Overview

Charity People was engaged to support the appointment of an experienced Strategic Finance Transformation Lead for a national campaigning organisation undergoing a significant period of financial and operational change.

This was a highly specialised interim assignment requiring a senior finance professional to redesign the finance function, put in all the controls, improve reporting and create a more strategic operating model. Reporting to a brilliant forward thinking COO, the successful candidate would need to quickly establish credibility, influence senior stakeholders and provide immediate leadership at a time when the organisation did not have a dedicated finance lead in place.

The role was offered on an initial 6 – 9 months contract, fully remote, with the additional attraction of a four-day working week at full pay.

The Challenge

While the role offered considerable flexibility and an attractive working pattern, the brief was exceptionally specific.

The organisation required a qualified accountant with:

• Significant charity finance experience, including strong knowledge of Charity SORP
• A proven track record of finance transformation and change management
• Experience working with outsourced finance functions and third-party providers
• The ability to operate at both strategic and operational levels
• Strong stakeholder management skills and experience working with senior leadership teams
• Immediate availability to start at short notice

Given the combination of technical expertise, transformation experience and availability requirements, the potential candidate pool was extremely limited.

Charity People’s Inclusive Recruitment Process

This assignment came through due to successfully placing a candidate with the Chief Operating Officer (COO) several years earlier; they approached me directly when this critical interim requirement arose.

The brief was both urgent and complex. With no dedicated finance lead in post, the organisation required immediate support and provided a two-week timeframe to identify and secure an appointment.

While speed was essential, neither the client nor Charity People did not compromise on quality or our inclusive recruitment principles. Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) remained central throughout the process, ensuring a fair, objective and accessible approach at every stage.

A transparent and consultative partnership was maintained throughout the search, with regular communication and market updates provided to the client.

The response to the advert generated more than 50 applications. However, given the highly specialised nature of the role and the requirement for candidates to have both charity finance transformation expertise and immediate availability, a rigorous assessment process was undertaken:

• Over 50 applications received
• 23 candidates longlisted
• 14 candidates shortlisted following detailed screening discussions
• 5 exceptional candidates presented to the client
• 4 candidates progressed to interview

The conversion rate from submission to interview demonstrated the quality and relevance of the candidates introduced. Every candidate presented met the core requirements of the brief, allowing the client to focus their decision-making on cultural fit and transformation capability rather than technical suitability.

Ultimately, the successful candidate was identified, engaged and appointed within the required timeframe, ensuring the organisation secured a highly experienced interim Finance Lead at a critical moment while maintaining a robust, inclusive and candidate-centred recruitment process.

The Appointment

The successful candidate brought an outstanding combination of charity finance leadership, transformation expertise and operational delivery experience gained across a range of complex organisations.

As a qualified Chartered Accountant, they had built an impressive career spanning senior finance leadership, financial governance, systems implementation, management reporting, business partnering, audit and organisational change. Their experience included senior roles within prominent charities and membership organisations, where they had led finance teams, improved financial controls, modernised reporting frameworks and supported long-term financial planning.

Notably, they had previously:

• Led finance governance, reporting and forecasting functions within large charitable organisations
• Implemented financial planning and analytics systems to improve decision-making and organisational visibility
• Strengthened financial controls, reconciliations and reporting processes
• Managed audit relationships and statutory reporting requirements
• Supported Executive Teams and Trustees with strategic financial insight and forecasting
• Delivered finance improvement projects and transformation initiatives within complex environments

What Set This Candidate Apart

Beyond their impressive technical credentials, what truly distinguished this appointment was the candidate’s ability to combine strategic thinking with a highly collaborative and pragmatic approach.

Throughout the recruitment process, they demonstrated exceptional professionalism, transparency and reliability. Despite being on an extended trip travelling around Malaysia during the interview process, they successfully managed every stage of the recruitment journey remotely, meeting me, completing interviews, answering the three shortlisting questions entirely using their mobile!

Their responsiveness, honesty and commitment gave both Charity People and the client complete confidence in their ability to deliver from day one.

Importantly, the candidate also brought the personal qualities needed to unite stakeholders during a period of change. Their approachable leadership style, emotional intelligence and natural ability to build relationships made them particularly well suited to an organisation seeking to embed sustainable improvements without disrupting culture or engagement.

Why the Appointment Candidate Worked!

This was a particularly strong match because the candidate offered:

• Extensive charity finance expertise and Charity SORP knowledge
• Proven experience of finance transformation and governance improvement
• Strong financial planning, forecasting and business partnering capability
• Experience working across finance systems, reporting and process redesign
• The ability to influence senior stakeholders and non-finance leaders effectively
• Immediate availability at a critical time for the organisation
• A collaborative and people-focused leadership style that helped bring others on the journey

At a time when the organisation required both strategic direction and hands-on delivery, the candidate provided the ideal blend of experience, credibility and adaptability.

Outcome

The successful appointment ensured the organisation was able to secure an experienced interim leader capable of providing immediate stability while redesigning the finance function for the future.

The candidate quickly established themselves within the organisation and is now enjoying the role, working closely with senior leaders to strengthen financial governance, improve decision-making frameworks and support the delivery of long-term organisational objectives.

This appointment demonstrates Charity People’s ability to identify and secure high-calibre interim finance leaders (with the salary range given by the client – £65,000 – £68,000) for specialist transformation assignments, even where the market is limited and urgent availability is essential.