The British Academy
Director of Finance And Operations
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Director of Finance and Resources
Salary: from £103,265 (plus competitive benefits)
The British Academy is the UK’s national academy for the humanities and social sciences. We support outstanding research and researchers, bring new ideas into public debate and help ensure that evidence and expertise inform some of the biggest questions facing society.
We are looking for a new Director of Finance & Resources to help us build on that work and plan confidently for the future.
This is an important appointment at an exciting point in the Academy’s development. We will celebrate our 125th anniversary in 2027, following a period in which we have grown our policy work, transformed our building to create more opportunities for public engagement and developed a national network for early career researchers.
As Director of Finance & Resources, you will make sure we have the resources, systems and organisational capacity to deliver our ambitions. You will lead our finance function and have overall responsibility for HR, IT & AV, Estates & Facilities, and Venue Sales & Marketing, working with experienced Heads of Department across each area.
Finance will be central to the role. You will lead our financial strategy and planning, oversee our financial controls and reporting, and provide clear advice to the Chief Executive, Senior Management Team, Council and its committees. You will also help us think longer term about our financial sustainability, including our plans to diversify income through philanthropy and commercial activity.
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But we are looking for more than a strong Finance Director. You will be part of a close-knit Senior Management Team which works collectively to lead the Academy. We want someone who is interested in the organisation as a whole, who enjoys working across boundaries and who can help colleagues make good decisions about where we put our people, money and attention.
You will also have responsibility for some important assets. These include our historic home at 10–11 Carlton House Terrace, our technology and infrastructure, and our trading subsidiary. Ultimately, your job will be to make sure these resources are working as hard as possible in support of the Academy’s purpose.
About you
You will be a CCAB-qualified accountant with substantial and senior finance experience, gained in a complex organisation. You will have led finance teams and significant budgets and be comfortable advising senior leaders, Boards or Trustees.
You will also bring broader leadership experience. You may already have responsibility beyond finance, or have worked closely with areas such as people, operations, estates or technology. We are looking for someone who can combine sound financial judgement with a practical, collaborative approach. You will be able to deal with complexity without making things unnecessarily complicated, communicate clearly with people who are not finance specialists, and provide constructive challenge when it is needed.
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You should also be someone who enjoys leading through others. There are strong Heads of Department across the Resources portfolio, so this isn't about being the expert in every area. It is about setting direction, asking good questions, supporting people to succeed and bringing the different parts of the portfolio together.
Why join us?
The British Academy has a distinctive role in national life. In 2025/26 we awarded around £63 million in research funding. Alongside funding research, we convene academics, policymakers, businesses and civil society, engage the public with new ideas and use research to inform policy. The Director of Finance & Resources helps make all of that possible.
For someone who wants to use their financial and leadership experience in an organisation with a clear public purpose, this is an opportunity to make a real contribution to the Academy’s next chapter.
Recruitment Timetable
- Application deadline: Sunday 27th September, midnight
- Shortlisting: Thursday 8th October
- Fireside chats with CEO: week of 12th October
- Panel Interviews: 20th / 23rd October
To apply, please send your CV, along with a supporting statement (no more than 2 pages) to BA@allenlane.co.uk by Sunday 27th September.
For an informal conversation about the role please contact our exclusive partner, Bryony Thomas of Allen Lane at bryonythomas@allenlane.co.uk or 07921334625.
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