Head of Finance

Head of Finance

Full-Time 66576 - 70309 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead financial management and transformation for a growing charity focused on wildlife recovery.
  • Company: Join the London Wildlife Trust, dedicated to restoring nature in urban areas.
  • Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, 25 days leave, and discounts on retail and dining.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on wildlife conservation while shaping financial strategies.
  • Qualifications: Fully qualified accountant with charity sector experience and strong financial governance knowledge.
  • Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to inspiring communities across London.

The predicted salary is between 66576 - 70309 £ per year.

Location: Head Office, Victoria

Flexible working: this role is based at our head office typically 2 days per week, the remaining can be worked from home. Flexible working requests are available from day one.

Salary: £66,576 - £70,309

We also offer:

  • 25 days annual leave (plus bank holidays) and a discretionary Christmas closure
  • Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
  • Benefits platform with discounts on retail, dining and days out
  • Salary sacrifice schemes
  • Access to a free Employee Assistance Scheme to support you inside and outside of work

Role & Responsibilities

We’re entering an exciting new phase. With a bold new strategy, ambitious Nature Recovery programmes (including species reintroductions, landscape-scale rewilding and river restoration), and a rapidly rising public profile — including recent collaboration with Sir David Attenborough on the BBC’s Wild London — this is a pivotal moment for our organisation.

To support this growth, we’re looking for an exceptional Head of Finance to reinvigorate, strengthen and modernise our finance function — ensuring it’s fit for the organisation we’re becoming.

Reporting to the COO and working closely with the Senior Leadership Team, Finance Committee and Board, you’ll lead all aspects of financial management across London Wildlife Trust and our trading subsidiary. You’ll play a critical role in shaping how Finance operates — improving systems, controls, reporting and insight so the organisation can confidently adapt to recent and future growth.

Transaction volumes have increased significantly in recent years, and a key early focus of this role will be leading a programme of operational improvement. You’ll roll up your sleeves, lead the finance team through change, and embed better ways of working that strengthen our foundations while enabling smarter decision-making across the organisation.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Lead all aspects of financial management for London Wildlife Trust and its trading subsidiary
  • Lead a programme of finance transformation, improving systems, processes, controls and ways of working to ensure Finance is fit for a growing organisation.
  • Own budgeting, forecasting and multi-year financial planning, producing clear, insightful management accounts and analysis to support decision-making.
  • Provide high-quality financial reporting and advice to the SLT, Finance Committee and Board, highlighting risks, opportunities and strategic choices.
  • Act as a finance business partner to senior leaders and teams across the Trust, improving financial understanding, ownership and accountability.
  • Work closely with fundraising, trading and project teams to support income generation, funding compliance and effective financial oversight.
  • Lead, coach and develop the finance team, building a confident, collaborative and improvement-focused finance function.

Our ideal Head of Finance:

  • Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, or CIMA)
  • Significant experience at Head of, or equivalent, level in the charity sector (likely 3-5 years)
  • Strong working knowledge of Charity SORP and charity financial governance
  • Experience with delivering and overseeing exceptional financial operations
  • Strong financial planning, reporting and insight experience

Closing Date: Monday 26th January at 9am

Interviews: Are scheduled to take place on 4th and 6th February and reasonable adjustments will be offered to all candidates.

Does this sound like you? We’d love to hear from you!

Our vision is a London alive with wildlife, with nature in everyone's neighbourhood. To achieve our goal of inspiring everyone to help restore London’s wildlife, we recognise that our team must better reflect and represent all of London’s diverse communities. Find out more about London Wildlife Trust’s commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion on our website.

We are also committed to ensuring that the safety and wellbeing of children, young people and adults at risk is at the heart of our engagement with people. Read about our commitment to safeguarding on our website.

Head of Finance employer: London Wildlife Trust

London Wildlife Trust is an exceptional employer that champions a flexible working culture, allowing you to balance your professional and personal life effectively. With a commitment to employee growth, we offer extensive benefits including generous annual leave, enhanced family leave, and access to a comprehensive support scheme, all while working in the vibrant heart of Victoria. Join us in our mission to inspire and restore London's wildlife, and be part of a team that values diversity, collaboration, and innovation.
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Contact Detail:

London Wildlife Trust Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Head of Finance

✨Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the finance sector, especially those who have experience in charities. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings or even a referral.

✨Tip Number 2

Prepare for interviews by researching the organisation's recent projects and financial strategies. Show us you’re not just another candidate; demonstrate how your skills can help them achieve their ambitious goals.

✨Tip Number 3

Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your experience aligns with their needs, especially around financial management and transformation. We want to hear how you can roll up your sleeves and lead the finance team through change.

✨Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of our mission to inspire wildlife restoration in London.

We think you need these skills to ace Head of Finance

Financial Management
Budgeting
Forecasting
Financial Planning
Financial Reporting
Charity SORP
Financial Governance
Operational Improvement
Team Leadership
Coaching
Collaboration
Decision-Making
Analytical Skills
Communication Skills

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the Head of Finance role. Highlight your experience in financial management, especially in the charity sector, and don’t forget to mention your qualifications like ACA, ACCA, or CIMA.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you’re the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of how you've led finance transformations or improved financial operations in previous roles.

Showcase Your Leadership Skills: As a Head of Finance, you'll be leading a team. Make sure to highlight your experience in coaching and developing finance teams. We want to see how you’ve built a collaborative and improvement-focused environment.

Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. We can’t wait to hear from you!

How to prepare for a job interview at London Wildlife Trust

✨Know Your Numbers

As a Head of Finance, you’ll need to demonstrate your financial acumen. Brush up on key financial metrics and be ready to discuss how you've improved financial operations in previous roles. Prepare examples that showcase your budgeting, forecasting, and reporting skills.

✨Understand the Charity Sector

Familiarise yourself with Charity SORP and financial governance specific to the charity sector. Be prepared to discuss how your experience aligns with the unique challenges faced by charities, especially in terms of compliance and funding.

✨Showcase Leadership Skills

This role involves leading a finance team through change. Think about your leadership style and prepare to share examples of how you’ve coached and developed teams in the past. Highlight your ability to foster collaboration and improve financial understanding across departments.

✨Align with Their Vision

Research London Wildlife Trust’s mission and recent initiatives, like their collaboration with Sir David Attenborough. Be ready to articulate how your vision for the finance function can support their ambitious Nature Recovery programmes and overall goals.

Head of Finance
London Wildlife Trust
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