Global Senior Finance Manager in London

Magic Bus is seeking a Global Senior Finance Manager to lead financial management across each of its Magic Bus Global, UK and Singapore entities. This is a senior, high-impact role, critical to supporting the organisation’s next phase of growth and strengthening its global finance function. Based in the UK and reporting to the Magic Bus UK Board and Executive Director, the role operates within an international development NGO environment. It combines hands-on financial management with strategic oversight, ensuring strong governance, compliance, and financial insight across multiple geographies. The postholder will oversee end-to-end finance operations, manage outsourced providers (audit, payroll) and play a key role in driving financial sustainability and performance. In addition, the postholder will support the fundraising initiatives of Magic Bus UK and any other Magic Bus entities as appropriate.

Key Responsibilities

• Financial Leadership: Lead financial management across each of Magic Bus’s Global, UK and Singapore entities, ensuring consistency, transparency and strong internal controls. Act as the primary finance lead to the Magic Bus UK Board and Executive Director. Strengthen financial policies and processes across all three Magic Bus entities. Ensure compliance with UK charity regulations and Companies Act 2006 (as appropriate) and all relevant international requirements. Oversee relationships with external providers (auditors, payroll, finance partners). Maintain a robust financial control environment.
• Financial Planning, Budgeting and Forecasting: Lead the annual budgeting process across three Magic Bus entities, incorporating input from country teams and the Boards. Develop high-quality financial forecasts, scenario modelling, and long-term financial planning. Provide clear insight into financial sustainability, funding gaps, and reserves strategy. Monitor performance against budget and support timely corrective actions, as required.
• Management Reporting and Performance: Oversee the production of accurate and timely monthly management accounts across all three Magic Bus entities. Deliver clear variance analysis and actionable insights to support decision-making. Standardise and improve reporting processes across geographies. Present financial performance to the Board and senior stakeholders.
• Financial Accounting: Ensure robust month-end and year-end close processes across entities. Maintain oversight of key accounting areas. Lead the annual audit process and statutory reporting requirements. Oversee submissions to the Charity Commission, Companies House, and relevant international bodies. Support fundraising and operations with donor requirements, including restricted funding and grant reporting.
• Cash Flow, Treasury and Risk Management: Oversee cash flow across entities, ensuring adequate liquidity at all times. Monitor and optimise reserves in line with organisational policies. Oversee payment processes and financial controls. Identify financial and operational risks and implement mitigation strategies.
• Strategic Finance and Business Partnering: Act as a strategic finance partner to country leads and global leadership. Provide financial insight to support growth, expansion and funding strategies. Strengthen financial literacy and capability across non-finance teams. Drive continuous improvement in systems, processes and data quality.

Candidate Profile

• Qualifications and Experience: Fully qualified accountant (ACA/CIMA/ACCA/CIPFA). Significant experience in a senior finance role, with end-to-end ownership of finance operations. Strong experience in international development, NGO or grant-funded environments. Experience working across multiple countries and/or legal entities. Experience reporting to Boards and senior leadership. Proven experience managing audits and external stakeholders.
• Technical Skills: Strong financial accounting, controls, and compliance expertise. Experience with multi-entity consolidation and reporting. Advanced budgeting, forecasting and financial modelling skills. Strong understanding of restricted funding and donor compliance, grant reporting and funder requirements, cash flow and reserves management. Experience with finance systems (e.g. Xero) and advanced Excel and Power Point.
• Leadership and Personal Attributes: Strong stakeholder management and communication skills. Ability to translate complex financial information for non-finance audiences. High level of integrity, accountability and sound judgement. Comfortable operating in a complex, evolving, international environment. Proactive, collaborative and solutions-oriented. Strong attention to detail with a strategic mindset.
• Desirable: Experience managing outsourced finance functions or shared service models. Strong knowledge of UK charity compliance and governance. Exposure to US, Singapore, or other international reporting environments. Experience in scaling organisations or strengthening finance functions. Passion for international development and social impact.

Why Join Magic Bus UK

This is a unique opportunity to join our organisation at a pivotal moment of growth, where you can shape strategy and contribute directly to life-changing impact for young people in India. We are committed to creating a supportive and inclusive working environment. Our offer includes:

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays (33 days total), pro-rated for part-time staff.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements.
• Private health insurance.
• Employer pension contribution.
• Training and professional development opportunities.
• Death in service benefit.
• A collaborative, mission-driven team culture.

Diversity and Inclusion: Magic Bus UK and other entities are committed to building a diverse, inclusive and equitable organisation where everyone feels valued, respected, and able to contribute fully. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, including all gender identities, ages, sexual orientations, ethnicities, nationalities, and religious beliefs (or none). We particularly encourage applications from individuals and communities that are underrepresented in the charity sector. We recognise that talent and potential are not always reflected in traditional career paths. If you feel you meet most of the criteria but not every requirement, we would still strongly encourage you to apply. We are committed to making our recruitment process accessible and inclusive. If you require any adjustments at any stage, please let us know; we will be happy to support you. At Magic Bus UK, we believe that diversity of perspectives strengthens our work and helps us better serve the young people and communities we support.