Head Of Finance And Grants

Prospectus is delighted to be partnering with The English-Speaking Union in the recruitment of their new Head of Finance. Founded in 1918 by journalist Sir Evelyn Wrench, ESU has been dedicated to promoting the development of speaking and listening (oracy) skills among children and young people. This is an exciting and pivotal role in the charity, which will report to the Director of Finance & Corporate Services.

As the Head of Finance, you will be responsible for providing oversight and control of the organisation’s finances, and acting as a business partner to departments, ensuring that ESU maximise income and efficiency in all that they do. You will report directly to the Director of Finance & Corporate Services and will be the focal point for all operational matters, guiding the organisation through comprehensive financial reporting and ensuring the charity comply with statutory and regulatory requirements. You will be responsible for the control of the Company’s financial transactions, accounting function, audit and financial planning, cash flow management; including formulating financial targets and budgets in accordance with the overall strategy determined by the Board, and will support the Director of Finance & Corporate Services with promoting the long-term prosperity of the ESU by monitoring investments and asset management. This role presents an opportunity for an experienced financial professional to further develop their skills in a role that is largely autonomous and influential.

To be successful in this role, you will hold a professional accountancy qualification – ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent. You will need to have experience of maintaining strong financial controls, together with strong commercial acumen with a clear focus on driving excellent financial and commercial performance, with the ability to work independently. You will have excellent communication and presentation skills with stakeholders at various levels, as well as excellent analytical and problem-solving skills. You should be a confident systems and Excel user. You will need to be empathetic to the mission of ESU and its values.

In order to apply, please submit your CV and Supporting Statement explaining how you meet the requirements of the position in detail.

Following your application, you may be contacted by Prospectus for an informal discussion and be asked to provide further information to assist with this recruitment process. Prospectus are committed to building inclusive and diverse organisations, and welcome applications from all sections of the community, including those with lived experience. We invest in your journey as a candidate and are committed to supporting you in your application.