Provide strategic leadership for one of the South East’s leading disability charities
Aspens is a specialist charity supporting people on the autism spectrum and with learning disabilities, and their families, across the South East. Supporting more than 2,100 people through a broad range of services, Aspens combines strong social purpose with the complexity and scale of a significant regional organisation.
Following a period of organisational development and investment in leadership capacity, we are now seeking a Chief Financial Officer to join the Inclusive Leadership Board.
This is a genuine executive leadership opportunity. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive, the CFO will play a central role in shaping organisational strategy, supporting sustainable growth and ensuring the charity remains financially resilient in an increasingly complex operating environment.
The Role
The CFO will lead the finance function while also holding responsibility for IT, estates, facilities, and health & safety. Working closely with the CEO, COO and Board, you will help ensure that Aspens has the financial insight, governance and strategic thinking required to support both current operations and future ambitions.
You will oversee financial planning, budgeting, forecasting and performance reporting, ensuring that decision-making is supported by robust analysis and clear commercial thinking. A key focus will be continuing to strengthen financial sustainability, helping the organisation balance investment in services with long-term resilience.
You will lead with integrity, champion inclusivity in decision-making and empower colleagues through collaborative financial leadership.
You will steer Aspens against the backdrop of significant funding and compliance pressures requiring engagement with local authorities and other public bodies.
The role will also lead a programme of modernisation and improvement, including the implementation of a new finance system and the continued development of management information, reporting and organisational insight.
Alongside finance, you will provide strategic oversight of a diverse property and infrastructure portfolio that supports service delivery across multiple locations and communities.
Why This Role Will Appeal
This is a senior leadership role with significant scope and influence.
The successful candidate will join an ambitious organisation with a clear sense of purpose, a strong leadership team and a committed Board. The breadth of the role provides the opportunity to influence strategy across multiple areas of the business while directly supporting the delivery of life-changing services.
The role offers:
- Executive-level influence across the whole organisation
- Responsibility for finance, estates, facilities and IT
- The chance to enable people with autism and learning disabilities to live more independent, fulfilling lives (linking it with our purpose at every level)
- The opportunity to lead transformation and systems improvement
- Exposure to strategic growth and organisational development
- The chance to work closely with an engaged Board and Inclusive Leadership Board
About You
You will be an experienced finance leader with the credibility to operate at Inclusive Leadership Board and Board level.
You are likely to bring:
- A recognised accountancy qualification
- Significant leadership experience within a complex organisation
- Strong financial, commercial and strategic planning skills
- Experience of driving organisational improvement and change
- The ability to influence and build relationships across a wide range of stakeholders
- Strong governance, risk management and financial control expertise
- A collaborative leadership style and commitment to developing high-performing teams
Experience within health, social care, charities or commissioned services would be advantageous, although we welcome applications from candidates who can demonstrate transferable experience from similarly complex environments.
To find out more, visit the microsite at https://join.aspens.org.uk/ or, for a confidential conversation, please contact David Needham (07442 783934) or Anita Denton (07725554802) at Tile Hill.
Closing date for applications: Midnight on Sunday 23rd August
