Role description
Director of Finance and Operations
Salary: £68,985 to £77,643 (FTE, pro-rata for part-time)
Location: Hybrid - two days a week in the office in London
Hours: 28 to 35 hours per week (0.8 to 1 FTE)
Responsible to: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Direct reports: People and Culture Manager, Project Manager, Senior Fundraising and Grants Manager, and Finance and Operations Officer
Purpose
The Director of Finance and Operations is a key senior leadership role at The Runnymede Trust, reporting directly to the CEO and leading the organisation’s core operational and enabling functions. The postholder will play a critical role in ensuring the organisation has the financial resilience, operational infrastructure, people systems, and governance frameworks needed to deliver its mission for a dedicated team of 15 people. Runnymede operates in a dynamic environment that requires balancing long-term strategic projects with immediate, fast-paced priorities. The postholder will need to build agile systems that enable this dual focus, demonstrating the ability to shift gears quickly and championing responsive work as a natural and vital part of our impact.
Working closely with the CEO, the Director of Finance and Operations will act as a trusted partner and critical pillar of support, listening closely to translate the CEO's vision into operational reality. Following a period of organisational evolution, a top priority will be bringing structure, stability, and clarity to the team. The role requires a resilient, confident leader who can build a high-performing operations function from the ground up, providing objective and clear frameworks for systems, processes, and expectations. Crucially, this person will understand how to nurture and support a deeply passionate, activist-driven culture while ensuring robust operational foundations.
Key responsibilities
Operations, systems and organisational effectiveness
Lead and strengthen the organisation’s operational infrastructure, building systems and processes that actively enable both long-term strategic projects and fast-paced, responsive work.
Confidently establish and embed clear systems, processes, and organisational expectations to provide robust structure and clarity for the team.
Identify opportunities to improve organisational systems, operational processes, and internal coordination to support organisational effectiveness and sustainable growth.
Oversee the day-to-day operational running of the organisation including office management, IT systems, supplier contracts, facilities, and operational compliance.
Ensure the organisation’s IT infrastructure and operational systems effectively support hybrid working and current and future organisational needs, including investigating and implementing how AI can support organisational goals.
Lead procurement and contract management processes, ensuring value for money and effective supplier relationships.
Oversee facilities management and maintain a safe, accessible, and inclusive working environment.
People, culture and team leadership
Build the operations team and manage and support the People and Culture Manager, Project Manager, Senior Fundraising and Grants Manager, and Finance and Operations Officer.
Provide effective leadership, supervision, coaching, and development support to ensure high-performing and collaborative enabling functions across the organisation.
Drive the organisational culture piece, utilising the two office days per week in London to build relationships, support colleagues, and foster a positive, cohesive environment.
Create and embed structures where the team feels there is adequate consultation, communication, and involvement in operational changes.
Diplomatically bridge the rights and responsibilities of staff, fostering accountability and engagement within a passionate, mission-led team.
Support managers across the organisation with recruitment, onboarding, performance management, and people-related processes.
Oversee HR policies, employment processes, staff wellbeing initiatives, and organisational people practices, ensuring legal compliance and alignment with organisational values.
Lead on organisational learning and development processes, including appraisal systems, staff development, and performance frameworks.
Financial leadership, planning and sustainability
Lead the development of the annual organisational budget (circa £1–2m) and business planning process in collaboration with the CEO and senior leadership team.
Produce timely and accurate management accounts, annual accounts, financial reports, forecasts, and analysis for the CEO, Board, and Finance, Audit and Risk Committee.
Responsible for cash flow forecasting, reserves management, financial planning, and financial controls to ensure the organisation’s long-term sustainability.
Ensure compliance with Charity Commission regulations, Companies House requirements, and charity SORP accounting standards.
Lead the annual audit process and manage relationships with external auditors.
Lead on payroll, pensions, preparing VAT returns, and financial administration working closely with the Finance and Operations Officer.
Support organisational sustainability and income generation through financial planning, grant budgeting, restricted fund management, and oversight of funding-related financial risk.
Work closely with the senior leadership team to cost and budget grant applications, funding proposals, and restricted funding bids.
Manage restricted fund accounting, ensuring accurate tracking of grant expenditure, compliance with funder requirements, and timely financial reporting.
Oversight of fundraising, including monitoring funding pipelines, organisational income forecasts, and financial risks, escalating concerns and recommendations to the CEO and Board where appropriate.
Support due diligence processes for new funders, institutional partnerships, and strategic funding opportunities.
Governance, risk and compliance
Develop best practice for the management, monitoring, and reporting of the organisational risk register, presenting to the Board and relevant sub-committees.
Ensure compliance with all relevant legislation including employment law, GDPR, health and safety, and charity law.
Act as organisational lead for data protection and safeguarding, ensuring compliant and effective organisational practices.
Support the Company Secretary function, including preparing Board papers, supporting Finance, Audit & Risk Committee administration, and maintaining statutory registers.
Work closely with the Chair of the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee to ensure effective Board oversight of financial, operational, and organisational risk matters.
Person specification
Experience
Demonstrable background in a senior finance and/or operations leadership role within the charity, not-for-profit, public, or values-led sector.
A recognised accountancy qualification or demonstrable equivalent senior-level financial management expertise gained through practice.
Proven track record of building, structuring, and developing an operations team from the ground up.
Career history working within a mission-driven or activist charity environment, possessing a strong understanding of how to support and manage the unique dynamics of a deeply passionate workforce.
Leadership of organisational operations and enabling functions, including areas such as finance, HR, governance, compliance, IT, or organisational infrastructure.
Comprehensive financial management skills encompassing budgeting, forecasting, management accounting, financial controls, audit processes, and financial planning.
History of supporting organisational strategy, operational planning, and organisational decision-making as part of a senior leadership team.
Success in managing teams and developing positive, collaborative, high-performing, and accountable working cultures.
Strong grasp of governance, organisational risk management, and regulatory compliance within a charity or not-for-profit environment.
Demonstrated ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment and manage competing organisational priorities, complexity, and operational risk.
Oversight of grant budgets, restricted funding, and fundraising compliance.
Skills
Resilience, confidence, and grit, with the ability to bring structure and clarity during times of organisational change or transition.
Agility and adaptability, with the ability to shift gears quickly to manage a dual environment of long-term projects and fast-paced, responsive work.
Diplomatic leadership capabilities to balance and bridge the rights and responsibilities of a mission-driven team, alongside the ability to support, motivate, and develop multidisciplinary staff.
An objective, clear, and firm approach when establishing and embedding operational systems, processes, and expectations.
Strong change management skills, capable of bringing people along and fostering buy-in during periods of organisational transition.
Active listening proficiency to understand the CEO's vision and serve as a trusted partner in delivering their strategic goals.
Leadership and people management skills, with the ability to support, motivate, and develop multidisciplinary teams.
Capacity to operate confidently at both strategic and operational levels, balancing long-term organisational planning with hands-on delivery and problem-solving.
Financial and analytical proficiency to interpret, present, and communicate financial information clearly to non-finance audiences including Boards and senior leadership teams.
Ability to influence, advise, and support decision-making at senior leadership and Board level.
Organisational and problem-solving skills, with the ability to strengthen systems, improve operational processes, and support organisational effectiveness.
Interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with the ability to build trust and collaborate effectively across teams and with external stakeholders.
Familiarity with IT and digital systems, including experience of finance systems, HR systems, CRM platforms, and organisational technology tools.
Aptitude to navigate complexity, manage organisational risk, exercise sound judgement, and make decisions in a values-led environment.
Knowledge and understanding
Understanding of charity finance, governance, and regulatory compliance, including charity SORP and restricted/unrestricted fund management.
Understanding of HR processes, employment legislation, organisational risk, operational compliance, and organisational safeguarding responsibilities.
Understanding of the operational, financial, and sustainability challenges facing charities, think tanks, and social justice organisations.
Understanding of how operational infrastructure, financial management, and people practices enable organisational impact and effectiveness.
Demonstrable commitment to racial justice, anti-racist practice, equity-centred leadership, and fostering inclusive organisational cultures.
Commitment to Runnymede’s values and ways of working.
