Finance Business Lead in Birmingham

Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW) is a faith-based humanitarian and development organisation working to save and transform the lives of some of the world's most vulnerable people. Established in 1984 and operating in over 45 countries, we respond to emergencies, tackle poverty, empower communities, and advocate for lasting change. We are seeking a Finance Business Lead to join our Finance & Corporate Services Division based in Birmingham. This is an exciting opportunity for a commercially minded finance professional who enjoys partnering with stakeholders, delivering meaningful financial insight, and driving continuous improvement through digital innovation. The Finance & Corporate Services Division plays a critical role in supporting Islamic Relief's global operations by delivering high-quality services across Finance, Treasury, ERP & Digital Transformation, ICT, Supply Chain, and Facilities.

About the Role

The Finance Business Lead acts as the primary finance partner for designated business units and global portfolios, providing strategic financial support and insight to budget holders, project leads, and senior stakeholders. This is much more than a traditional finance role. You will work closely with non-finance managers, helping them understand their financial performance, improve decision-making, and maximise the impact of their programmes and activities. You will also play a key role in grant and fund management, budgeting and forecasting, donor reporting, month-end activities, financial analysis, and the ongoing digital transformation of the finance function. Using ERP systems, automation, and reporting tools, you will help deliver real-time financial insight that supports effective decision-making across the organisation.

The successful candidate will have:

• A professional accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).
• Significant experience in financial management, business partnering, budgeting and forecasting.
• Proven experience managing grants and institutional donor reporting.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to support and challenge budget holders effectively.
• Experience producing management accounts, financial analysis, and performance reporting.
• Strong financial modelling and forecasting capability.
• Expertise in month-end processes, financial controls, reconciliations, and reporting.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and organisational skills.
• The ability to communicate complex financial information clearly to non-finance audiences.
• A strong continuous improvement mindset and enthusiasm for digital transformation.
• High levels of integrity, professionalism, and attention to detail.
• Commitment to the mission, vision, and values of Islamic Relief Worldwide.

Desirable

• Experience with Power BI, dashboard reporting, and data visualisation tools.
• Awareness of AI, automation, and digital finance technologies.
• Experience developing the financial capability of non-finance stakeholders.
• Additional qualifications in project management, analytics, or digital transformation.

Why Join Islamic Relief?

This role offers the opportunity to influence strategic decision-making across an international humanitarian organisation and contribute directly to programmes that support vulnerable communities around the world. If you are a qualified finance professional who enjoys partnering with stakeholders, driving efficiencies, and using financial insight to support meaningful impact, we would love to hear from you.

If you are talented, reliable, service-minded, resilient, and highly motivated, with a strong commitment to Islamic Relief's mission and values of Sincerity, Excellence, Compassion, Social Justice, and Custodianship, please submit your application via our online recruitment portal.

PLEASE NOTE: Interviews may be held on an ongoing basis, and we reserve the right to close this vacancy prior to the advertised closing date should a suitable candidate be identified.

The Company

Islamic Relief is a faith-inspired humanitarian aid and development agency working to save and transform the lives of some of the world’s most vulnerable people. We work in over 45 countries, assist people of all faiths and none according to need and do not discriminate in any way. Our proximity means we can often respond swiftly to emergencies and work in areas that other organisations cannot access. We are the only UK-based Muslim faith-inspired charity to have been certified against the Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability (CHS), which is designed to ensure that charities best meet the needs of the communities they serve. Islamic Relief is a member of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), we have Consultative Status with the UN Economic and Social Council, and we are a signatory to the Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

What We Offer

Islamic Relief Worldwide recognises our staff as our biggest asset, and so we offer a range of benefits designed to support their professional development, mental and physical health, and work/life balance.

• Personal learning and development opportunities
• Annual leave and additional leave
• Service related pension scheme
• Maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave and pay
• Healthcare cash plan
• Employee assistance support
• Occupational advanced sick pay
• Mental Health First Aiders
• Charity volunteering
• Cycle to Work scheme
• On-site car parking
• Field visits

Our Values

• Sincerity - We are driven and motivated by sincerity to God and our duty to humanity.
• Excellence - A commitment to excellence is a hallmark of our operations, programmes and conduct towards the vulnerable people we serve.
• Compassion - Every life is precious, so we join other humanitarian actors in easing the suffering caused by disasters, poverty and injustice.
• Social Justice - We empower poor and vulnerable people to have their rights fulfilled and to achieve their God-given potential.
• Custodianship - We value and protect the Earth and its resources, including its people, and we aim to honour the trust people place in us to be transparent and accountable.