Finance Director

Center for Countering Digital Harm; Greater London; Remote; GBP 95,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully remote working

Generous annual leave 28+ days

Job summary

The Center for Countering Digital Harm seeks a high-impact Chief Financial Officer to lead financial strategy for the UK and US entities, partner with the CEO and Board, and ensure robust financial governance. You will steer budgeting, forecasting, risk management and fundraising coordination to support CCDH’s mission and growth.

We require senior nonprofit finance leadership with UK GAAP and experience across jurisdictions, including governance, audit and reporting.

Qualifications

• At least 15 years of progressive finance experience with senior leadership.
• Professional accountancy qualification such as ACA/ACCA/CIMA/CIPFA.
• Experience across UK and US nonprofit finance environments.
• Experience advising Boards and senior executives, with external auditors.
• Strong knowledge of UK GAAP and charity reporting requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic financial leadership and multi-year planning for UK and US entities.
• Advise CEO and SLT on growth, funding and affordability, testing assumptions.
• Set budgets, rolling forecasts and funding decisions; manage risk.
• Ensure audit, tax and regulatory compliance across jurisdictions.
• Oversee reporting, intercompany accounting, and donor/grant management.

Skills

Executive leadership

Strategic financial leadership

Financial modelling

Scenario analysis

Risk management

Board communication

Multijurisdiction oversight

Nonprofit finance knowledge

GDP accounting knowledge

Education

ACA/ACCA/CIMA/CIPFA qualification

Job description

As our most senior finance leader, you will be a strategic partner to the CEO, Senior Leadership Team and Board. You will bring sound judgement, constructive challenge and the ability to translate complex financial information into clear decisions.

You will have executive accountability for financial strategy and the overall performance of the UK and US finance functions. You will set priorities, review and challenge financial information, advise on organisational decisions and ensure the team has the resources and support to deliver.

Your role is to provide direction, review, assurance and support, with clear delegation to those delivering the work. You will agree responsibilities across the team, preserve operational ownership and provide hands-on support where needed for complex issues, improvement projects or escalations.

Key responsibilities

1 Strategic financial leadership

• Lead financial strategy and multi-year planning, aligning resources and financial capacity with CCDH's mission and organisational priorities.
• Advise the CEO and Senior Leadership Team on growth, new initiatives and funding opportunities, testing assumptions and assessing affordability, risk, timing and value for money.
• Agree clear routes with the COO for budget and funding decisions, escalating material issues to the CEO and Board as appropriate.

2 Financial planning and risk

• Set the framework for annual budgets and rolling forecasts. Review and challenge the plans prepared by finance colleagues with budget holders, and recommend them for approval.
• Direct scenario modelling and assess cash runway, reserves, funding commitments, income concentration and the fundraising pipeline, working closely with the Development team.
• Identify financial risks and early-warning indicators, recommend management action and help budget holders understand performance and address material variances.

3 Financial governance and international oversight

• Set financial policies, delegated authorities and proportionate controls across the UK and US entities, including segregation of duties and clear approval limits.
• Review the financial position, management reporting and material accounting judgements, providing assurance on the quality and timeliness of information prepared by the team.
• Present financial analysis and recommendations to the CEO, Board and relevant committees, drawing on reports prepared by finance colleagues and highlighting decisions required.
• Take executive responsibility for audit, tax and regulatory compliance. Review statutory accounts and filings, oversee adviser relationships and ensure audit recommendations are addressed, with preparation and coordination retained by operational finance colleagues.
• Oversee entity and combined reporting, intercompany accounting, shared-cost allocation, foreign exchange and cross-border arrangements, obtaining professional advice where needed.
• Ensure appropriate financial oversight of restricted funding, grant and contract conditions, US 501(c)(3) structures alongside relevant UK reporting obligations and requirements in other jurisdictions.

4 Finance systems and people

• Lead and develop UK and US finance colleagues, establishing clear objectives, review arrangements, professional development and succession planning.
• Recommend the team structure and balance of internal capability, external support and automation needed for growth, building on the Finance Manager's operational expertise.
• Set the finance systems and data strategy, improving integration and reporting across accounting, planning, payroll, expenses, donor and grant information.
• Deliver a prioritised programme of improvements with clear owners, milestones and outcomes, protecting continuity of routine finance operations.

Person specification

Essential experience and qualifications

• At least 15 years of progressive finance experience, including responsibility as a Finance Director, CFO or equivalent senior finance leader.
• A recognised professional accountancy qualification, such as ACA, ACCA, CIMA or CIPFA, or an equivalent international qualification.
• A track record of developing finance capability in entrepreneurial, growing or changing organisations with annual income of approximately US$5 million-US$25 million, or comparable complexity.
• Senior responsibility across multiple entities or jurisdictions, with substantial experience of both UK and US finance environments.
• Strong experience of UK nonprofit finance and US nonprofit organisations, including 501(c)(3) structures, restricted funding and relevant reporting requirements.
• Strong technical knowledge of accounting, UK GAAP, applicable charity reporting requirements, audit, internal controls, consolidation, treasury and cash management.
• Experience combining oversight of finance operations with strategic planning, advanced financial modelling, scenario analysis and funding-risk assessment.
• Evidence of developing finance teams, strengthening controls and improving financial systems and management information.
• Experience advising Boards and senior executives, and managing relationships with auditors and professional advisers across jurisdictions.

How you work

• You combine an entrepreneurial outlook with financial discipline, using evidence to identify opportunities and make sound judgements.
• You explain complex financial matters clearly and challenge constructively, building confidence among non-financial colleagues.
• You develop people, delegate effectively and collaborate across jurisdictions, with clear accountability and respect for colleagues’ expertise.
• You are comfortable moving between strategic leadership and practical problem-solving in a small, changing organisation.
• You are committed to CCDH's mission and to inclusive, respectful ways of working
• Salary: £95,000-£120,000 (dependent on experience), we also offer:
• Annual leave. 28 days of annual leave plus UK public holidays, increasing with continuous service to a maximum of 31 days plus public holidays.
• Fully remote working. Work from home in the UK, with regular collaboration across UK and US time zones and occasional international travel.
• Training and development. An annual budget for conferences, seminars and other professional development opportunities.
• Mental health and wellbeing support. Access to therapy sessions and guidance through Spill.
• Enhanced parental leave. Supportive parental leave policies.
• Health Shield cash plan. Level 1 cover, providing reimbursement for eligible health services.