Head of Finance and Operations

Interim Finance Lead
4-month assignment (December 2025 March 2026)
North London / Hybrid (1 2 days per week on site)
Approx. 3 4 days per week

A North London charity supporting young people with learning differences is seeking an Interim Finance Lead to provide stability and strategic support during a period of transition. With a £2.3m turnover, the organisation delivers horticulture, retail and life-skills training to help young people move into employment and independent living.

The interim will provide continuity across finance and operations while supporting several strategic priorities.

Key responsibilities
• Maintain oversight of finance, budgeting, reporting, audit preparation, cash-flow and financial controls.
• Support governance, HR, property and IT, working with a small internal team and external advisers.
• Manage early-stage merger or partnership discussions, coordinating due-diligence, preparing analysis, and briefing the CEO and trustees.
• Support wider organisational change, including income diversification, funding negotiations and the next phase of internal restructuring.
• Ensure change plans are well-scoped, costed and tracked, providing additional senior capacity to the CEO.

Candidate profile
We are seeking a pragmatic, values-led senior leader with:
• Strong financial and operational management experience (qualified accountant or equivalent preferred).
• Experience of organisational change, integration or merger processes in the charity, education or public sector.
• Ability to operate both strategically and hands-on in a small, fast-moving environment.
• Excellent judgement, diplomacy and communication skills.