Director of Finance and Operations

Director of Finance and Operations
Up to £80,000 + excellent benefits

Leatherhead, Surrey

About the role:

We are looking to appoint a Director of Finance and Operations. This role is a key member of the Rainbow Trust Senior Leadership Team (SLT) playing a vital part in the development and implementation of the organisation's strategy.

Working closely with the Chief Executive and the Board of Trustees to advise on governance, regulatory responsibilities and financial planning for the charity as well as ensuring the smooth operations, logistics and infrastructure.

The role provides the essential financial stability and operations to enable future growth through leadership and management of finance, maintaining and developing facilities, equipment and IT infrastructure, and ensuring effective governance and regulatory compliance.

The Director of Finance & Operations will demonstrate the defined Leadership Qualities to ensure the team meets their functional targets whilst adhering to the Rainbow Trust Values.

What we're looking for:

• A confident, independent approach to achieving goals with an emphasis on meeting deadlines and quality - you are comfortable with a broad remit and rapid shifts in priorities; you initiate practical solutions to ensure compliance with statutory accounting and registration requirements.
• A commercial director, educated to degree level (and a fully qualified member of one of the six bodies of the CCAB) - you have significant demonstrable experience in a commercial organisation and/or a charity at senior management level.
• A stimulating influencer - you will thrive setting quality standards and achieving success through your firm, direct and self-assured leadership style.
• A strategic, big picture thinker who works with a sense of urgency - you effectively weigh risk against benefit to make calculated decisions; and taking the initiative, you have the strategic understanding to implement IT and operational projects.
• Comfortable with pressure and challenge - your ability to present and explain complex financial and other management information adapting to your audience, will ensure that Trustees and staff are kept up to date on financial activity and are aware of any relevant issues.

Why join us?

We're proud to be a One-Star Best Companies Top 50 mid-sized organisation and a Top 10 Charity, and we're committed to creating a great place to work. You will benefit from:

• Pension scheme where we contribute 5% of your salary and you contribute at least 3%.
• A life assurance scheme for all employees which provides a death in service benefit of three times' basic pay.
• Flexible working hours to balance home and working life.
• 25 days of annual leave plus public holidays - rising to 26 days after 1 year, 27 days after 5 years and 30 days after 11 years, with an additional 5 days to use in your 10th or 20th year of service (pro rata for part time).
• The option to buy/sell annual leave, as well as additional leave for your birthday, wedding/civil ceremony and an extra half day off for Christmas shopping.
• Time off in Lieu.
• Employee Assistance Programme with access to remote GP, counselling, physiotherapy, resources to support your mental health and financial wellbeing, as well as a 24/7 helpline via
• Family friendly policies, focused on employee wellbeing, and an active cross-organisational wellbeing group running a number of initiatives throughout the year.
• Access to the Blue Light Card Scheme, and other rewards and discounts.
• Bike to work, season ticket loan and payroll giving schemes.
• A recommend a friend recruitment bonus scheme.
• Robust training and development programmes to support your learning and growth.

If you'd like to find out more about these benefits and working with us, please visit our website

More information about us and our recruitment process can be found on our website.

About us:

Rainbow Trust Children's Charity enables families who have a child with a life-threatening or terminal illness to make the most of time together, providing expert, practical and emotional support, where they need it for as long as it is needed. For families living with childhood illness, time is everything. Right now, there are too many families coping alone with no support, no time to think, no time to make memories and no time for each other. We believe that no family should go through this alone, so we are here to change that.

Apply now:

To apply please send your CV and Covering letter to us via the link.

Closing date: 20 November 2026

Interview dates: Interview dates to be confirmed

Your covering letter should highlight why your application should be considered above others and clearly state how your experience matches the essential criteria outlined in the Person Specification.

For a full job description and person specification visit our website.

Please disclose in your covering letter if you have used AI for any part of your job application.

Early application is encouraged as we will review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert early.

Interviews will take place at our Head Office in Leatherhead. We will only contact those applicants who have been successful. If you require any adjustments during the interview process, please let us know.

An enhanced DBS disclosure will be required for this post.

Rainbow Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all employees to share this commitment.

Rainbow Trust is an equal opportunities employer, and we welcome applications from all backgrounds.