Centre for Young Lives
Senior Finance Manager. Salary: £27,842 - £35,392 0.6 pro rata (£46,403 - £58,986 FTE)
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Senior Finance Manager
This is a pivotal role at the heart of a small, ambitious organisation, working closely with the Director of Operations and Chief Executive to ensure strong financial management, governance, and sustainability.
As Senior Finance Manager, you will be the organisation’s financial lead—providing clarity, insight, and challenge to support strategic decision-making. You’ll balance hands-on delivery with a strategic overview, ensuring robust financial planning, effective controls, and proportionate governance in a lean and fast-paced environment.
Working in partnership with an external finance provider, you’ll oversee financial systems, reporting, and compliance, while building confidence and capability across the organisation. This is a role with real influence, where your work will directly enable impact for children and young people.
About the Centre for Young Lives
Founded by Baroness Anne Longfield, a former Children’s Commissioner for England, the Centre for Young Lives exists to tackle systemic barriers and create better futures for children and young people.
We want this country to be the best place to grow up and bring up children. We work with national and local leaders to remove barriers to opportunity and deliver innovative, evidence-led solutions that create lasting change. Our approach is rooted in:
- Collaboration
- Systems thinking
- Amplifying the voices of children and young people
What You’ll Do
Financial Leadership & Strategy
- Lead budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning to support organisational priorities
- Monitor financial performance, including income, expenditure, and cashflow
- Provide clear financial insight and analysis to inform decision-making
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Financial Controls & Compliance
- Maintain robust financial controls, ensuring risks are identified and managed
- Oversee financial reporting, including management accounts and board reports
- Support audit processes and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements
Financial Systems & Governance
- Partner with colleagues on funding, grants, and financial planning
- Maintain oversight of financial systems and processes, working with external providers
- Build financial confidence and capability across the organisation
Operational & Professional Support
- Provide matrix management and professional support to the Business Support Adviser
- Coordinate finance-related administration and priorities
- Act as the key internal point of contact for finance
What We’re Looking For
We’re looking for someone who combines strong financial expertise with a proactive, solutions-focused mindset—someone who:
Core Competencies
- Takes ownership, brings energy, and ensures things get done
- Operates confidently in a small, agile organisation, balancing strategic thinking with hands-on delivery
- Thrives on making a tangible difference and delivering impact
- Translates financial information into clear, meaningful insight
- Influences and constructively challenges senior leaders and trustees
- Remains calm and composed under pressure, using sound judgement to manage risk effectively
Collaboration & Professionalism
- Is highly collaborative and pragmatic, building strong relationships across teams and with external partners
- Adapts approach to achieve the right outcomes
- Impersonates integrity, discretion, and professionalism in all actions
- Takes pride in delivering high-quality work that supports organisational success
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Purpose & Motivation
- Driven by a strong sense of purpose to improve outcomes for children, young people, and families
- Passionate about tackling systemic barriers to create better futures
Why Join Us?
Mission-Driven Work
- Join a mission-driven organisation tackling systemic barriers for young people
- Help shape national conversations on social innovation and systems change through evidence and insight
- Deliver meaningful, lasting improvements to outcomes in local communities for children and young people
Benefits Package
- Pension scheme with 7% employer contribution
- Generous holiday allowance, starting at 25 days (plus 8 Bank Holidays)
- Flexible, hybrid working arrangements
- Family-friendly policies supporting wellbeing
How to Apply
Do not apply via LinkedIn. Visit our website for full application details.
This role may close early, so early applications are encouraged.
Diversity & Inclusion
We actively encourage applications from people of all ethnic backgrounds and underrepresented groups. Diversity strengthens our organisation, and we particularly welcome applications from racially marginalised communities.
An anonymous Equality and Diversity Monitoring form is available to help us understand the diversity of candidates applying.
Employment Terms
- All staff must undergo appropriate checks, including enhanced DBS checks
- Candidates must have the right to work in the UK
- The Centre for Young Lives cannot assist with sponsorship or visas
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