Head of Finance

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Location: UK

Contract Type: Permanent

Salary: Starting Salary: £58,135

Hours of Work: Full Time

Closing Date: 23 August 2026

Starting Salary: £58,135 (including London Weighting) 

Contract: Permanent  

Location: Hybrid working with a minimum of 40% of your time in the London Office  

Job Profile

The Head of Finance will provide strategic leadership across CAFOD’s programme, leading the stewardship and strategy of CAFOD’s financial resources to ensure robust accountability, transparency, and effective support for the organisation’s mission, programme delivery, and impact within a complex, multi‑funded environment.

Reporting to the Director of Core Services, the Head of Finance is accountable for the leadership of the newly formed CAFOD Integrated Finance Team (CIF) that covers four areas: financial compliance & risk management, financial & management insights, financial services & business support and financial capacity strengthening. CIF spans both UK operations and the international programmes, ensuring strong alignment, consistency and clarity of financial management across countries, programmes and funding streams

The Head of Finance will lead, motivate and develop a high-performing team by setting clear expectations, building capability and fostering a culture of collaboration, learning and continuous improvement. They will ensure the team delivers against agreed objectives and performance measures, while driving innovation and improvements in processes and ways of working.

As a member of the senior leadership community, the Head of Finance will work closely with CAFOD’s Leadership Team and support the Director of Core Services in providing financial leadership across the organisation. The postholder will provide senior leaders and Trustees with high-quality financial insight, analysis and assurance to support effective governance and decision-making. They will help shape CAFOD’s long-term financial sustainability by balancing strategic priorities with operational needs, while driving improvements in efficiency, systems, organisational structures and financial practices.

Key Responsibilities 

Strategic Financial Leadership & Planning 

• Partnering with the Director of Core Services to lead and oversee financial planning, budgeting forecasting, developing scenario models and ensuring long-term sustainability.

• Working with the with the Director of Core Services to develop and deliver CAFOD’s finance strategy and finical performance objectives, supporting long-term sustainability.

Executive & Board Partnership 

• Act as a trusted strategic partner to the Director of Core Services and CAFOD’s Executive Team, providing high-quality insight, challenge and assurance to support effective decision-making.

• Provide strategic and operational financial support to the Director of Core Services, Finance, Legal and Audit/Risk (FLAR) Committee, and the Board of Trustees, including preparation of papers, financial analysis, assurance reporting and advice on risk and sustainability.

Financial Controls & Governance 

• Provide financial stewardship as CAFOD Financial Controller, with overall accountability for financial integrity, statutory compliance, controls, and accuracy of financial reporting across UK and international operations.

• Working in partnership with the Director of Core Services to provide assurance and lead on the delivery of robust financial governance, effective internal controls, and full compliance with all statutory, regulatory, and funder requirements.

• Own and maintain CAFOD’s financial policies, procedures and frameworks, ensuring they are robust, up‑to‑date, consistently applied across the organisation, and compliant with regulatory, donor and best‑practice requirements.

People Management & Development 

• Lead and oversee the performance of the functions financial compliance & risk management, financial & management Insights, financial services & business support and financial capacity strengthening, ensuring clear objectives are established, and KRA’s are delivered in alignment with CAFOD’s strategic and financial priorities.

• Lead positive change by challenging established ways of working, aligning CIF around a clear vision, and translating strategy into meaningful outcomes and encouraging collaborative ways of working.

• Manage and motivate CIF’s Senior Managers, fostering a culture of excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement.

 Operational Performance 

• Drive continuous improvement in financial systems, processes, and reporting to support scale and effectiveness.

• Strengthen financial systems, reporting, and automation to support operational efficiency.

Safeguarding  

All CAFOD staff share responsibility to promote and maintain a strong safeguarding culture, including identifying the key actions they should take given their role and responsibilities.

Job-specific competencies

• Professional finance/accounting qualification (ICAEW, CIMA/ACCA or equivalent) with significant post-qualified leadership experience, ideally in the INGO sector.

• Proven experience in supporting Boards, Finance and Audit committees, Leadership Teams and working with auditors / legal advisors.

• Strong change leader with the ability to develop and implement a finance strategy in fast-changing environments.

• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to empathise and understand needs and influence key stakeholders.

• Demonstrable experience managing and developing finance teams, ideally within a business partnering model.

• High integrity, accountability, and commitment to mission-driven work.

Desirable  

• Experience of international development through a partnership model.

CAFOD is a welcoming and supportive place to work and is committed to a safe and inclusive working culture where all are respected. 

Safeguarding for Children and Vulnerable Adults  

CAFOD recognises the personal dignity and rights of children and vulnerable adults, towards whom it has a special responsibility and a duty of care and respect.  CAFOD, and all its staff and volunteers, undertake to do all in our power to create a safe environment for children, young people and vulnerable adults and to prevent their physical, sexual or emotional abuse.  CAFOD is committed to acting at all times in the best interests of children and vulnerable adults, seeing these interests as paramount.  Any candidate offered a job with CAFOD will be expected to adhere to CAFOD’s Safeguarding policy and sign CAFOD’s Code of Behaviour as an appendix to their contract of employment and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these documents. All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references, and appropriate screening checks can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. CAFOD also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of, and consent to, these recruitment procedures.