INTERNET WATCH FOUNDATION

RECRUITMENT PACK

Finance &
Resources Director

1

Finance & Resources DirectorInternet Watch Foundation Recruitment PackWorking to stop child sexual abuse online

Protecting children is at the heart of

Sadly, the internet makes it easier to share

•  Working together. With international

everything we do. For nearly 30 years, since

these images. We use advanced technology

partners in government, law

the early days of the internet, our job has

and human expertise to help young victims. If

enforcement, reporting hotlines, charities

been to help victims of child sexual abuse by

we can remove the record of suffering online

and the tech community we work to

hunting down and removing the online record

and stop those images circulating, then we can

stop illegal images of children being

of the abuse.

stop the abuse being perpetuated. This makes

circulated again and again. We share vital

the internet a safer place for all children

information that could lead to the rescue

It’s a tough job. Our image analysts are

and adults.

amongst the best in the world. The children in

of a child from terrible abuse.

the pictures are real. Their abuse and suffering

How we do this

•

IWF Hotline. This gives people a safe

is very real. Our experts never forget that.

•  Our team of human analysts. Tech

The criminals who sexually abuse children,

companies and law enforcement

then record their suffering and share the

worldwide trust the assessments,

horror online are ruthless. Sometimes they

experience and knowledge of our

create images with audiences in mind. Victims

extraordinary team of people.

range from babies to young teens. Abusers are

often experienced at online grooming, skilled

at manipulating young minds. Sometimes

victims don’t even realise they are being

abused until it’s too late.

•  Tech-for-good. Our in-house tech team

build tools designed to make it easier to

identify and remove online images and

videos of child sexual abuse. In short,

tech to protect kids.

and anonymous place to report online

images and videos suspected to show

the sexual abuse of children. Our team

of dedicated Hotline Analysts work

tirelessly to locate and seek the removal

of criminal imagery making the internet

safer and protecting survivors from

repeated victimisation.

The children in the
pictures are real.
Their abuse and
suffering is very real.
Our experts never
forget that.

2

Finance & Resources DirectorInternet Watch Foundation Recruitment PackOur Chair & CEO

The IWF sits at the forefront of fighting for

victims of child sexual abuse. We’re seen

as global leaders, standard-setters, and

team players. Our strong relationships with

companies around the world have enabled

us to carve a much-needed place to both

protect children and provide the means by

which industry partners can ensure that their

websites, platforms, games, and online spaces

are safer for us all.

Since 1996, the IWF’s unmatched work and
determination has led to the removal of
millions of criminal images and videos from the
open internet. Our datasets and services are
used to protect more than 4bn online users and
accounts globally.

This is possible because of the commitment
and fortitude of the incredible IWF team. Every
department from our front-line analysts to our
People team, plays a critical role in helping us

achieve our mission of a global internet free
from child sexual abuse material.

This is a rare opportunity to work closely with

the Board and Executive Leadership Team,

providing financial and people leadership in

an organisation that is small enough to know

everyone personally, yet influential enough to

shape strategy and make a meaningful impact

on one of the most critical issues of our time.”

Catherine Brown, Chair

Tracking down and identifying truly harmful

child sexual abuse imagery is at the very core of

what we do at the IWF.

At the heart of IWF’s work is the identification
and removal of the most harmful child sexual
abuse imagery online. Trusted by governments,
technology companies, law enforcement and
child protection organisations worldwide, we
are recognised as a safe and reliable partner in
tackling this critical issue.

While we develop cutting-edge technologies
and collaborate with some of the world’s largest
tech companies, it is the skills, knowledge, and
determination of our amazing team, that make
this work possible.

Working at the IWF is not for everyone, but for

our staff, knowing they have contributed to the

removal of thousands of images and videos of

child sexual abuse from the internet, helped

and even helped rescue children from abusive,

dangerous situations, makes this the most

satisfying place to work in the world.

I’m proud to say I lead the team at the IWF.

Every person, regardless of which department

they are in, works with a sense of tireless

determination and passion which is vital to

delivering our mission.”

prevent the future revictimisation of victims,

Kerry Smith, CEO

3

Finance & Resources DirectorInternet Watch Foundation Recruitment PackOur vision

We’re creating an internet free from child sexual abuse that is
a safe place for children and adults to use around the world.

Our mission

We detect, disrupt, remove, and prevent

Child sexual abuse images and videos are

Our work relies on compassionate and

online child sexual abuse material using

just as much a weapon as a knife. We actively

resilient staff members, across  diverse teams,

our expertise and resources as effectively

search for this imagery and for the past 29

including Analysts and Assessors in our

as possible.

years, we’ve given people a safe place to

Hotline, Finance, Admin, Communications and

The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) is a child

protection organisation, utilising ground-

report it to us, anonymously, now covering

Technology, who are all highly trained and

54 countries.

carefully looked after.

breaking tech to make the internet a safer

We assess every report we receive. If it shows

The children in these pictures and videos are

place for children and adults across the world.

the sexual abuse of a child, we make sure the

real. The suffering captured in this imagery

image or video is removed from the internet.

and the knowledge that it could be shared can

We provide bespoke services, products and

haunt a victim for life.

We’re a not-for-profit organisation, supported

by internet, tech and social media industries,

private companies and the generosity of

ordinary people.

We work closely with police, governments,

We care.

the technology sector and NGOs globally, who

trust our work.

datasets to our industry Members to prevent

the imagery from re-appearing and make it

harder for offenders to find and share.

That’s why it’s our mission to remove this

material for good. And to show every child

there is someone out there who cares

enough to help.

4

Finance & Resources DirectorInternet Watch Foundation Recruitment PackOur values

It’s a huge responsibility to have the job of searching for, stopping,
removing and preventing child sexual abuse imagery online.

We don’t take this lightly. Our values act as

Being excellent

•  Preventing internet users from

Creating a caring and safe

our backbone, our core strength, a guide and a

reminder of the importance of our work. They

are embedded in everything we do.

Being open and honest

•  We treat every child victim of sexual

abuse with the utmost and total respect;

•  Every day we strive to be the best in

the world at what we do;

•  We set the global standard of

best practice;

•  We build Tech-for-good tools to help

defend child victims of sexual abuse. We

accidentally stumbling on child sexual

internal environment

abuse images and videos;

•  We respect, value and encourage

•  We make it harder for criminals to find

individual contributions to our work

child sexual abuse imagery online, by

and mission as well as those of our

disrupting the illegal sharing.

wider teams;

Being team players

•  A supportive environment is vital for

•  We always act with integrity and

make the internet a safer place, by:

•  Working together is vital. We always

professionalism;

•  Protecting child survivors of sexual abuse

•  We make sure our communications

from being victimised again and again. By

acknowledge the importance of

partnerships;

and actions are appropriate, true,

stopping offenders sharing pictures and

•  We recognise, reward and celebrate our

transparent and accountable.

videos of the abuse online, we’re making

success and achievements. If we win, so

it more difficult for these criminals to

do children.

perpetuate the abuse;

people who work to protect children. We

promote best-practice welfare for our

staff who are committed to stopping the

spread of child sexual abuse imagery;

•  We encourage constant learning and

personal development. It helps people

thrive. It’s good for us all.

5

Finance & Resources DirectorInternet Watch Foundation Recruitment PackBuilding an inclusive culture

We are building an inclusive culture to make the IWF a place where
our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves.

We value difference and diversity, not only

the systemic racism and inequality that is

behaviour. We are committed to challenging

because we believe it is the right thing to

experienced in the everyday lives of Black and

and preventing structural racism within every

do, but because it will help us to be more

minority ethnic people.

aspect of our work.

innovative and make better decisions.

We affirm explicitly our commitment to being

We commit to:

We always aim to recruit people who are most

an anti-racism organisation. We acknowledge

suited to the job and encourage applications

that racism causes significant harm and can

from people of all backgrounds – people of all

be both conscious and unintentional. As

•  Affirm our identity, explicitly and

publicly, as an anti-racism organisation;

ages, sexual orientations, gender identities,

an anti-racism organisation, we challenge

•  Employ individual and organisational

nationalities, religions and beliefs.

ourselves to understand and correct any

We fully support candidates with a disability or

long-term condition who require adjustments

during the recruitment process and throughout

inequities we may discover and gain a better

understanding of ourselves during this

purposeful process.

any subsequent appointment.

Addressing racism requires courage, respect

and compassion and may not always be or

seek to be comfortable.

exploration and examination of

bias, advantage, and oppression to

continually learn about and dismantle

racism and all its impacts;

•  Reflect our anti-racism in the culture of

our organisation through our policies,

procedures, and practices;

Anti-racism statement

IWF stands in unity with all who experience

racism and discrimination. As a team, we

are committed to better understanding

We have a zero-tolerance approach to racism

•  Particularly encourage applications

and condemn all racist and discriminatory

from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic

candidates.

6

Finance & Resources DirectorInternet Watch Foundation Recruitment PackJob description

The Finance & Resources Director is a key

Executive Team Collaboration:

member of the Executive Leadership Team,

responsible for safeguarding the organisation’s

financial integrity, operational resilience,

As part of the Executive Leadership Team, the

Director of Finance and Resources will:

and legal compliance. This role provides

•  Work closely with the CEO and peers to

strategic leadership and assurance to the Chief

shape and deliver the organisational

Executive and Board of Trustees on all matters

strategy and business plan.

relating to finance, risk, legal & governance,

people, and resource management.

The role ensures that all statutory

responsibilities are met to the highest

•  Lead on business planning and impact

measurement, developing and monitoring

organisational KPIs and more externally

facing measures of impact, ensuring

standards and that robust systems, controls,

alignment between financial performance,

and policies are in place to protect the

strategic goals, and demonstrable

IWF’s assets and reputation. Working

outcomes.

collaboratively with executive colleagues, the

Finance & Resources Director will contribute

to organisational strategy, culture, and

•  Contribute to cross-functional decision-

making, ensuring finance, people, and

governance considerations inform strategic

performance, ensuring that sound governance

initiatives.

and strong financial management underpin

our mission and impact.

The successful candidate will be expected to

deliver across the following core areas:

•  Act as a trusted partner to other Directors,

enabling innovation and impact through

sound stewardship of resources.

7

Finance & Resources DirectorInternet Watch Foundation Recruitment PackJob description (continued)

•  Provide clear, strategic insight to the

Leadership and Management:

Wellbeing, Diversity and Culture:

•  Ensure timely submission of statutory filings

Board and its sub-committees, ensuring

governance structures remain effective and

fit for purpose.

•  Provide clear direction to the Finance,

•  Drive a culture of wellbeing, and inclusion,

People, Legal & Governance, and

ensuring the organisation is a healthy, fair,

Facilities teams, ensuring alignment with

and empowering place to work.

•  Support organisational transformation and

organisational priorities and a culture

cultural development, ensuring that values

of accountability, collaboration, and

of wellbeing, integrity, and inclusion are

continuous improvement (including

embedded in all systems and processes.

technological).

•  Demonstrate strong commercial acumen,

•  Ensure IWF maintains a healthy financial

providing insight and challenge to support

position, with robust budgeting,

pricing, costing, and investment decisions,

forecasting, and management reporting

and helping the Executive Team and Board

processes.

develop a more commercially minded

approach to growth and impact.

•  Develop, implement, and evaluate

organisational and people policies that

•  Oversee the development and delivery of

policies that promote wellbeing, equality,

diversity, inclusion and belonging.

•  Collaborate across the Executive Team and

Board to ensure that a values-led, people-

centred culture underpins all aspects of our

performance and impact.

Finance, risk and regulatory oversight:

to the Charity Commission, Companies

House, and other regulators.

•  Maintain effective internal controls, risk

management, and assurance frameworks

that support transparency and accountability

across all operations.

•  Lead the development of IWF’s financial

strategy which should include an investment

strategy, ensuring long-term sustainability,

value for money, and alignment with

strategic priorities.

•  Oversee payroll, insurance, and legal

•  Lead on all statutory financial and regulatory

compliance, ensuring policies and processes

•  Lead the engagement of the relevant Board

promote wellbeing, inclusion, and equality.

obligations, ensuring full compliance with

are efficient, compliant, and equitable.

committees such as Finance, Income and

Risk Committee and People Committee

with the support of the CEO.

•  Ensure effective management of premises,

facilities, and related health and safety

responsibilities.

•  Oversee the maintenance of appropriate

insurance, risk registers, and business

continuity plans.

the Charities Act, Companies Act, and

relevant reporting standards.

•  Act as IWF’s lead for financial governance,

supporting the CEO and Trustees in making

•  Oversee the preparation and approval of

informed, evidence-based decisions.

annual accounts, working with the Head of

Finance, auditors, and Board of Trustees

(Finance Committee).

•  Ensure effective processes are operating for

procurement, expenditure authorisation and

payment approval to ensure proper financial

control and good value for money.

8

Finance & Resources DirectorInternet Watch Foundation Recruitment PackPerson specification

Educational opportunities

Experience continued

Skills, abilities and knowledge

Personal qualities

Requirements

Criteria

Requirements

Criteria

Requirements

Criteria

Requirements

Criteria

CIMA, ACCA, or ACA qualification
preferred, though substantial
experience in senior financial
leadership leadership and
strategy management will be
considered.

Essential

Experience

Requirements

Criteria

Track record of successful
strategy development,
and of driving changes or
improvements to business
plans, policies and procedures.

Strategic thinker with ability to
innovate to secure better value.

Essential

An analytical approach to
problem solving and evaluation
of systems and projects and
the ability to relate findings to
strategic objectives.

Essential

Strong IT skills and experience
in system change to support
business process re-
engineering, and an awareness
of how AI can be used to
support business improvement.

Excellent verbal and written
communication skills with
the ability to formulate and
discuss strategic issues with
key stakeholders in a coherent
and structured way.

Essential

Essential

Significant experience in a
senior financial position with
experience working with Board
level colleagues.

Demonstrable experience of
improving finance and people
systems and establishing new,
effective systems.

Leading and supporting
finance, people, legal and other
service functions.

Strong intellect with the
ability to interpret relevant
information, analyse complex
data, creatively review
alternative solutions and
come to speedy, well-informed
conclusions.

Essential

Essential

Essential

A confident, independent and
effective decision-maker.

Essential

Essential

Commercially astute

Essential

Essential

Ability to communicate
financial matters to
non-financial managers.

Essential

Experience in writing for a
variety of audiences, including
reports for publication.

Essential

Ability to contribute effectively
to group discussions on a wide
range of issues to a diverse
range of people.

Ability to build effective
working relationships and work
collaboratively with the Board
of Trustees, members of the
executive team, managers, staff
and stakeholders.

Essential

Internal control systems and
budgetary management.

Essential

Essential

A people-centred and
collaborative leader who is
transparent, inclusive, and
trusted.

Able to foster teamwork,
wellbeing, and a culture of
shared accountability and
respect.

Essential

Essential

9

Finance & Resources DirectorInternet Watch Foundation Recruitment Pack

Main contacts

•  The Executive Team

•

IWF Board of Trustees

Reports to:

•  CEO (Member of the Executive Team)

Direct reports:

•  Head of People

•  Head of Finance

•  Head of Legal & Governance

Important notes

•

The role may require you

to view criminal images.

Counselling will be provided.

•

This position is subject to an

enhanced DBS check.

We’re a dog-friendly
organisation and
believe in the positive
impact dogs can
have on workplace
happiness and
well-being.

Details

Salary: £108,000.00 depending on

experience + benefits

+ Benefits:

•  30 days annual leave entitlement

(Plus time off for Christmas closure)

•  Pension Scheme

•  Life Assurance

•  Private Health Care

•  Cycle To Work Scheme

•  Employee Assistance Programme

Hours: Full time (35 hours per week).

We are a family-friendly employer

and take a flexible approach around

personal commitments when agreeing

work patterns.

Location: The role is based in

Cambridge, offering flexible hybrid

working and occasional travel to

London for meetings. The building

is also accessible with a lift and

disabled toilet.

10

Finance & Resources DirectorInternet Watch Foundation Recruitment PackHow to apply & more info

How to apply

Please download and complete

the following documents:

•  Application Form

•  Equal Opportunities Form

•  Confidential Disclosure Form

To ensure fairness and equality in our

application process, completion of an

More info

Website: iwf.org.uk

Annual Report: iwf.org.uk/annualreport2024

Social Media:

•  Bluesky: iwf.org.uk

•  X: @IWFhotline

•  Facebook: InternetWatchFoundation

application form is required. CVs will not be

•  LinkedIn: IWF

Listen to our Podcasts

Our podcast tells, for the very first time, the

story of online child sexual abuse through

the words of victims, the people fighting

to eradicate it, law enforcement, internet

companies and, even perpetrators:

iwf.org.uk/podcast

Our series of short podcasts feature exclusive

discussions with IWF staff, leading experts and

academics covering a wide variety of topics

accepted Please email the completed forms

to: recruitment@iwf.org.uk

Closing date:

Sunday 18 January 2026.

Informal interview:

Monday 26 January 2026.

Formal interview:

Wednesday 4 February 2026.

•

Instagram: internet.watch.foundation

including our Hotline, tech, encryption, policy

•  YouTube: IWFHotline

Our office:

Discovery House

Vision Park, Chivers Way

Histon, Cambridge

CB24 9ZR  UK

Tel: +44 (0)1223 20 30 30

Email: recruitment@iwf.org.uk

and how these impact the criminal circulation

of child sexual imagery online:

iwf.org.uk/shortcast

A day in the life

We follow our Hotline Manager Tamsin on a

regular workday. Read more:

iwf.org.uk/adayinthelife

11

Finance & Resources DirectorInternet Watch Foundation Recruitment Pack© Internet Watch Foundation - iwf.org.uk

Recruitment Pack