Director, Financial Management in London

Overview

Context of Role. Reporting to the Director of Finance & Technology, this position sits within the integrated Finance, Admin & IT function. The role plays a critical part in shaping and implementing global financial frameworks, supporting organisational evolution, and maintaining high standards of governance, transparency and accountability. The role requires close collaboration across functions and adherence to safeguarding reporting and monitoring obligations.

Role Purpose. The Director, Financial Management, will lead the development and delivery of robust financial management practices across the organisation. This role ensures effective systems, processes, and controls are in place to support global operations, drive compliance, and enable informed decision-making. They will provide strategic oversight of secretariat-wide financial transactions (unrestricted core funding), global audits, financial policies and procedures including those relating to procurement management, financial systems and compliance, ensuring alignment with organisational objectives and safeguarding requirements.

Responsibilities

• Policies & procedures: Conceptualise, design, and keep up to date in line with the SROP guidelines, the global financial policies, frameworks, processes and systems that enhance service delivery aligned with IPPF’s financial strategy, internal resources and donor requirements. This includes overseeing the implementation of all these policies/frameworks/processes/systems.
• Accounting: Continually conceptualise, build and review frameworks and processes to improve overall financial KPIs. Build budgets and oversee their utilisation for the finance function in line with the journey developed to strengthen the finance and other functions. Advise and collaborate with the Director – Financial Planning and Analysis and Donor Reporting Global manager for all planning and budgeting processes and specific financial processes and policies applicable to restricted projects. Influence and galvanise a strong culture of transparency and financial control across the Secretariat by setting clear expectations, developing reporting and oversight tools and adequate follow up. Design and oversee implementation of regular review and approval systems in line with the policies and procedures. Design, update and oversee a robust month end and year end closure procedure across the Secretariat. Conceptualise, design and oversee implementation of a strong treasury and investment management system, optimizing returns on investment. Conceptualise, design and oversee implementation of a risk-based forex management system. Ensure timely review and sign off of monthly payroll transactions, ensuring all compliances in line with internal policies and HMRC requirements.
• Procurement: Conceptualise, design and oversee implementation of procurement policies and processes to ensure value for money, including speed, quality and timeliness of delivery. Conceptualise and design vendor management solutions to efficiently and transparently manage procurement across the secretariat.
• Statutory Reporting & Compliance: Oversee and direct implementation of systems/processes to ensure timely and accurate statutory compliance directly in the UK (VAT / PAYE / Gift Aid). Oversee compliance in line with the requirements of the UK Charities Commission, HMRC, US IRS and Donors. Oversee financial compliance across all secretariat offices, directing the team to establish oversight of financial compliance.
• Financial Systems Oversight: Conceptualise, design and manage financial systems for efficiently and transparently managing financial transactions across the secretariat. Conceptualise, design and manage a time sheet management system to ensure fair allocation of costs across different funding sources. Conceptualise and design accounting systems to support lead consolidation of accounts for the Charity and Group, ensuring timely closure of statutory audits.
• Audit and Oversight: Conceptualise and design a system for generating timely and accurate year-end statutory financial statements. Influence and oversee external audit processes to ensure timely closure of audits. Be the focal person for oversight and follow-up on fraud and mismanagement complaints within the finance function. Advise Director of Finance & Technology and, where needed, the internal audit to ensure efficient responses and follow up to internal audit recommendations. Assist the Director of Finance & Technology in preparation work related to the DLT, Finance, Audit and Risk committee and Board of Trustee meetings. Lead the global financial responses to internal/external audit requests. Attend and participate in the DLT, Finance, Audit and Risk Committee, Board of Trustees and the annual Donor Meeting, as required.
• People management: Mentor and guide the team, building a culture of accountability, collaboration and mutual support. Advise senior management and staff on financial policy/process/system changes that embed new ways of working and improve financial management. Champion change within the team and with stakeholders on adopting new financial approaches that position IPPF at the forefront of innovation.
• Reporting/Management Responsibility: Head of Finance – HubNetSuite Global Manager, Investment Management (Outsourced), Treasury management, Corporate services assistant.

Essential Skills & Qualifications

• Fully qualified Chartered Accountant
• Strong knowledge of UK Charities Commission, SORP and other statutory requirements (including VAT)
• Experience of turning around a Finance function
• Proactive problem-solver
• Hands-on without getting lost in the weeds
• Great interpersonal skills and works well across different cultures