Human Appeal
Head of Global Programme Finance
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Who We Are
Human Appeal is a global non-profit humanitarian and development organisation. We deliver life-saving emergency assistance such as food, medical aid, and disaster relief. At the same time, we run sustainable, community-led programmes in healthcare, education, and livelihoods to build resilience and self-reliance. Our experienced local teams work in vulnerable, hard-to-reach areas. Guided by a vision of a just, caring, and sustainable world, our mission is to save lives, alleviate poverty, and empower communities in line with the core humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, and independence.
Position Overview
We have an exciting opportunity for a Head of Global Programme Finance within the Finance department based at Cheadle, Manchester. The Head of Global Programme Finance leads Human Appeal’s international finance operations. Reporting to the GDOF, the role oversees financial management across Country Offices, Partner Offices, in support of the global programme delivery across our field and partner countries. It ensures effective financial control, governance, systems, and compliance.
The Global Finance team plays a critical role in sustaining and enabling the growth of Human Appeal through the support it provides to both Field Teams and programme departments. All the financial stages of grant management, from proposal development and initial budgeting to compliance and reporting, are managed by the Global Finance team who provide this support from Human Appeal Global (HA-G) to all funded programmes globally.
The postholder works with International Programmes, Internal Audit, IT, Systems, and the UK Head of Finance and wider global finance team. The role includes SMT level reporting and supports decision-making with financial analysis. The postholder manages the international finance team and travels as required to support delivery and capacity building of the field offices.
We are looking for a senior finance professional, with a deep understanding of financial grants and contracts management and ideally experience from an INGO finance role, to head up our global programme finance team. The successful individual will play an important role in driving efficiency and best practice, guiding and mentoring the international finance team, and ensuring strong communications and effective working with the Global Programmes, HA-G teams and teams in the field.
Main Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Financial Management
- Set clear directions for programme Finance function, effectively prioritising and organising activities and resources to achieve objectives.
- Support GDOF in the development and implementing the global finance strategy aligned with HA-G organisational goals.
- Ensure financial health, sustainability, and donor compliance across the Secretariat and Country Offices.
- Advise senior leadership (including Programmes and the SMT) on risks, investments, and financial strategy.
- Lead delivery of field country consolidated annual accounts and audits.
- Recognise opportunities for innovation and present ideas clearly to GDOF and SMT. Encourage the team to seek new ideas for best practice and efficiency.
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Finance and Compliance Management
- Ensure robust systems for internal financial controls aligned with global one finance system across all operational locations.
- Review and improve systems, policies, practices and processes to avoid duplication and maximise efficiency, providing input into the set-up of financial operations in field offices to comply with internal and external reporting requirements.
- Assume overall responsibility for ensuring that financial data and reports are accurate, complete and in compliance with donor and Human Appeal compliance regulations related to programming.
- Work closely with Internal Audit and Country Offices to address risks and audit findings.
- Ensure appropriate assistance is provided to field and HA-G programme teams in developing budget proposals, reviewing financial data required for proposal submissions and reporting.
- Build and maintain strong working relationships with field offices, resolving issues and maintaining regular contact regarding financial reporting requirements, grant regulations and training needs.
Systems and Financial Transformation
- Lead optimisation of the global finance system and related ERP implementations in collaboration with IT and Systems Teams.
- Champion automation, data integrity, and real-time reporting solutions across the Federation.
- Identify system and process improvements to enhance finance function performance globally.
Business Partner and Cross Collaboration
- Act as a strategic business partner to Global Programmes Departments, ensuring budgets, forecasts, and financial reports support programme delivery and donor compliance.
- Coordinate with the Head of Finance (UK) to align international and UK finance functions.
- Provide regular reporting, analysis, and briefings to the Executive Team.
- Respond promptly to ad-hoc requests from senior leadership.
Team Leadership and Capacity Building
- Manage and mentor an international team, fostering collaboration, accountability, and professional development. Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
- Evaluate team structure, roles and workload alongside GDOF and assess changes as needed for increased efficiency.
- Hire, onboard and supervise the management of finance staff globally.
- Promote a team culture aligned with Human Appeal’s values of inclusion, integrity, and humanitarian excellence.
- Present clear cases to senior leaders to secure resources and training for finance team.
- Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback via regular performance reviews.
Contribution to the Programme
- Strengthens financial governance and accountability across global operations.
- Enhances efficiency, compliance, and value-for-money across programmes.
- Improves financial transparency and donor confidence.
- Enables strategic use of technology and data to drive financial insight and decision-making.
- Builds long-term capacity in international finance functions, ensuring sustainable impact.
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Operational Excellence & Process Improvement
- Champion a culture of continuous improvement in financial systems, reporting, and ways of working.
- Identify and implement process improvements that enhance efficiency, reduce duplication, and strengthen financial governance.
- Support the Programme Management and Partner Regional Offices on institutional funding compliance, reporting, and audit preparedness.
- Oversee Global Country Office audits and project-specific audits, ensuring timely preparation, coordination, and closure of findings.
- Promote consistency in financial performance tracking, audit readiness, and field-level policy implementation.
NB: Employee duties are not limited only to the above-mentioned responsibilities; they may perform other duties as assigned.
Candidate Essential Criteria
- Professional accounting qualification (ACCA, CIMA, ACA, CPA or equivalent).
- Degree in Finance, Accounting, or related discipline.
- Project qualifications [Lean six Sigma, Prince, Scrum etc].
- 10+ years’ post-qualification experience with significant leadership roles.
- Strong background in financial oversight of international operations, ideally within INGOs or complex federated structures.
- Advanced experience in ERP/system implementation.
- Deep understanding of donor financial compliance, project accounting, and cross-border finance operations.
- Demonstrable experience of budget development, accounting principles, financial reporting, accounting systems, and financial administration.
- Usage of Office 365.
- Adept with Accounting Software.
Candidate Desirable Criteria
- Arabic, French, Spanish are desirable.
How to Apply
We are keen to appoint the right person for this position as soon as possible and will be considering applications as they are received. To maximise your opportunity, please submit your CV by clicking the link provided to apply. We look forward to receiving your application and hearing from you.
If you have any questions about the position, please do contact Human Appeal on recruitment@humanappeal.org.uk.
Please note that we will only be contacting the shortlisted candidates. Applying candidates must have the legal authorisation or right to work in the designated work location/duty station.
Disclaimer
Human Appeal is committed to diversity, social inclusion, and gender equality/balance, and strongly encourages applications from underrepresented groups. The organisation maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Sexual Harassment (SEA/SH), with all staff required to comply with Preventing Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Sexual Harassment (PSEA/SH) standards and safe recruitment procedures.
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