Interim Director of Corporate Services

Mackie Myers Ltd; Greater London; On-site; GBP 81,000 - 99,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fixed-term contract

Senior leadership role

Job summary

Mackie Myers Ltd is seeking an Interim Director of Corporate Services to lead the Corporate Services team during a fixed-term appointment from mid-October 2026 to March 2027. The role reports to the CEO and sits on the Secretariat SMT, guiding audit, governance, HR and IT across the organisation.

Responsibilities include managing year-end processes, approvals, policy reviews and ensuring robust controls during a leadership transition in a London-based international charity.

Qualifications

• Experience managing a multi-disciplinary corporate services team.
• Experience setting and monitoring organisational budgets, working closely with budget holders and finance teams.
• Hands-on approval of expenditure.
• Strong understanding of financial and regulatory compliance requirements for UK charities and the global context in which UK charities operate.
• Experience of financial, governance and HR processes within charities, including developing policies and making decisions independently in these areas.
• Knowledge of HR best practice and basic employment law.
• Ability to present complex information clearly to a range of audiences, both in writing and verbally.
• Experience working with a Senior Management Team to lead a small organisation, or as part of a larger organisation.
• Experience of audits and the preparation of financial statements.
• Knowledge and application of the latest SORP requirements, ideally within a Tier 2 charity.
• Experience of international recruitment, including use of an Employer of Record (EOR) model.
• Experience overseeing teams responsible for IT, office management and complex international visits.
• Exposure to high‑value fundraising activities.

Responsibilities

• Guide the organisation through its December year-end and subsequent external audit, supporting the Head of Finance and wider team to deliver a clean and well-managed process.
• Provide strategic oversight while remaining hands-on with day-to-day delivery, including approvals, sign-offs, policy reviews and audit preparation.
• Ensure a smooth handover across all corporate services functions during a period of leadership transition.
• Make key financial and operational decisions within agreed governance frameworks and policies.
• Work closely with the Senior Management Team and trustees, providing clear advice and constructively challenging decisions where appropriate.
• Support an established and capable team, maintaining the strong processes and controls already in place.

Skills

Team management

Budgeting

Expenditure approvals

Governance & compliance

HR processes in charities

Policy development

Employment law knowledge

Communicating complex information

Senior management collaboration

IT & office management oversight

International recruitment (EOR)

Fundraising exposure

Education

Degree-level education

Finance/HR/governance qualification beneficial

Job description

Our client is an international London-based charity looking for an Interim Director of Corporate Services to join the team. This is a fixed-term interim appointment running from mid-October 2026 until March 2027.

The Role:

The post is responsible for leading the Corporate Services team of 11 (10 FTE), ensuring continuity across its seven functions and supporting the ongoing development of the team. The role reports to the CEO and is a member of the Secretariat Senior Management Team (SMT).

Key Responsibilities

• Guide the organisation through its December year-end and subsequent external audit, supporting the Head of Finance and wider team to deliver a clean and well-managed process.
• Provide strategic oversight while remaining hands-on with day-to-day delivery, including approvals, sign-offs, policy reviews and audit preparation.
• Ensure a smooth handover across all corporate services functions during a period of leadership transition.
• Make key financial and operational decisions within agreed governance frameworks and policies.
• Work closely with the Senior Management Team and trustees, providing clear advice and constructively challenging decisions where appropriate.
• Support an established and capable team, maintaining the strong processes and controls already in place.

Successful Candidate:

Essential Experience and Skills

• Experience managing a multi-disciplinary corporate services team.
• Experience setting and monitoring organisational budgets, working closely with budget holders and finance teams.
• Hands‑on approval of expenditure.
• Strong understanding of financial and regulatory compliance requirements for UK charities and the global context in which UK charities operate.
• Experience of financial, governance and HR processes within charities, including developing policies and making decisions independently in these areas.
• Knowledge of HR best practice and basic employment law.
• Ability to present complex information clearly to a range of audiences, both in writing and verbally.
• Experience working with a Senior Management Team to lead a small organisation, or as part of a larger organisation.
• Experience of audits and the preparation of financial statements.
• Knowledge and application of the latest SORP requirements, ideally within a Tier 2 charity.
• Experience of international recruitment, including use of an Employer of Record (EOR) model.
• Experience overseeing teams responsible for IT, office management and complex international visits.
• Exposure to high‑value fundraising activities.

Qualifications

• Degree-level education or extensive relevant professional experience. Qualifications in finance, HR, business operations or governance would be beneficial but are not essential.
• A high level of financial literacy gained through professional experience and/or formal qualification. A professional qualification is not essential.

What’s on Offer?

• Salary of £90,000 or daily rate equivalent.
• Contract running from mid-October 2026 until March 2027.
• A senior, influential role supporting an internationally recognised not-for-profit organisation through a critical period.
• The opportunity to lead a capable and well‑established team with strong processes already in place.