Global Head of Finance & Operations

Skills Builder Partnership; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A social enterprise focused on skill development seeks a Global Head of Finance & Operations to lead financial planning, HR, and compliance. This hands-on role involves strategic oversight of finance operations and teamwork across global and UK divisions. Candidates should have strong accounting expertise, legal aptitude, and experience in people management. The position is based in the UK with flexible hybrid working options, offering a salary of £50,000 – £60,000 with additional benefits.

Benefits

25 days of holidays plus bank holidays

London weighting of £600

Team strategy days in person

Flexible working hours

Qualifications

• Experience in financial accounting (ACCA or CIMA preferred).
• Aptitude for legal and compliance issues.
• Experience in recruiting and managing teams.
• Familiarity with the latest technology.

Responsibilities

• Lead finance function for Global and UK divisions.
• Manage HR and recruitment processes.
• Ensure compliance with commercial and legal standards.
• Oversee IT provisions for Global and UK divisions.

Skills

Financial accounting expertise

Legal / compliance experience

People & HR experience

Early adopter of tech

Job description

What it’s like working at Skills Builder Partnership

Joining Skills Builder is not like working anywhere else. Our team consistently say they have never worked anywhere as collaborative, supportive or mission oriented. We combine the fun and dynamism of a start-up, the professional development opportunities of a corporate, the innovation of a digital native and the social impact focus of a charity. We are serious about delivering social mobility through our vision that one day everyone builds the essential skills to succeed. That means we are ambitious and set high standards for ourselves. We are reflective, inclusive and supportive. In practice this means that everyone makes time for others in the team, we get stuck in to solve problems together, we have regular employee surveys where leadership…

About the role

This is a role for someone with a hands‑on, “builder” mindset who wants to apply their technical skills in an agile environment. Someone who is obsessed with optimising and innovating while consistently delivering high quality outputs. You’ll be a spreadsheet pro, but see the huge potential in solving problems with code and software. You’ll also get on top of technical subject matter like employment law and data protection. As the Global Head of Finance & Operations, you’ll be leading our strategic financial planning as well as our end‑to‑end finance operations and accounting. Alongside that, you’ll run our people and HR function and be responsible for legal and compliance. Skills Builder’s Global Division provides services and support to the UK division and to partners across the world, so it’ll be important that you enjoy working with others, creating and maintaining positive working relationships. We have big ambitions and your scope to grow, learn and achieve matches that. If you want to benefit from working with an inspiring team, with huge potential for learning, growth and development, we want to hear from you.

Key Responsibilities

• Finance: Run the finance function, which serves both the Global and UK divisions. Responsible for timely, accurate accounts (from bookkeeping and management accounts through to audit). Lead on financial strategy including budgeting, financial modelling and insights.
• Human Resources: Run HR and people management for the Global and UK divisions. Ensure that we have the right people with the right skills to deliver our strategy. Responsible for recruitment, retention, policies and employment law matters.
• Commercial, Legal & Compliance: Support the team to pursue different commercial models and secure favourable terms. Ensure compliance with laws in the UK and across our global operations. Lead on legal matters, identifying risk, analysing positions and efficiently engaging with external counsel when appropriate.
• Internal tech and IT: Oversee the provision of hardware and software to the Global and UK divisions.

Technical Skills and Experience

• Financial accounting expertise, gained either through qualifications (e.g. ACCA CIMA), investment or business modelling experience.
• Legal / compliance experience or aptitude. Either with legal experience and qualifications, or the desire and ability to think like a lawyer.
• People & HR experience or aptitude. Ideally having recruited and managed high performing teams, or the desire and ability to learn how to deliver a best‑in‑class function.
• Early adopter of tech. Adept at discovering and using the latest tech and prototyping solutions.

Experience and Other Details

• Experience: Required
• Languages: English – Advanced
• Employment: Full-time
• Salary: £50,000 – £60,000 yearly
• Benefits: London weighting - £600
• Starting time: Immediate start!

Benefits

• Term: Permanent.
• Start Date: As soon as possible.
• Working hours: Full-time (40 hours per week) although some flexibility may be possible.
• Team days: We get together in person in Oxford or London 6 times a year for strategy, fun and food.
• Holidays: 25 days per year, plus bank holidays & potential to buy back up to 5 days.
• Location: UK remote allowing for regular travel or London (hybrid working with 1+ days in the office per week, free fruit, tea and coffee, ‘pastry socials’ and £600 London weighting).
• Application deadline: 0900 on 15th December, with first round interviews on 17th & 19th December.

About Skills Builder Partnership: Skills Builder Partnership is a global movement driven by a not‑for‑profit social enterprise dedicated to ensuring everyone builds the essential skills needed to succeed.