Join our team

Head of Finance and Risk

Salary: £55,000-65,000

Applications will close on Monday 14 September 9 am

UKCISA is looking for its Head of Finance and Risk as we continue on our exciting journey to long term financial sustainability. As a member of our Senior Leadership Team you will work with a financially astute CEO who together with our team and Trustees is leading the development of our next strategy. That strategy will position us to succeed as a trading entity, earning our revenue from the 400 member organisations from Higher and Further Education, schools and student unions. These organisations value our advocacy to government and our specialist advice, training, conferences and celebrations of international students and their role in supporting them.

As the UK’s national advisory body for international students and the professionals who work with them, our purpose is clear: to ensure that every international student has the best possible experience while studying in the UK. This mission is more important than ever. International students currently studying across the UK make an invaluable contribution to our campuses, communities, and society. At the same time, the environment in which they live, and study has become increasingly complex, shaped by shifting government policy, economic pressures, and evolving student expectations.

As our Head of Finance and Risk key areas of responsibility are:

• Playing a leadership and business partner role with colleagues and Trustees
• Working closely with the CEO to deliver on our financial strategy
• Delivering the operational financial activities for UKCISA and leading a small finance team to achieve successful audit outcomes
• Leading on areas of governance including finance, risk, audit, acting as the secretariat for the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee
• Managing the organisation’s risk management processes and register

To be successful in this role you need:

• A recognised accounting qualification (min Level 4 Diploma in Professional Accounting AAT or equivalent) or chartered accountant status
• 3- 5 years finance experience in the charity sector producing year end/statutory accounts in accordance with the Charities SORP
• Experience in reporting to and advising Boards and/or committees
• Experience in developing finance strategies to drive financial sustainability
• To be interested in and developing a commitment to UKCISA’s vision and mission
• To be able to demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work as a business partner and advisor with team members and trustees
• To be able to demonstrate excellent leadership skills to achieve strategic and operational goals
• To be able to demonstrate excellent analytical and audit skills to lead on risk and business continuity planning
• To be able to demonstrate high levels of personal and professional integrity

If you don’t have all the experience we are seeking but believe you can still excel in the job, do please consider applying once you have read the full information pack.

What’s in it for you:

• Working for a passionate team who have an exceptional reputation for advocacy, advice and guidance to the international student sector
• Having access to benefits such as professional development funds and leave, an EAP program, USS pension and hybrid flexible working with only a requirement to attend monthly in person all day staff meetings in central London
• An opportunity to use your finance and risk expertise to support UKCISA’s vision that every international student who comes to the UK has a positive experience and is able to tell friends and families that the UK is a welcoming place to study, and live.

To apply for this role download our full information pack, including job description and essential criteria. Note CVs alone will not be accepted, you will need to respond to our three questions in order to be considered.

Download the information pack

Applications will close on Monday 14 September 9 am

In-person interviews will take place at our office in central London on 24 September 2026