Senior Finance Controller - Projects & Grants (NGO)

Islamic Relief Worldwide; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW) is a faith-based humanitarian relief and development organisation. Birmingham-based, the Financial Controller - Projects & Grants leads financial governance across global projects and grants, guiding budgeting, reporting, and donor compliance with UK GAAP and Charity SORP.

You’ll manage a specialist team and collaborate with IPD, regional teams, and senior leadership to ensure accountability and strategic support.

Qualifications

• Professional accounting qualification (ACA/ACCA/CIMA/ICAEW/ICMA or equivalent)
• Significant senior-level finance leadership experience
• Experience producing statutory financial statements under UK GAAP and Charity SORP
• Extensive project and grant finances management in charity/humanitarian sector
• Knowledge of restricted/unrestricted funds and donor compliance
• Experience with budgeting, forecasting, modelling, and scenario planning
• Strong governance, risk management, and audit readiness
• Experience with ERP implementations and digital transformation

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic financial oversight for projects and grants portfolio
• Lead budgeting, forecasting, and financial modelling activities
• Ensure donor compliance and robust reporting to funders
• Maintain audit readiness and manage external audits
• Partner with IPD, regional teams and country offices
• Support financial governance and reserves management
• Build capacity and lead high-performing finance teams

Skills

Financial leadership

Stakeholder management

Donor compliance

Budgeting & forecasting

Financial reporting

Audit readiness

Advanced Excel

Education

Professional accounting qualification (ACA/ACCA/CIMA/ICAEW/ICMA/CM A or equivalent)

Tools

ERP systems

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW) is a faith-based humanitarian relief and development organisation. Birmingham-based, the Financial Controller - Projects & Grants leads financial governance across global projects and grants, guiding budgeting, reporting, and donor compliance with UK GAAP and Charity SORP.

You’ll manage a specialist team and collaborate with IPD, regional teams, and senior leadership to ensure accountability and strategic support.