Financial Controller Projects & Grants

Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW) is a faith-based humanitarian relief and development organisation working to save and transform the lives of some of the worlds most vulnerable people. Established in 1984 with an active presence in over 45 countries we strive to make the world a better and fairer place for those affected by poverty conflict and natural disasters.

We are currently recruiting for a Financial Controller - Projects & Grants to join our Finance & Corporate Services Division based in Birmingham.

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 the organisations global operations.

About the Role

This is a senior finance leadership position responsible for providing strategic financial oversight control and governance across Islamic Reliefs global projects and grants portfolio.

The successful candidate will lead the organisations project and grant financial management framework ensuring robust financial controls donor compliance accurate reporting audit readiness and effective risk management across a complex international portfolio.

Reporting to the Head of Finance you will manage a specialist team responsible for project and grant finances acting as a key business partner to the International Programmes Department (IPD) regional teams country offices and senior leadership.

You will play a pivotal role in ensuring that financial operations support programme delivery while maintaining the highest standards of accountability transparency and compliance.

The role also requires regular collaboration with global stakeholders and occasional domestic and international travel to provide financial oversight capacity building and support to regional and country teams.

The successful candidate will have:

• A professional accounting qualification (ACA ACCA CIMA ICAEW ICMA CMA or equivalent).

• Significant senior-level finance leadership experience within a complex organisation.

• Proven experience preparing and completing statutory financial statements in accordance with UK GAAP Charity SORP and relevant statutory frameworks.

• Extensive experience managing project and grant finances ideally within the charity humanitarian or international development sector.

• Strong understanding of restricted and unrestricted funds donor compliance requirements reserves management and Charity Commission regulations.

• Experience leading budgeting forecasting financial modelling and scenario planning activities.

• Strong knowledge of institutional donor requirements including FCDO DEC and other donor frameworks.

• Experience managing financial risk implementing financial controls and supporting organisational governance.

• Proven experience managing external audits and ensuring audit readiness.

• Advanced Excel skills and experience using financial management and ERP systems.

• Demonstrable leadership experience managing and developing high-performing finance teams.

• Excellent stakeholder management communication and influencing skills.

• Experience delivering training and building financial capability across organisations.

• Strong presentation skills with the confidence to communicate complex financial information to senior leadership and non-finance audiences.

• A proactive solution-focused approach with strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.

• Willingness and ability to undertake regular domestic and international travel.

Desirable

• Experience working within an international NGO or humanitarian organisation.

• Knowledge of Islamic finance principles and ethical investment considerations.

• Experience operating in insecure or complex environments.

• Experience supporting ERP implementation and digital transformation projects.

• Additional language skills particularly Arabic or French.

Why Join Islamic Relief

This is a unique opportunity to play a key leadership role within one of the worlds largest faith-based humanitarian organisations. You will have the opportunity to influence strategic decision-making strengthen financial governance across a global portfolio and directly support programmes that improve the lives of vulnerable communities worldwide.

If you are an experienced finance leader with a passion for excellence accountability and humanitarian impact we would love to hear from you.

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

PLEASE NOTE: The vacancy closes at 23:59 on the deadline date.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore if you are interested pleasesubmityour application as early as possible!

Pre-employment Checks:

Any employment with Islamic Relief will be subject to the following checks:

• screening clearance

• Criminal records check

• proof of eligibility to live and work within the UK

• receipt of satisfactory references

Please note for UK-based roles we are only able to accept applications from candidates who are eligible to work in the UK. We are unable to progress applications which would require sponsorship.

Our values and commitment to safeguarding

IRW is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment exploitation and abuse lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and committed to promoting the welfare of children young people adults and beneficiaries with whom IRW engages. IRW expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.

The post holder will undertake the appropriate level of training and is responsible for ensuring that they understand and work within the safeguarding policies of the organisation.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks which can include criminal records checks. IRW also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.

In line with this Scheme we will request information from job applicants previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment.

By submitting an application the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Islamic Relief is an equal opportunities employer

Islamic Relief is a faith-inspired humanitarian aid and development agency working to save and transform the lives of some of the worlds most vulnerable people. We work in over 45 countries assist people of all faiths and none according to need and do not discriminate in any way. Our proximity means we can often respond swiftly to emergencies and work in areas that other organisations cannot access.

We are the only UK-based Muslim faith-inspired charity to have been certified against the Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability (CHS) which is designed to ensure that charities best meet the needs of the communities they serve.

Islamic Relief is a member of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) we have Consultative Status with the UN Economic and Social Council and we are a signatory to the Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.