Head of Finance

Contract: Interim from mid-March 2026
Location: London - hybrid working (2 days per week in central London office)
Team: 5 direct reports

Altum Consulting are proud to be supporting a UK-based international charity with overseas operations to appoint an Interim Head of Finance for a six-month period. This is a senior, hands-on leadership role providing stability, direction, and operational grip across a complex, multi-jurisdictional finance function.

The role combines strong financial control, people leadership, and technical oversight, supporting statutory reporting, donor compliance, and international finance operations. The successful candidate will be expected to take ownership, make decisions, and maintain momentum.

Key Objectives

• Maintain a strong financial control environment across UK and overseas operations

• Lead and support the finance team with clarity and confidence

• Ensure continuity and quality across statutory accounts, audits, and donor reporting

• Provide clear, reliable financial information to senior leadership and the Board

• Support the Director of Finance & Administration with day-to-day leadership and delivery

Key Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day leadership of the finance function, ensuring effective prioritisation and delivery

• Oversee finance operations across the UK and overseas entities, including branch offices

• Maintain and strengthen financial controls, policies, and procedures

• Act as senior finance contact for internal stakeholders across programmes and central teams

• Forecast and monitor cashflow across the group

• Oversee banking arrangements and treasury management

• Lead the preparation of statutory accounts and supporting schedules

• Act as primary liaison with external auditors (UK, US, and overseas entities)

• Oversee donor audits and ensure compliance with grant agreements

• Deliver high-quality monthly and quarterly management reporting for senior leadership and the Board

• Oversee annual budgeting and periodic reforecasting

• Support longer-term financial planning as required during the contract period

About You

You will be a fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA or equivalent) with proven senior finance leadership experience in an international charity or NGO environment.

Essential experience includes:

• UK Charity SORP and statutory accounts

• Experience working with US 501(c)(3) organisations, including US statutory and audit requirements

• Managing audits across multiple jurisdictions

• Restricted and unrestricted fund accounting

• Donor reporting and donor audit processes

• Oversight of finance operations for overseas entities or branches

• Strong people management experience, including managing managers

• Ability to operate confidently with senior leadership and Boards

• Hands-on, delivery-focused approach

Highly desirable:

• Grant-funded, donor-heavy environments

• Systems improvement or finance transformation experience

If you're interested in this opportunity, please reach out today.