Finance Director

International Transport Workers Federation

About the Organisation

International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) is a democratic, affiliate-led federation recognised as the world’s leading transport authority. We fight passionately to improve workers' lives, connecting more than 700 affiliated trade unions from 150 countries to secure workers' rights, equality and justice globally. We are the voice for nearly 18.5 million transport workers worldwide. We have offices in London, Abidjan, Amman, Brussels, Geneva, Hong Kong, Montreal, Nairobi, New Delhi, Panama City, Rio de Janeiro, Singapore, Sydney, and Tokyo, with members spanning the globe.

About the role

Are you an accomplished finance leader looking to shape the future of a global organisation? The International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) represents nearly 20 million transport workers through more than 700 affiliated trade unions in over 150 countries. Working across every transport sector, we campaign for better rights, safer workplaces and fairer conditions for transport workers worldwide.

We are seeking an exceptional Finance Director to provide strategic financial leadership for one of the world's leading international trade union federations. Working closely with the General Secretary, Executive Board and elected officials, and reporting to the Director of Operations, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring the ITF remains financially sustainable, resilient and well-governed. This is an opportunity to shape the financial strategy of a complex international organisation, lead an experienced finance function and provide trusted advice that influences decisions across the organisation.

As Finance Director, you will lead the ITF's global finance function and oversee the financial stewardship of the ITF Group and its parent organisation, subsidiaries and branches. Working across a complex international organisation, you will ensure the organisation's financial sustainability while providing strategic leadership across financial planning, governance, investments, compliance and organisational performance.

You will help translate organisational priorities into long-term sustainable financial strategies, providing high-quality financial insight that supports effective decision-making by the General Secretary, Executive Board, Congress and senior leadership. Alongside leading an experienced finance team, you will drive continuous improvement across financial systems, reporting and controls, ensuring the organisation remains agile, compliant and well positioned to support its membership.

Stewardship of the finances of ITF Group, ensuring compliance with financial standards, tax reporting and applicable regulatory legislation. Strategic overview of the treasury management function, providing guidance on ITF investment portfolio, fixed assets and reserves. The role contributes fully to the development of the ITF’s strategy across all areas of the organisation, challenging financial assumptions and decision-making as appropriate and providing financial analysis and guidance on all activities, plans, targets and organisational drivers. Lead the development and implementation of a modern, integrated and digitally enabled global finance system, making considered use of automation, data and emerging technologies to strengthen financial insight, efficiency, controls and decision-making.

Responsibilities

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead the design, implementation and continuous improvement of a modern, integrated and digitally enabled global finance system that supports consistent processes and reporting across the ITF, organisational performance, decision-making and future growth
• Develop financial strategies that support organisational priorities, future growth, long-term financial sustainability and organisational resilience
• Lead treasury management, including oversight of the ITF’s investment portfolio, reserves and fixed assets
• Ensure financial accountability and compliance across all ITF regional offices
• Coordinate the development of global financial policies, standards and guidelines
• Ensure internal financial controls are established and adhered to together with a financial reporting system to deliver financial governance
• Drive the appropriate use of automation, data analytics and emerging technologies across finance, ensuring that solutions are secure, well governed and proportionate, and improve the quality, timeliness and accessibility of financial information
• Oversee statutory financial reporting, UK tax and regulatory compliance, and relationships with external auditors, ITF lay auditors and other independent auditors
• Provide strategic advice and reports to the ITF General Secretary, Senior Leadership
• Team, chairs, elected officials, stakeholders and affiliates on emerging trends, changes in financial climates, regulatory developments and strategies.
• Provide reports and proposals to Congress, the Executive Board and other governing bodies, as required
• Provide strategic financial analysis to support major organisational initiatives, investment decisions and long-term planning
• Lead and develop a high-performing international finance function, creating a culture of collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement, and coordinate financial responsibility across the regional offices
• Work collaboratively across the organisation to identify opportunities to improve financial effectiveness, efficiency and value for money
• Any duties as directed by the General Secretary to meet the needs of the organisation, including redeployment to a section or department in your employment location on a time-limited basis or in a genuine emergency only, subject to an organisational policy on redeployment

Skills, Competencies, Experience & Attributes

Financial Governance:

• Substantial experience of board governance, audit, treasury, investment and risk management.
• Substantial experience of financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, reporting and financial control.
• Experience of ensuring compliance with UK financial, tax and regulatory requirements within a UK-regulated organisation.

Strategic Experience:

• Experience leading finance within a complex organisation.
• Experience of developing financial strategy that supports organisational growth and long-term sustainability.
• Experience in achieving successful organisational change.

Leadership & Management:

• Strong experience in managing teams.
• Experience of motivating and managing people, demonstrating an appropriate balance between empowerment, being supportive and assertive to drive a high achievement culture.

Digital & Systems:

• Strong digital capability and a successful track record of leading finance systems transformation, including implementing integrated systems and using technology to improve processes, reporting, controls and insight.

Communication Skills:

• Excellent communication skills, including fluency in English, strong presenting, advocacy, debating and report-writing skills.

Other Requirements:

• Willingness to travel internationally and work flexibly.

Desirable Criteria:

• Experience leading finance in an organisation with international operations and multiple jurisdictions.
• Experience working with donors and their requirements.
• Experience working within an international not-for-profit, membership, and trade union environment.

Required Qualifications

• A professional accounting qualification and membership of a UK or internationally recognised accounting body (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or international equivalent), with significant post-qualification experience in senior finance leadership roles

Compensation & Benefits

• Annual Leave with yearly increment up to 30 days
• Annual Bonus
• Pension Contributions
• Learning and Development Opportunities

Working locations

• Hybrid model, working in the London office and remotely

How to apply

• Apply to our website

Policies

At the ITF, our values are at the heart of all that we do. We demonstrate solidarity. We are democratic. We are dynamic. We are determined. We are dedicated to bringing together a diverse group of people to truly strengthen the ITF as the global voice for transport workers. At the ITF, we are committed to providing an inclusive environment for our team and our affiliates.

We see the diversity of our staff as a source of intelligence and our strength. This means that we work creatively to make the most of the unique experiences and perspectives. We are an equal opportunity employer. We welcome all applications regardless of gender, marital status, sexual orientation, pregnancy, race, migration status, colour, ethnic origin, nationality, religion or beliefs, disability, age, political opinions or trade union affiliation or activity.

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