Global Finance Operations Lead

The Vacancy

Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW) is a faith-based humanitarian relief and development organisation working to save and transform the lives of some of the world's most vulnerable people. Established in 1984 and operating in over 45 countries, we strive to create lasting change for communities affected by poverty, conflict, and disaster.

We are currently recruiting for a Global Finance Operations Lead to join our Finance & Corporate Services Division.

The Finance & Corporate Services Division provides high-quality, responsive, and enabling services across Finance, Treasury, ERP & Digital Transformation, ICT, Supply Chain, and Facilities. The division plays a critical role in ensuring operational excellence, financial sustainability, digital innovation, and service efficiency across Islamic Relief's global operations.

Working closely with the International Programmes Division (IPD), the division ensures strong financial management, governance, compliance, assurance, and operational effectiveness across our humanitarian and development programmes worldwide.

About the Role

This is a senior strategic leadership position responsible for overseeing financial management, governance, compliance, assurance, and performance across Islamic Relief Worldwide's global country offices, regional structures, and implementing partners.

Reporting directly to the Director of Finance & Corporate Services, the Global Finance Operations Lead will provide leadership to Regional Finance Controllers and senior finance teams across multiple regions, ensuring consistent financial standards, robust controls, effective risk management, and high-quality financial reporting throughout the organisation.

The role acts as the critical link between the Finance & Corporate Services Division and the International Programmes Division, providing strategic financial insight and assurance to senior leadership while strengthening financial capability and performance across a complex global operating environment.

The successful candidate will be responsible for delivering consolidated regional financial reporting, identifying and mitigating key financial risks, driving continuous improvement initiatives, and ensuring financial sustainability across Islamic Relief's international operations.

The successful candidate will have:

Qualifications & Experience

• Professionally qualified accountant (ACCA, CIMA, ICAEW, ICMA or equivalent).
• Extensive senior-level financial management experience within an international NGO, charity, humanitarian, or global organisation.
• Proven experience leading regional or global finance functions, including financial governance, risk management, donor compliance, and statutory reporting.
• Significant experience overseeing multi-country financial operations and delivering consolidated financial reporting.
• Strong experience developing and implementing financial controls, assurance frameworks, and compliance processes.
• Demonstrable experience supporting senior leadership teams through high-quality financial analysis and strategic insight.
• Strong knowledge of finance systems, internal controls, and enterprise resource planning (ERP) platforms.

Leadership & People Management

• Proven experience leading geographically dispersed and multicultural finance teams.
• Strong people leadership skills with a track record of coaching, mentoring, and developing finance professionals.
• Experience fostering high-performing, collaborative, and values-led teams.
• Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence and challenge constructively at senior levels.

Skills & Attributes

• Strong financial analysis, reporting, and consolidation capabilities.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate complex financial information clearly to both finance and non-finance stakeholders.
• Strategic thinker with strong commercial awareness and a practical, solutions-focused approach.
• High levels of integrity, professionalism, and commitment to organisational values.
• Resilient and adaptable, with experience operating in complex and changing environments.
• Strong continuous improvement mindset and passion for digital transformation.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships across regions, functions, and cultures.
• Fluent written and spoken English.
• Willingness and ability to undertake regular international travel.

Behaviours & Mindset

• Demonstrates a growth mindset and commitment to continuous learning.
• Uses data, technology, and financial insight to improve organisational performance and decision-making.
• Takes ownership and accountability while proactively identifying risks, opportunities, and solutions.
• Champions innovation, automation, and process improvement.
• Operates with a one-team mentality and supports wider organisational objectives.
• Demonstrates excellent business partnering, influencing, and leadership capability.

Desirable

• Experience using Power BI, Tableau, or other data visualisation tools.
• Experience reviewing complex balance sheet reconciliations, including inter-company transactions and provisions.
• Additional language skills, particularly Arabic or French.
• Experience working in humanitarian, development, or faith-based organisations.
• Experience leading large-scale finance transformation or ERP implementation programmes.

Why Join Islamic Relief?

This is a unique opportunity to shape and strengthen financial operations across one of the world's largest faith-based humanitarian organisations.

You will play a critical role in supporting global programme delivery, strengthening financial governance, driving operational excellence, and ensuring resources are managed effectively to maximise impact for vulnerable communities worldwide.

If you are a strategic finance leader with a passion for international development, organisational improvement, and building high-performing global teams, we would love to hear from you.

For further information, please refer to the full Job Description in the documents tab.