UK BASED APPLICATIONS ONLY

Interim Finance Director – Part time.
Location: Remote (UK-based) with occasional in-person meetings in London
Contract Type: Interim, part-time (2–3 days per week)
Duration: 4–6 months
Start Date: Ideally mid February 2024
Day Rate: £400–£500

Purpose of the Role
A UK-registered international education charity is seeking an experienced interim Finance Director to lead improvements in financial leadership, systems, and reporting. The role is critical in ensuring the finance function supports the organisation’s strategic growth and programme delivery in West Africa.
The Interim FD will work closely with the CEO, acting as a strategic partner while also delivering practical, hands-on change. This is a newly created role, reflecting the organisation’s growing scale and complexity.

Key Responsibilities
*Provide strategic financial leadership and act as a trusted partner to the CEO
*Review current UK and international finance operations and propose improvements
*Strengthen management information, forecasting, budgeting, and controls
*Support or lead a potential finance system transition (currently Sage 50cloud)
*Oversee and support a small UK finance team (currently one part-time finance manager)
*Collaborate with and mentor the in-country finance team (based in West Africa), supporting professional development and system alignment
*Ensure compliance with donor reporting requirements, restricted/unrestricted fund management, and charity governance standards
*Advise on future team structure and recruitment where appropriate
*Build systems and processes to enable long-term sustainability and resilience
Person Specification
Essential Experience and Skills
*Proven senior-level finance leadership (FD/CFO) in a charity or international development setting
*Strong understanding of donor-funded programme delivery and financial compliance
*Expertise in restricted/unrestricted income and long-term funding contracts
*Experience in multi-currency environments and working across UK/international operations
*Ability to deliver hands-on, practical improvements while holding a strategic view
*Confident working remotely, with the ability to meet face-to-face (in London) periodically
Desirable
*Experience with accounting system change
*Willingness to travel internationally for a short in-country visit (optional but preferred)
*Prior experience working with organisations undergoing rapid growth or restructuring
*An empathetic leadership style and the ability to work cross-culturally with distributed teams
Working Arrangements
*Remote/home-based role
*Approximately 2–3 days per week
*Flexible working pattern
*Infrequent in-person meetings in London preferred
*Potential visit to overseas operations, depending on interest and availability

About Charity Recruit
Charity Recruit is a dedicated recruitment partner to the not-for-profit sector, specialising in senior appointments across finance, fundraising, operations and executive leadership. We work exclusively with charities and social impact organisations, combining sector knowledge with a personal, tailored approach. Whether it’s an interim or permanent need, we help clients find experienced professionals who share their values and are ready to make an immediate impact.