Chief Operating Officer

Point 13 Jobs; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Refugee Council is seeking a Chief Operating Officer to join its Senior Leadership Team and partner with the CEO and colleagues to shape the organisation’s future.

This pivotal role provides strategic leadership across finance, people and culture, IT and digital, data, risk, governance and premises, leading the Finance & Resources directorate to support frontline services and policy work.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership across finance, people and culture, IT and digital, data, risk, governance and premises.
• Lead the Finance & Resources directorate to drive organisational transformation and sustainability.
• Advise the Board on financial stewardship, governance and operational performance.

Job description

Location: Hybrid, with travel to London and across England as required

Hours: Permanent, full-time or 4 days

Help to lead a remarkable charity that stands alongside refugees and people seeking asylum in the UK

About Refugee Council

For more than 75 years, Refugee Council has stood alongside refugees and people seeking asylum, providing practical support, influencing policy and campaigning for a fair and humane refugee protection system.

Refugee Council’s vision is for a UK where refugees are welcomed, can rebuild their lives safely and with dignity, and are empowered to contribute to their communities.

In 2024/25, the charity supported more than 15,203 refugees and people seeking asylum, including more than 7,022 children and young people through its specialist youth services. Its work combines direct support, advocacy and campaigning to create lasting change.

About the role

Refugee Council is seeking an outstanding Chief Operating Officer to join its Senior Leadership Team and to partner with its new Chief Executive and amazing colleagues to shape the organisation’s future.

This is a pivotal new role providing strategic leadership across finance, people and culture, IT and digital, data, risk, governance and premises. You will lead the Finance & Resources directorate, drive organisational transformation and ensure Refugee Council’s systems, resources and culture enable its frontline services and policy and influencing to thrive.

You will lead the charity’s financial strategy, ensuring robust stewardship and long-term sustainability, and provide strategic advice and assurance on financial sustainability, operational resilience, governance and organisational performance to the Board and executive team.

About you

You will be a qualified accountant with significant senior leadership experience and a strong track record in a broad organisational role including financial strategy, the development of robust, sustainable business models, organisational transformation, business planning and governance.

You are passionate about people – someone who sees finance, people, digital, data and systems not as back-office functions but as the platform that allows frontline work to thrive. Confident with charity finances and able to communicate effectively internally and externally, you are truly collaborative and eager to be part of a cohesive Senior Leadership Team.

Why join Refugee Council?

This is a moment for you to use all your experience and talents to ensure the Refugee Council’s financial sustainability, operational resilience and organisational effectiveness and to support the wider sector.

If you are a highly relational leader with a passion for involving colleagues, refugees and people with lived experience in delivering the charity’s mission, Refugee Council would love to hear from you.