Smallwood Trust
Salary: £75,000 to £85,000 FTE
Location: Home-based, with team meetings approximately every five to six weeks, usually in Birmingham, and travel to London. Smallwood Trust’s office is in Malvern.
Closing Date: 6 December, 2026 (midnight)
Smallwood Trust is an independent grant-maker with a vision of a country where no woman lives in poverty. Its mission is to enable women to be financially resilient, supporting women facing immediate financial hardship while also working to address the systems and policies that contribute to gendered poverty.
This is an exciting time to join. In 2027, Smallwood will launch a new ten-year strategy, focused on strengthening frontline services, expanding its place-based approach and increasing learning and influence. Over the past decade, annual grant-making has grown from around £600,000 to around £5 million budgeted in 2027.
The new CFO will work closely with the Chief Executive, Board and senior leadership team to lead finance, investments, governance and internal operations, ensuring Smallwood has the financial strategy and infrastructure to deliver its ambitions sustainably.
This is a broad and influential role, combining strategic leadership with hands-on responsibility. You will lead long-term financial planning, forecasting and scenario modelling; oversee financial controls, reporting and audit; and manage relationships with investment managers, scrutinising performance, risk and fees.
We are looking for a qualified accountant, with senior financial leadership experience and significant experience or exposure to investments, endowments or substantial financial assets. You will be confident advising Boards and non-financial colleagues, providing constructive challenge and operating across both strategic and practical priorities.
Above all, you will bring integrity, collaborative leadership and a genuine commitment to improving women’s economic circumstances and advancing women’s economic justice.
To learn more about the role, please download the full appointment brief. To learn more and apply, please upload your application via the Apply Now button below.
For an informal and confidential conversation, please contact Lottie Wihl, Partner: lottie@peoplebeyondprofit.co.uk
People Beyond Profit interviews : w/c 14 December 2026
Smallwood Trust interviews: 7 & 8 January 2027