Job Description

Head of Financial Planning and Reporting
Reference: AUG20258361
Location: Flexible in UK + Monthly visits to UK HQ in Sandy SG19 + Travel
Salary: £70,490.00 - £80,025.00 Per Annum
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full-Time, 37.5 hours per week
Benefits: Pension Scheme, Life Assurance Scheme, 26 days' Annual Leave

Are you ready to lead financial strategy at scale and influence decisions at the highest level at one of the UK's most respected conservation charities? Then this could be your next role.

We are seeking a Head of Financial Planning and Reporting to lead our budgeting and forecasting processes, deliver insightful financial analysis, and support strategic decision-making across the RSPB.

About the Role

You will be accountable for a core functional specialism covering the main RSPB charity, its subsidiary companies, and connected entities. This high-impact role is responsible for leading the development, coordination, and review of the annual budget cycle - providing detailed, insightful financial analysis that supports the delivery of the RSPB’s strategic objectives.

With income and expenditure of around £200m annually, and a three-year budget cycle covering financial performance in excess of £1.5bn, you will bring proven expertise in managing large datasets and complex financial information.

You will also lead the Financial Planning and Reporting team, overseeing the planning, reporting, delivery of budgets, forecasts, and decision-support to the organisation. This includes engagement with stakeholders at all levels, up to and including Council members.

This role is home based with the requirement to regularly travel to our UKHQ in Sandy, Bedfordshire (expected to be once per month) plus occasional travel to other locations as required (overnight stays may be necessary).

What we need from you:

Essential Skills:

• Outstanding analytical skills to understand complex financial performance, see the underlying major issues and strong communication skills to convey this in a simple and powerful way.
• Proven leadership and people management skills, able to develop team members for high performance and build a positive culture. Ability to communicate professionally with all levels of staff and Trustees.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to present, influence and represent the functional specialism and organisation.
• Collaboration skills to build relationships, navigate politics and manage conflicts
• Business management skills to understand strategy, business functions and decision-making
• Ability to evaluate incomplete, complex and large volumes of financial information, to develop and consider a range of options and make a recommended course of action.
• Ability to convey appropriate financial messages to various audiences.
• Proven ability to influence others, build partnerships and negotiate at a senior level
• Proven ability to translate strategy into action, developing programmes, prioritising and leading change.
• Highly competent user of Microsoft office in particular Excel.

Desirable Skills:

• Knowledge of the charity sector and the frameworks that as a charity we are expected to work within.

In return, we offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits package:

• 34 days annual leave (including Bank Holidays)
• Employee Assistance Programme - free, confidential support available to all RSPB employees and their families
• Volunteer Day - one day of paid leave each year to volunteer for a charity of your choice
• Life Assurance - lump sum payment of five times your pensionable salary
• Pension Scheme - employer contributions matched up to 7%
• Sabbatical Leave - opportunity to apply for a sabbatical after five years of service

Closing date: 23:59, Sunday 31st August 2025

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from 8th September 2025.

We will be reviewing applications as they come in and shortlisting so you may hear from us before the vacancy has closed.

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

This role will require completion of the standard pre-employment checks.

We are committed to developing an inclusive and diverse RSPB, in which everyone feels supported, valued, and able to be their full selves. To achieve our vision of creating a world richer in nature, we need more people, and more diverse people, on nature’s side. People of and disabled people are currently underrepresented across the environment, climate, sustainability, and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of and/or disabled, we are particularly interested in receiving your application.

The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

The RSPB is a licenced sponsor. This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship - the successful applicant will need to have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment contract.

As part of this application you will be asked to provide a copy of your CV and complete a short form with cover letter. Please use the cover letter section to explain how you meet the criteria set above. Contact us to discuss any additional support you may need to complete your application.

No agencies please.