Director of Finance and Operations | Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors

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Director of Finance and Operations Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors

Help Chartered IIA build the systems, culture and confidence it needs to support internal auditors and strengthen the profession across the UK and Ireland.

• Location: Hybrid, with two days per week min. in London Victoria (full-time, 4 days considered)
• Salary: £130,000 to £150,000, depending on experience

About the role

The Director of Finance and Operations is a new senior leadership role, reporting to the Chief Executive and joining the senior leadership team. You will lead the internal enabling directorate that supports our member-facing work. This includes finance, people, governance, technology, data, facilities, communications, project management and operational processes.

The role will help bring together functions that have previously sat in different parts of the organisation. You will create stronger rhythms of planning, delivery and decision-making, build confidence in data and systems, and support teams to work with greater consistency and accountability.

Your leadership will help Chartered IIA remain financially resilient, make better use of technology and data, and ensure colleagues have the structures and support they need to deliver well for members.

Who we are looking for

You will bring senior financial leadership experience, a relevant finance qualification and the ability to lead beyond finance across a broad operational remit.

You may have worked in a membership body, professional body, charity, education, regulation, standards, learning or another mission-led setting. More important is your ability to lead services that support people, members and good governance.

You will be comfortable improving systems, strengthening processes and helping teams work through change. You will bring sound judgement, emotional intelligence and the confidence to set clear expectations while building trust.

We are looking for someone who can work strategically, stay close to detail when needed, and communicate clearly with colleagues, senior leaders and non-executive stakeholders.

We are not-for-profit and have made good progress. We have strengthened our financial position, launched a new brand, website and CRM system and supported the profession through new global standards and the Internal Audit Code of Practice. We have also seen membership grow, alongside strong engagement with our conferences, forums and quality services.

We now want to build on that progress by strengthening how we work internally. We are reshaping the organisation around a more member-first approach, with clearer support for the teams that deliver membership services, learning, knowledge and professional development.

That means improving our systems, our use of data and technology, our planning, our decision-making and the way teams work together.

This new Director of Finance and Operations role is central to that work. You will lead the internal enabling directorate, bringing together finance, people, governance, technology, facilities, communications and project delivery. The role will help us create stronger foundations for the organisation, so our colleagues can do their best work and our members experience a service that is responsive, joined up and easy to access.

Finance will be a key part of your remit, and we need someone who can help us remain financially resilient and make sound decisions about investment, risk and sustainability. We also need broader operational leadership. You will help build confidence in our data, strengthen how projects are delivered, support our transition to outsourced HR provision, and help colleagues work with clearer ownership and shared standards.

We are looking for someone who combines professional rigour with thoughtful leadership. You will be comfortable working through change, asking good questions, listening carefully and setting clear expectations. You will bring experience of leading teams and services, and the judgement to build trust with colleagues, Council and senior leaders.

About us

The Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors is the professional body dedicated to internal auditors in the UK and Ireland. Since 1948, we have championed and supported the vital work of internal auditors across organisations of every size and sector.

We support more than 10,000 members through learning, qualifications, technical guidance, events, advocacy, quality assurance and professional networks. Our role is to help internal auditors develop their skills, uphold high standards and show the value that internal audit brings to organisations and society.

We are the only professional body dedicated exclusively to internal audit in the UK and Ireland. We are part of a Global network of Institutes of Internal Audit and are the ones with a Royal Charter and the authority to award chartered status.

Why we’re here.

Our purpose is to champion and lead the internal audit profession.

Internal audit plays an important role in good governance, organisational learning, assurance and public trust. We help our members navigate changing expectations, develop their practice and demonstrate the contribution internal audit makes to stronger organisations.

We work for the benefit of our members, the organisations they serve and the wider profession. Our Royal Charter means we also have a duty to benefit society. That means providing high-quality learning and guidance, creating space for members to connect and share ideas, and advocating for the value of internal audit with employers, regulators, policymakers and other stakeholders.

What we work hard to do.

• Nurturing talent: We support people at different stages of their internal audit careers, from those entering the profession to experienced practitioners seeking chartered status. Our certifications, designations and learning programmes help members build confidence, capability and professional recognition.
• Leading in learning: We provide knowledge, insight and training that helps members respond to new standards, emerging risks and changing expectations. This includes qualifications, technical content, research, webinars, events and specialist guidance.
• Championing internal auditing: We advocate for the profession and help others understand the value internal audit brings. We work to ensure internal audit is recognised as an essential part of strong governance, organisational resilience and better decision-making.
• Building long-lasting partnerships: We work with members, employers, volunteers, partners and stakeholders to strengthen the profession. Our aim is to provide the infrastructure, insight and support members need, while encouraging collaboration across the internal audit community.

Chartered IIA was granted a Royal Charter in 2010. Royal Charters are normally reserved for bodies that work in the public interest and can demonstrate pre-eminence, stability and permanence in their field.

Our Charter gives us the authority to award individual chartered designations, including Chartered Internal Auditor status. This is a significant distinction for the Institute and for the profession we represent.

Strategic objectives.

We pursue our purpose through four strategic objectives.

• Develop our members: We want members to have access to high-quality programmes that develop their skills and competencies, whatever their background, experience or stage of career.
• Support our members: We create opportunities for members to learn from each other, build networks and access trusted guidance. This includes events, forums, communities, training and quality assurance services.
• Advocate for our members: We help stakeholders understand the role and value of internal audit. This includes working with audit committees, senior leaders, regulators, policymakers and the public to promote the contribution internal audit makes to better organisations.
• Build resilience: We need the right resources, systems and people to serve our members well. This means managing our finances prudently, investing in our staff and strengthening the infrastructure that supports our work.

Our UK, Ireland and global role.

Chartered IIA is the UK and Ireland affiliate of the Institute of Internal Auditors, the global professional body for internal audit. Through this affiliation, our members are part of an international community of more than 245,000 internal audit professionals in over 120 countries.

We also operate a small Irish subsidiary, which mainly focuses on delivering an annual Ireland Conference. This reflects our long-standing commitment to supporting internal auditors across both jurisdictions.

For the Director of Finance and Operations, this means joining an organisation rooted in the UK and Ireland, connected to a global profession, and responsible for maintaining strong financial, governance and compliance arrangements across a small but important group structure.

Our values.

We want to create a positive and supportive environment for our staff, members and stakeholders. Our values guide how we work and how we serve the profession.

• Integrity: We act honestly, consistently and fairly. We do the right thing, even when it is difficult, and we are transparent and accountable for our actions.
• Respect: We value the worth and dignity of others. We listen with an open mind, consider different perspectives and treat people with courtesy.
• Member-focused: We put members at the centre of our work. We listen to their needs, respond to their concerns and aim to provide the best possible service.
• Professional: We set high standards for ourselves and our work. We aim to be knowledgeable, competent and reliable, and to deliver on our commitments.

We understand that different members of the community have different access needs and have made some modifications to the way we do business to accommodate people from diverse communities and abilities.

We offer the following amenities:

• Step free access to the building, all key meeting rooms and bathrooms, and an accessible workstation
• Accessibility dogs are welcome
• Interviews can be held in meeting rooms that support hearing loops
• Papers and materials can be presented in different formats

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