Chief Operating Officer

Robertson Bell; London; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading charity is seeking a Chief Operating Officer to drive operational excellence and financial oversight during a pivotal growth phase. This role offers the chance to lead a dynamic team in a mission-driven environment, with responsibilities including strategic planning and governance oversight.

Benefits

Highly flexible working arrangements

Central London office base

Qualifications

• Proven track record in financial leadership and strategic business planning.
• Strong governance experience with familiarity in Board-level reporting.
• Excellent interpersonal skills for coaching and influencing.

Responsibilities

• Drive operational excellence and clarity in financial oversight.
• Lead a digital transformation programme including CRM implementation.
• Oversee governance processes and provide reporting to the Board.

Skills

Financial leadership

Strategic business planning

Governance experience

Interpersonal skills

Analytical skills

Job description

Robertson Bell is excited to be partnering with a purpose-driven, forward-thinking charity at a pivotal moment of growth and transformation, to recruit their next Chief Operating Officer. This is a rare opportunity to step into a high-impact leadership role within a dynamic, values-led organisation delivering real change across London and beyond.

Following a period of strategic refresh and significant internal restructure, the organisation is now firmly in an accelerator phase - focused on embedding a bold new strategy, strengthening internal capability, and enhancing its long-term impact. With a passionate and diverse team, a new central London office space, and a strong executive team in place, the COO will be the final piece in a reimagined leadership puzzle.

This is a critical role designed to free up the CEO to focus externally, while you lead the internal engine of the organisation. You will drive forward operational excellence, bring clarity and rigour to financial oversight, and build the systems that enable scale and sustainability.

Your key priorities will include:

• Embedding and integrating the business plan across the organisation
• Strengthening financial reporting and oversight at both strategic and operational levels
• Leading a digital transformation programme, including CRM system selection and implementation
• Designing and delivering a robust impact measurement framework to inform long-term planning
• Overseeing governance processes and providing high-quality reporting to the Board
• Coaching and mentoring across functions to elevate cross-team capability

We're looking for a confident, detail-driven leader who combines strategic thinking with operational precision. You’ll be a systems-minded professional who enjoys getting under the hood and making things work better. The position will offer highly flexible working arrangements and a central London office base.

Key experience and attributes include:

• Proven track record in financial leadership and strategic business planning
• A systematic and methodical approach, with a love of process and structure
• Strong governance experience and familiarity with Board-level reporting
• Excellent interpersonal skills, able to coach, influence and challenge with credibility
• A mix of quantitative and qualitative analytical skills to support data-driven decision making
• Knowledge of the charity sector is helpful but not essential; broader business acumen is key

This role would suit either a seasoned executive looking for a mission-driven challenge or an ambitious rising leader ready for their next big step. Candidates with private sector experience, or exposure to complex transformation programmes are warmly welcomed.

Please apply now to arrange a confidential discussion!