Chief Financial Officer

Contract: Permanent & Full Time
Salary: £160k - £170k with benefits
Interview Date: September

We protect nature, beauty, and history for future generations to enjoy as the largest conservation charity in Europe. Millions of members, staff, volunteers, and donors help us achieve this. Without it, we wouldn't be able to maintain the nearly million pieces of art, the 500 historic sites, the 250,000 hectares of land, and the 780 miles of coastline.

It's an amazing time to join us and be part of our 10-year Strategy, which we’re launching in 2025. It will be essential to use your expertise, innovative thinking, and strategic leadership to help the organisation realise its ambitious goals.

At the heart of this role is the ability to use our financial resources, assets, and diverse portfolio in a sustainable and innovative manner, which is essential for us to meet our growth objectives. The cornerstones of a CFO's role are sound financial management, strong control, and risk management—all of which the Trust holds to high standards and actively pursues best practices. 

We’re for everyone, and we really mean it.

We’re determined, we’re big, and we care for each other and everyone.  We also want to make a significant impact, we’re competitive (in the right places) and we want to generate funds to continue to support nature, beauty, and history. We’re here forever. Literally.  So, we need people who want to be good ancestors. We love what we do, and we work hard to do it well. We’re the National Trust.

To put things into perspective, we had a record-breaking £681.9 million in revenue last year, which allowed us to allocate £179.6 million toward conservation. We now employ over 15,000 people, our membership base has grown to 5.7 million, and our volunteers have contributed 3.4 million hours.

This role will involve travel to our Head Office in Swindon and across our beautiful portfolio of places at times.  You’ll need to be flexible but can choose your base of operations, which includes our London office. You’ll be required to work at a National Trust location for 40-60% of your working week.  This will be discussed in more detail at interview.

As our CFO you’ll provide great stewardship of our finances whilst leading for financial growth.  There will be challenges, but you’ll face into these confidently and identify opportunities, including developing new, imaginative, sustainable methods of raising and allocating our funds.

Though we are a nonprofit organisation dedicated to protecting the country's cultural legacy and providing public spaces for all to enjoy, neither our methods of operation nor the standards we hold for successful individuals are antiquated. As a vital member of the Trust's Executive team, you’ll report directly to our Director-General, Hilary McGrady, and look for creative ways to raise capital. You'll consider uncharted territories and new alliances confidently that align with our goals and values. To ensure that we can meet and pay for our essential conservation work both now and in the future, the key question is how we can expand our funding model, manage our asset base, and release funds.

A role profile is attached to complement this advert along with a document that highlights our Exec Leadership capabilities.

You’ll understand how crucial financial management is to accomplish all our goals. We're searching for more than just a numbers person because of this. We’d like to make the most of your extensive background in senior finance and business, as well as your well-rounded experience and strategic leadership. We’re interested in your ideas, business acumen, and strategic viewpoint. We also want you to challenge our thinking and methods, but in a positive, objective manner.

It’s important that you’re used to working in a similarly complex, multifunctional organisation, and that you have the emotional intelligence to understand and balance seemingly competing demands. But more than anything, we want someone who can move us forward and ensure that we can deliver our bold ambitions. 

Your CV and application should detail how you have proven your ability to function at exec level and how you meet the requirements below.  

• An understanding of investment tactics & familiarity with long term financing choices.
• The legal and regulatory framework governing charities, which covers taxation and the management of VAT risk.
• Prior experience directing the budget management of an organisation.
• Financial strategic leadership, which includes your proficient influencing, negotiating, and advocating abilities.
• Outstanding listening and presenting abilities among other communication skills.
• Innovative and creative thinking with the ability to drive change through strategic planning whilst juggling several priorities.
• Capacity to explain and define triple bottom-line goals for a sizable and complex organisation.
• Capable of clearly communicating sophisticated financial options or issues and the solutions.
• Demonstrable experience providing senior-level strategic direction.
• A track record of overseeing senior managers for excellence and the capacity to mentor, coach, and inspire employees with abilities outside of your expertise.

The National Trust has the motto ‘For everyone, for ever’ at its heart. We’re working hard to create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong. It’s important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audiences we serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say we’re for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too.

•Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary

•Personal health insurance for you and subsidised family cover

•A comprehensive health check every 2 years

•Free entry to National Trust places for you, a guest and your children (under 18)

•Tax-free childcare scheme

•Rental deposit loan scheme

•Season ticket loan

•EV car lease scheme 

•Perks at work discounts such as gym memberships, shopping discount codes, cinema discounts

•Holiday allowance up to 32 days relating to length of service, plus holiday purchase scheme, subject to meeting minimum criteria.

•Flexible working whenever possible

•Employee assistance programme

•Free parking at most Trust places

Click here to find out more about the benefits we offer to support you.