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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead finance operations and drive transformational change in a charity setting.
- Company: Kids Operating Room, a purpose-driven international health charity.
- Benefits: Strong daily rate, potential for extension, and impactful work.
- Why this job: Make a real difference by ensuring safe surgical care for children globally.
- Qualifications: CCAB qualified accountant with hands-on finance leadership experience.
- Other info: Opportunity to shape the future of finance in a growing charity.
Strong daily rate for charity sector | Inside IR35 3-6 month interim (with potential to extend).
Realise HR are working on a retained basis with Kids Operating Room (KidsOR) to appoint an Interim Head of Finance.
About Kids Operating Room
Kids Operating Room is a purpose-driven international health charity working to ensure no child dies from a lack of safe surgical care. Founded by Garreth and Nicola Wood (recently awarded an MBE for their services to global health), the organisation has delivered over 100 children’s operating rooms across some of the world’s most challenging environments. With c.£10m turnover, two legal entities, and a growing international footprint, Kids Operating Room combines the pace of a scaling organisation with a clear and meaningful mission.
The Opportunity
Kids Operating Room is at an exciting stage of its development and is looking for an experienced interim finance leader to drive change within the function. This is a genuinely transformational role - the incoming interim will have a clear mandate to build robust financial infrastructure, modernise processes, and deliver a finance function fit for its next phase of growth. The current environment has developed and grown over recent years and there is an exciting opportunity to drive and embed a robust and scalable approach to costing, budgeting and reporting. This is a hands-on interim role with a clear mandate:
- Review and build upon existing financial models
- Embed a structured, scalable costing framework
- Drive financial visibility to support planning and decision-making
You’ll work closely with the COO, CEO and SMT, helping to bring clarity to how our work is delivered and scaled globally. This role will suit an experienced interim who is comfortable stepping into evolving environments, quickly understanding what’s in place, and implementing practical, hands-on improvements that make a tangible difference. There is also potential for this role to inform the structure of the longer-term finance function.
Key Responsibilities
- Review and assess financial models, processes and controls, working closely with the Financial Controller to understand existing structures
- Design and implement robust, scalable project and cost models to improve visibility across programmes and support future planning
- Lead all core finance operations
- Ensure effective management and reporting of restricted and designated funds, aligning financial processes with donor reporting requirements
- Provide clear, timely financial reporting and insight to the COO, CEO, Board and SMT, including variance analysis and reforecasting
- Drive the financial planning cycle, building scenario models to support strategic decision-making
- Provide financial support to the growing commercial subsidiary
- Strengthen project accounting capability to better support fundraising, programme delivery and tracking
- Maintain compliance across tax, VAT and regulatory requirements across multiple legal entities
- Oversee payroll processes (outsourced), treasury and banking arrangements
- Lead and develop the finance team
- Work closely with programme and operational teams across multiple geographies to align financial planning with delivery
What We’re Looking For
- CCAB Qualified accountant
- Proven experience in an interim or hands-on Head of Finance role
- Comfortable working in environments where processes are still evolving
- Strong experience building or improving costing and financial models and financial infrastructure
- Experience in multi-entity and/or multi-currency environments
- Knowledge of charity finance (including SORP and restricted funds) is advantageous
- Confident operating at both strategic and hands-on level
- Able to build credibility quickly with senior stakeholders
- Pragmatic, collaborative and delivery-focused
Don’t meet every single requirement? At Realise, we are dedicated to helping our clients build diverse, inclusive and authentic workplaces, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every requirement, we would encourage you to apply anyway — you might just be the candidate we’re looking for!
Interim Head of Finance in Edinburgh employer: Realise HR
Contact Detail:
Realise HR Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Interim Head of Finance in Edinburgh
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the charity sector and let them know you're on the lookout for interim finance roles. You never know who might have the inside scoop on opportunities that aren't advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Get your LinkedIn game on point! Make sure your profile highlights your experience in finance, especially in charity or non-profit settings. Engage with relevant content and connect with people in the industry to increase your visibility.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching Kids Operating Room and similar organisations. Understand their mission and challenges, and think about how your skills can help them drive change. Tailor your responses to show you’re the perfect fit for their needs.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’ve got loads of resources to help you land that interim role. Plus, applying directly shows your commitment and interest in the position, which can really make you stand out.
We think you need these skills to ace Interim Head of Finance in Edinburgh
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of Interim Head of Finance. Highlight your experience in building financial models and working in charity finance, as this will show us you understand what Kids Operating Room is all about.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about the mission of KidsOR and how your skills can help drive their financial strategy forward. We want to see your personality come through!
Showcase Relevant Experience: When detailing your past roles, focus on your hands-on experience in finance leadership. Mention specific projects where you've improved processes or built financial infrastructure, as this aligns perfectly with what we're looking for.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity at Kids Operating Room!
How to prepare for a job interview at Realise HR
✨Know Your Numbers
As an Interim Head of Finance, you’ll need to be on top of financial models and processes. Brush up on your knowledge of costing frameworks and financial reporting. Be ready to discuss how you've improved financial visibility in previous roles.
✨Understand the Mission
Kids Operating Room is all about ensuring safe surgical care for children. Familiarise yourself with their mission and recent projects. Showing genuine passion for their cause will help you connect with the interviewers and demonstrate that you’re the right fit.
✨Prepare for Hands-On Scenarios
Expect questions about how you would approach building robust financial infrastructure. Think of specific examples from your past where you’ve successfully implemented changes in evolving environments. This will showcase your hands-on experience and problem-solving skills.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
You’ll be working closely with senior management, so prepare to discuss how you build credibility quickly. Have examples ready of how you’ve collaborated with stakeholders in the past to drive financial planning and decision-making.