Head of Finance

Lead the financial future of a charity changing lives through bereavement support.

Location: Remote, UK-based with c.2 p.a. in-person meetings

Applications close: 9 a.m. Friday 4th September 2026

Cruse is the UK’s leading bereavement charity, supporting people through one of the most difficult experiences of their lives. For over 65 years, Cruse has provided compassionate, expert and accessible support to individuals, families and communities affected by grief.

Operating across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, Cruse delivers a range of services including bereavement counselling, national helplines, digital support and training. The organisation is deeply values-led, with kindness, inclusivity and compassion at the heart of everything it does, alongside a growing commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.

Following a period of significant organisational change, Cruse now has a new strategy, a refreshed senior leadership team and a clear ambition to strengthen its long-term financial sustainability through the growth of unrestricted, commercial income.

This is an exciting opportunity for a finance leader who wants to combine professional expertise with genuine social purpose, helping ensure every pound entrusted to Cruse delivers meaningful benefit for those who need support most.

This is a broad and influential role that sits at the heart of decision-making. You will lead financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, reporting and risk management, providing clear insight and expert advice to senior leaders and trustees. You will oversee the day-to-day finance function, ensuring robust controls, effective governance and compliance with all relevant regulatory and charity accounting requirements.

Working across the organisation, you will act as a trusted business partner, helping colleagues make informed decisions, maximise resources and deliver the greatest possible impact for bereaved people. You will also lead and develop a small finance team, champion continuous improvement and strengthen systems and processes that support growth.

We are looking for an experienced and values-driven finance leader who combines strong technical expertise with a genuine passion for making a difference. As a qualified accountant, you will have a successful track record of operating at senior finance level, ideally within the charity, not-for-profit or wider purpose-led sector. You will be equally comfortable contributing to strategic discussions and delivering operational excellence.

You will bring extensive experience of end-to-end ownership of financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, financial modelling, management reporting, audit and statutory accounts preparation. A strong understanding of charity accounting, governance and compliance is important, including knowledge of Charity SORP, VAT, Gift Aid, payroll and pension requirements. Experience of managing risk, scenario planning and supporting organisational sustainability will also be highly valued.

Beyond technical capability, you will be a collaborative and commercially aware leader who can translate complex financial information into clear, practical insights. You will have the confidence to influence decision-making, provide constructive challenge and build trusted relationships with colleagues, senior leaders, trustees, auditors, funders and external partners.

We are particularly interested in candidates who lead with authenticity, emotional intelligence and empathy. You will enjoy developing people, creating a positive and supportive team culture and working across an organisation to improve understanding and ownership of financial performance.

Most importantly, you will share Cruse’s commitment to kindness, inclusion, ambition and authenticity. You will be motivated by the opportunity to use your financial expertise to support a mission that changes lives, ensuring the charity remains financially strong and able to support grieving people now and in the future.

Applications for this role close at 9 a.m. Friday 4th September 2026.