Interim Director of Finance

Farm Africa is partnering exclusively with Robertson Bell to recruit an Interim Director of Finance on a minimum 12-month fixed-term contract, with the potential for the appointment to start at, or extend to, 18 months.

This is an opportunity to join an established international development charity at an important point in its development, providing financial leadership and continuity while the organisation prepares for its next four-year strategy.

The successful candidate will balance the effective delivery of day-to-day finance operations with opportunities to strengthen systems, processes and structures. A key early priority will be leading the organisation through its December year-end and annual audit, while supporting a finance team that has recently experienced changes in personnel and responsibilities.

Working closely with the Chief Executive, Board, senior leadership team and colleagues across fundraising and programme delivery, the Interim Director of Finance will provide insightful financial reporting, support sound decision-making and help strengthen Farm Africa's long-term financial sustainability.

The role

• Financial operations and audit: Providing effective oversight of day-to-day finance operations, ensuring robust financial controls and reporting, and leading the December year-end and annual audit process, potentially the first with a new audit partner.
• Board reporting and governance: Supporting the Board and relevant committees with timely, relevant and insightful financial reporting, translating financial information into clear risks, opportunities and recommendations to inform decision-making.
• Financial planning and oversight: Leading budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management and financial planning across the UK organisation and its international operations.
• Finance team leadership: Providing stability, direction and support to a team that has recently experienced some change.
• Strategic development and change: Supporting the development and delivery of Farm Africa's four-year strategy, reviewing finance systems, processes and structures; identifying opportunities to improve efficiency and strengthen the finance function's operating model.
• Income diversification and fundraising: Working closely with fundraising colleagues to assess income opportunities and strengthen financial insight around fundraising activity, with a particular focus on increasing unrestricted funding.
• Programme partnership and operational delivery: Building a strong working relationship with the programme team, particularly the Programme Director, to support effective operational delivery.
• Financial sustainability and risk: Supporting strategic decisions around costs, income, financial resilience and risk, ensuring that financial considerations are embedded in organisational planning and operational decision-making.
• International oversight: Maintaining effective financial reporting, controls and relationships across Farm Africa's international operations.

The organisation

Farm Africa is an international development charity working to build a more prosperous and resilient rural Africa. Established in 1985, the organisation specialises in sustainable agriculture, environmental protection and rural business development, helping farming communities increase their incomes, improve food security and manage natural resources sustainably.

Farm Africa operates across Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, working alongside local communities, governments, businesses and delivery partners. Its work combines practical agricultural expertise with initiatives to improve climate resilience, connect farmers to markets, strengthen rural enterprises and increase access to financial services.

The scale of its work is significant. In 2025, Farm Africa reached 767,155 people through its programmes and employed more than 250 staff, the vast majority based in eastern Africa. Its latest published financial information reports annual income of £18.2 million and expenditure of £15.2 million, including £13.5 million spent implementing programmes in Africa.

The experience you will bring

• A recognised professional accountancy qualification, such as ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA or equivalent, alongside significant senior finance experience.
• Experience working within an international development charity or grant-funded organisation, with an understanding of the financial, operational and governance considerations associated with delivering programmes in this environment.
• A strong track record of overseeing financial operations, statutory reporting, year-end processes, with the ability to maintain robust financial controls and ensure regulatory compliance.
• Previous experience supporting the Board, producing clear, relevant and insightful financial reporting that translates complex information into meaningful risks, opportunities and recommendations.
• Experience leading and developing finance teams, providing stability and direction during periods of change while building capability and effective working relationships.
• The ability to work collaboratively with senior stakeholders across finance, fundraising and operational functions, using financial insight to support decision-making and improve organisational performance.
• Strong financial planning and analytical skills, including budgeting, forecasting, scenario modelling and assessing financial sustainability, income opportunities and value for money.
• Experience of reviewing and improving finance systems, processes, structures or operating models, with a pragmatic approach to balancing immediate operational priorities against longer-term improvements.
• Strong commercial judgement and an understanding of income diversification, with the ability to work alongside fundraising colleagues to assess opportunities and support the development of unrestricted income.
• The interpersonal skills, adaptability and cultural sensitivity required to work across different teams and organisational contexts, communicating financial information clearly to both financial and non-financial audiences.

Experience working across Africa would be particularly advantageous, as would knowledge of restricted and unrestricted funding, institutional donors and the financial complexities of multi-country programme delivery.

Additional Details

The role is based in London, with an expectation of spending approximately two days per week in the office. Travel to East Africa is expected once or twice annually.

CVs will be reviewed on an ongoing basis with interviews expected to take place in the week commencing the 2nd November so, please don't delay your application.

Farm Africa is looking for someone to start as soon as possible, with early December being the latest start date.