Deputy Director, Chief Operating Officer (Finance)

Independent Football Regulator; Greater Manchester; On-site; GBP 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading sports governance body in Greater Manchester seeks an exceptional COO to provide strategic leadership and management of corporate activities. The role demands expertise in financial stewardship and governance oversight to safeguard the sustainability of English football. Applications for this role close on November 26, 2025.

Qualifications

• Exceptional strategic leader with experience in corporate management.
• Ability to drive financial soundness and resilience in an organization.
• Deep understanding of governance principles and stakeholder dynamics.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and management across IFR functions.
• Ensure operational efficiency and effectiveness supporting core objectives.
• Oversee governance and financial stewardship to achieve organizational goals.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Financial stewardship

Governance oversight

Stakeholder engagement

Operational efficiency

Job description

The Independent Football Regulator (IFR) has been established to protect and promote the sustainability of English football, for the benefit of fans and the local communities football clubs serve.

The IFR’s objectives are:

• to protect and promote the financial soundness of regulated clubs;
• to protect and promote the financial resilience of English football;
• to safeguard the heritage of English football.

On a day-to-day basis, we will supervise clubs against a licensing regime; set standards for clubs; and monitor, protect and promote financial resilience. The IFR has significant powers under the Football Governance Act and, if necessary, will use powers to enforce compliance on financial regulation, club owners and directors, fan engagement and heritage protection.

We are looking for an exceptional strategic leader to join the Independent Football Regulator (IFR) to provide strategic leadership and management of all financial, commercial, people and broader corporate activities within the IFR, providing expert advice and support to the business at a time of organisational set up. This role will ensure the operational efficiency and effectiveness of the IFR, ensuring its functions support the delivery of the IFR’s core objectives. This includes meeting the regulatory principles set out in the Football Governance Act 2025, including efficient resource use, proactive engagement with stakeholders, and necessity and proportionality of requirements.

The COO will be an executive member of the IFR Board. The COO will ensure robust financial stewardship, oversee effective governance and drive value in decision making, enabling the organisation to achieve its objectives. The COO provides direct leadership to the corporate teams which cover the key areas of the operations of the IFR. The COO will determine and designate tasks and make decisions about key business priorities and is accountable for ensuring policies and operational processes and procedures are effective, reviewing and amending as necessary.

This role requires exceptional leadership across a range of functions - finance, HR, commercial. By driving the success of corporate functions, the COO will play a critical role in safeguarding the sustainability and heritage of English football.

Application closing date: Wednesday 26th November 2025

Please download the candidate brief below for an in-depth overview of the role, and of details on how to apply: