Director of Operations – Finance & Support Services

Dartington (& Torquay as required)

Working Hours: 37.5 hours per week, 52 weeks per year, ideally Monday-Friday 08.30-16.30

Are you a skilled operations professional with a background in finance? We have a brand‑new opportunity at Lifeworks Charity for a Director of Operations (Finance & Support Services) to play a crucial role in our Central Support team. You will drive the sustainable growth and operational efficiency of the charity, directly contributing to our charitable impact. You’ll blend your financial expertise with your keen eye for operational oversight in this hybrid role, ensuring our resources are managed effectively to benefit the young people and families we support.

Who we are

Since 1996, we've been empowering people with learning disabilities in Devon to achieve their dreams and build fulfilling lives. Our core values of kindness, respect, and positivity guide everything we do.

What you’ll do

• Finance
• Manage and maintain all financial aspects of the charity, including budgeting, forecasting, reporting, ledgers, balance sheets, bank reconciliations, debtor accounts, cash flow management, insurance, property and procurement.
• Take a lead on the development of financial and fundraising processes and strategies.
• Manage and be the main point of contact for all aspects of ESFA and DfE funding compliance and reporting.
• Lead a small team to deliver outstanding support to the charity and act as a key financial advisor to managers across the organisation.
• Produce clear and concise monthly management accounts and provide financial insights to senior managers and the Board of Trustees.
• Work closely with external auditors, prepare and oversee our year‑end accounts.
• Operations
• Ensure that charity governance and compliance is upheld by contributing to record maintenance, managing registers and supporting with reviews of policies and procedures.
• Work with our external IT partners to manage our technology, ensuring the correct infrastructure, systems and processes are in place at the right time.
• Lead on IT security for the charity, implementing regular reviews to monitor compliance.
• Act as the Data Controller and manage all areas of data protection regulations, always prioritising data security.
• Develop and review charity policies as necessary, ensuring they align with best practices and legal requirements.
• Ensure compliance with Health and Safety policies, liaising with external advisors to maintain safety within the workplace.

Last but not least, we are looking for someone who is an advocate for people with learning disabilities and shares our common goal of making sure the people we support achieve their best lives with us. You may not be involved in the day‑to‑day work with our service users, but the work you will do is vital to the success of our charity.

What we’re looking for

You’ll be a motivated and experienced professional who is passionate about making a difference. You should be:

• Part qualified in ACCA, CIMA or ACA (or fully qualified would be a bonus), along with significant experience.
• A proven leader with the ability to inspire and develop a team.
• An expert in financial management, from budgeting to reporting.
• An excellent communicator who can clearly explain complex financial information to all audiences.
• Experienced in managing a broad portfolio, ideally including Health and Safety, IT, or facilities.
• Knowledgeable about governance frameworks and risk management.

Benefits

• A holiday entitlement of 33 days’ holiday (inclusive of bank holidays).
• A fully funded DBS check and update service to ensure a smooth onboarding process.
• Access to valuable resources, including an employee assistance program to support your mental and emotional health.

EEO and Diversity

At Lifeworks, we’re committed to fostering a workplace that reflects the diversity of our community. As a Disability Confident Employer, we actively encourage applications from individuals with disabilities who meet the job criteria, and we guarantee qualified candidates with disabilities an interview.

Safeguarding

Lifeworks is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk. We ensure continuous development, improvement and review of robust safeguarding processes and procedures that promote a culture of vigilance within our organisation. All staff undergo Safer Recruitment checks which include pre‑employment checks, reference checks, and a DBS check with Barred List checks where applicable.