCA, CIMA or CIPFA.
- Significant senior finance leadership experience, including reporting to and advising a Board.
- Charity finance expertise, including the Charities SORP and restricted funds.
- Experience of HR leadership or oversight within a small or medium-sized organisation.
- Strong financial planning, forecasting and business-case development capability.
- The ability to translate complex financial information into clear, practical advice for non-finance colleagues.
- Confidence to challenge constructively, supported by sound judgement, discretion and integrity.
- A flexible and hands-on approach suited to working in a relatively small organisation.
- Experience of company secretarial or Board governance work would be particularly valuable.
- Experience of a charity with a trading subsidiary, or knowledge of higher education, research funding, media or publishing, would also be welcome.
Leadership with integrity
The CFAO will be trusted with significant organisational and Board responsibilities. The successful candidate will therefore be expected to uphold the Nolan Principles of Public Life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership in their decisions, conduct and relationships.
- Location: London, UK/Hybrid Working
- Contract: Perm/Part-Time (3 days per week)
- Salary: £90K to £95K pro rata
Chief Financial Administration Officer employer: HR Dept
At HR Dept Swindon, we foster a dynamic and supportive work environment that empowers our employees to thrive. As a Trainee HR Advisor, you will benefit from comprehensive training and development opportunities, allowing you to grow your skills in a collaborative team dedicated to delivering exceptional HR services. Located in the picturesque North Wilshire and East Cotswold area, our company values work-life balance and offers a unique chance to engage with a diverse range of clients while making a meaningful impact in the HR field.
