Finance and Operations Director in London

Howden is a global insurance group with employee ownership at its heart. Together, we have pushed the boundaries of insurance. We are united by a shared passion and no-limits mindset, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 24,000 employees spanning over 56 countries. People join Howden for many different reasons, but they stay for the same one: our culture. It’s what sets us apart, and the reason our employees have been turning down headhunters for years. Whatever your priorities – work / life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering – you’ll find like-minded people driving change at Howden.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Finance & Operations Director to join the growing Howden Foundation team. As the Foundation continues to grow in scale and ambition, we are investing in the governance, financial management and operational infrastructure needed to support the next phase of development. Working closely with the CEO, Board of Trustees and key stakeholders across Howden, the Finance & Operations Director will play a central role in ensuring the Foundation is financially robust, operationally efficient and governed to the highest standards. This role offers the opportunity to combine strategic leadership with hands-on delivery while helping to maximise the Foundation's long-term impact.

Working closely with the CEO, Board of Trustees and wider Foundation team, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across finance, governance, risk and organisational effectiveness. You will help ensure that the Foundation remains compliant, financially sustainable and well-positioned to achieve its long-term ambitions. This is a unique opportunity for someone who enjoys combining strategic oversight with hands-on delivery, is comfortable to be adaptable and flexible to the needs of a growing foundation and who is motivated by enabling a purpose-driven organisation to maximise its impact.

Responsibilities include:

• Governance and Board Support
  • Lead the planning and delivery of Board and Committee meetings.
  • Coordinate agendas, papers and governance reporting.
  • Maintain governance frameworks, including the Scheme of Delegation, policies and internal controls.
  • Coordinate Trustee induction and ongoing development.
  • Ensure Charity Commission compliance and statutory filings.
  • Lead the annual audit process.
  • Act as the primary liaison with Company Secretariat and other governance support functions.
• Financial Leadership and Stewardship
  • Oversee all aspects of the Foundation's financial management.
  • Support the development and monitoring of budgets, forecasts and financial plans.
  • Ensure robust financial controls, reporting and accountability processes.
  • Oversee grant payment processes and financial tracking.
  • Manage cashflow, reserves and treasury activities.
  • Support oversight of investments and loan arrangements where applicable.
  • Provide financial insight, analysis and recommendations to the CEO and Board of Trustees.
• Operations and Organisational Effectiveness
  • Develop and maintain efficient operational systems, processes and controls.
  • Manage relationships with Howden support functions including HR, Legal, IT and Company Secretariat.
  • Support annual business planning processes and organisational delivery tracking.
  • Establish and monitor organisational performance measures.
  • Identify and implement opportunities for continuous improvement across Foundation operations.
• Risk, Compliance and Assurance
  • Maintain and develop the Foundation's risk management framework.
  • Monitor and report on key organisational risks.
  • Ensure safeguarding policies and controls remain effective and appropriate.
  • Maintain compliance registers and governance records.
  • Coordinate assurance activities, audits and follow-up actions.
• Stakeholder Management and Strategic Leadership
  • Build and maintain strong relationships with trustees, advisers, auditors and external partners.
  • Act as a key operational contact between the Foundation and Howden Group stakeholders.
  • Support effective governance reporting and communication to the Board.
  • Contribute to the long-term strategic development of the Foundation.
  • Act as a trusted adviser to the CEO and Board on financial sustainability, governance and organisational effectiveness.
  • Support strategic planning, organisational performance measurement and future growth initiatives.

Who are we looking for?

You will be an experienced finance and operations leader who is motivated by supporting a growing philanthropic organisation to achieve its mission. You will be equally comfortable operating at a strategic level with trustees and senior stakeholders as you are managing day-to-day operational delivery. You will bring excellent judgement, strong financial and analytical capability, and a collaborative approach to working across a small but ambitious team.

Essential

• Professionally qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent) or equivalent experience.
• Significant finance leadership experience, ideally as a Finance Manager, Head of Finance, Finance Director or similar.
• Experience supporting Boards, Trustees or governance committees.
• Strong understanding of financial management, reporting, audit and internal controls.
• Experience managing organisational risk, compliance and governance processes.
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Highly organised with exceptional attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.
• Strong problem-solving skills and a proactive, solutions-focused approach.

Desirable

• Experience working in a charity, foundation, not-for-profit or purpose-led organisation.
• Knowledge of Charity Commission requirements and charity governance.
• Experience overseeing multiple operational functions.
• Relevant governance or charity-sector qualifications.
• Experience supporting organisational growth and change programmes.

What do we offer in return?

A career that you define. At Howden, we value diversity – there is no one Howden type. Instead, we’re looking for individuals who share the same values as us:

• Our successes have all come from someone brave enough to try something new.
• We support each other in the small everyday moments and the bigger challenges.
• We are determined to make a positive difference at work and beyond.

Reasonable adjustments

We're committed to providing reasonable accommodations at Howden to ensure that our positions align well with your needs. Besides the usual adjustments such as software, IT, and office setups, we can also accommodate other changes such as flexible hours or hybrid working. If you're excited by this role but have some doubts about whether it’s the right fit for you, send us your application – if your profile fits the role’s criteria, we will be in touch to assist in helping to get you set up with any reasonable adjustments you may require.