Location
Home-based, anywhere in mainland UK with some travel and occasional overnight stays mainly in England and Wales.

Hours
Full Time, permanent position with flexible working hours including the option of a 9 day fortnight and time off in lieu.

Salary
Circa £75,000 per annum plus benefits including 9% employer pension contribution.

About the Role
The Rivers Trust is a leading environmental charity and umbrella body for over 60 independent local charities, dedicated to wild, healthy, natural rivers valued by all. As we expand to deliver vital projects protecting and replenishing the natural environment, we seek a Finance Director to join our senior leadership team of nearly 100 staff. Reporting to the CEO and working alongside the Operations Director, the Finance Director will manage the finances and governance of The Rivers Trust and its three associated trading subsidiaries, with a collective annual income approaching £10 million.
The role is varied and wide-ranging, including presenting financial information to Trustees and senior management quarterly, reviewing monthly management accounts, leading annual budgeting, appraising project concepts and contracts, statutory compliance, and liaising with auditors. You will lead a remote finance team of eight and serve as Company Secretary for the Charity and its subsidiaries.
This senior leadership role requires a well-qualified and experienced individual to start as soon as possible to enable a smooth handover from the current postholder retiring at the end of 2025. You will be a strategic thinker, commercially astute, and an exceptional accountant with strong leadership skills, able to represent the best interests of the Charity and Companies robustly.
The Rivers Trust offers a welcoming and passionate working environment, with a commitment to inclusivity, flexibility, and professional development.

Experience
- Significant financial management and senior leadership experience across diverse organisations.
- Proven people leadership with a track record of managing, developing, and inspiring teams.
- Experience reporting to boards of trustees or directors and contributing as a trusted adviser.
- Strong IT skills including Microsoft 365 (Excel, Word, Outlook, Teams) and Sage financial software.
- Experience managing relationships with auditors, funders, banks, and other external stakeholders.
- Ability to provide commercial input to project bids and programme delivery.
- Desirable: experience in the charitable sector, Company Secretary role, environmental sector knowledge, familiarity with Sharepoint, Slack, Partial Exemption VAT rules, and basic understanding of Irish tax and payroll.

About you
- Strategic thinker with the ability to balance big-picture vision and attention to detail.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and creative skills with openness to innovation.
- Excellent interpersonal skills to influence, collaborate, and provide constructive challenge.
- Confident communicator able to distil complex information for diverse audiences.
- Courageous decision-maker, resilient and calm under pressure.
- Impeccable integrity and ethics, acting as a role model for organisational values.
- Committed to fostering a supportive, inclusive, and collaborative culture.

Qualifications
- Qualified Accountant, preferably ICAEW or ACCA.