Director of Finance

Location: Fully remote – UK and eligible countries in the Global South
Employment type: Full-time, two-year fixed-term contract, with expectation of extension
Salary: Location-based; examples below
Final date to receive applications: Thursday, 5 November 2026

Are you an experienced finance leader with a strong background in financial strategy, grant management, donor compliance and organisational governance? Global Schools Forum (GSF) is seeking a strategic, analytical and collaborative Director of Finance to join its Senior Management Team and help guide the organisation through its next phase of growth.

This is a senior leadership opportunity for a finance professional who wants to use their expertise to strengthen an international organisation working to improve education outcomes for disadvantaged children in low- and middle-income countries.

Global Schools Forum is a collaborative community of non-state organisations working to improve access to quality education for disadvantaged children in low- and middle-income countries.

Established in 2017, GSF has grown to more than 230 community members across over 70 countries, including India, Uganda and Brazil. Together, its members run or support more than 1.5 million schools and centres, providing education to well over 160 million children.

GSF works through four strategic areas: accelerating knowledge and sharing evidence, catalysing funding for education initiatives, building partnerships across the education sector, and convening a global community that encourages collaboration and learning.

Its 2025–2028 strategy focuses on strengthening early years education, foundational learning, secondary education and the use of technology to improve educational outcomes.

GSF is a small, fully remote global organisation with colleagues based in the UK, Africa and Asia. Its work is guided by collaboration, intentional inclusivity, continuous improvement, honesty and transparency.

The Director of Finance will provide strategic financial leadership and oversee the systems, processes and controls that enable GSF to operate effectively and sustainably as it expands.

Reporting directly to the CEO, the successful candidate will serve as a trusted adviser to the CEO and Board, contribute to organisation-wide decision‑making, and work closely with programme teams to ensure that financial and operational systems support the delivery of GSF’s mission.

The role combines financial strategy, grant finance and compliance, organisational risk management, governance and technology oversight. The successful candidate will also lead the Finance Manager and Grants and Compliance Associate, ensuring the organisation has the appropriate expertise and systems to manage its growing portfolio.

1. Financial Leadership – 60%

• Lead the organisation’s financial strategy and long‑term financial planning in collaboration with the CEO and Board.
• Oversee annual budgets, financial forecasts and multi‑year financial plans.
• Ensure robust financial controls, risk management and compliance with statutory and charity reporting requirements.
• Review and improve finance policies and procedures to ensure they remain effective, proportionate and appropriate as GSF grows.
• Manage cash flow and develop the reserves strategy in accordance with Board‑approved mandates.
• Supervise the finance function, including line management of the Finance Manager and Grants and Compliance Associate.
• Ensure accurate and timely financial reporting to the Board, Senior Management Team, funders and auditors.
• Lead annual audits and ensure compliance with applicable charity accounting standards.
• Provide financial analysis, modelling and practical…