Financial Controller

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, 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. 

IRW’s Finance & Corporate Services Division is recruiting for the position of ‘Financial Controller’ to join its dynamic team based out of its offices in Birmingham, UK.

The Finance Controller (FC) plays a critical role in ensuring financial integrity, compliance, and efficiency across the organization’s global operations. This role requires a hands-on approach and a strong troubleshooting mindset to resolve financial challenges, drive improvements, and strengthen financial processes.

As a key finance leader, the FC must possess excellent people skills to effectively engage with stakeholders across diverse countries and cultures. The role will lead by example, mentor finance teams, and ensure that financial reporting and controls meet the highest standards.

The successful candidate must have:

• Professional accounting qualification (e.g., ACCA, CIMA, ACA, ICAEW, ICMA, CMA or equivalent).
• Proven experience in leading the preparation and completion of statutory financial statements, including full supporting notes, in compliance with UK GAAP / Charity SORP and relevant statutory framework.
• Strong experience in financial reporting and control for projects and grants, ideally gained in the NGO/charity sector or similar complex environments, with a strong understanding of Charity Commission requirements, Charity SORP, restricted and unrestricted funds, and reserves management.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex financial data and provide actionable insights.
• Experience in financial modelling, forecasting, budgeting, and scenario analysis.
• In-depth knowledge of UK Charity SORP, IFRS, and institutional donor regulations (e.g., FCDO, DEC).
• Proven ability to identify, assess, and mitigate financial risk.
• Extensive experience in leading and managing finance departments at a senior level, including experience in contributing to organisational change and managing change processes.
• Strong experience preparing for and managing external audits related to grants and projects.
• Advanced Excel and financial system skills, and working experience with ERP systems 
• Proven experience in supporting the implementation and rollout of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, including contributing to design, testing, adoption, and process improvement
• High computer literacy and adaptability to new systems
• Proven leadership, management, and development experience in a multi-disciplinary finance team.
• Strong relationship-building, influencing, and collaboration skills across teams, senior stakeholders, and donors.
• Excellent communication skills to convey financial concepts to non-financial stakeholders and facilitate discussions.
• Experience delivering training and building financial capacity within a team or organisation.
• Strong presentation skills, with the ability to prepare high-quality financial presentations and confidently present complex financial information to diverse audiences, including non-finance stakeholders.

For more information, please click on the Documents tab above to view the full Job Description.

If you are talented, reliable, service-minded, resilient and a highly motivated professional looking for a meaningful career, with a strong commitment to IRW’s mission and values of sincerity, excellence, compassion, social justice and custodianship, please apply by completing our online application form.

For more information on the excellent company benefits we offer our employees, please visit: 

https://www.islamic-relief.org/work-with-us/what-we-offer/

PLEASE NOTE: Interviews are expected to take place on an ongoing basis until a suitable appointment is made. We therefore may close the advert sooner than the advertised date.

Pre-employment Checks:

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

• screening clearance
• 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