Finance Director

Twycross Zoo | Leicestershire £competitive salary + excellent benefits   Help shape the future of one of the UK's leading conservation charities Twycross Zoo is looking for an exceptional Finance Director to join our Senior Leadership Team at a pivotal stage in our journey.   Reporting directly to the CEO and working closely with the Board of Trustees, this is an opportunity to play a key role in shaping the future direction of a well-established conservation and education charity with ambitious plans for growth, impact and long-term sustainability.   We're looking for a strategic finance leader who combines commercial acumen with sound judgement, who is confident operating at Board level and who enjoys influencing decision-making, challenging constructively and helping organisations succeed.   This is far more than a traditional finance role. It is an opportunity to help shape strategy, guide major decisions and ensure Twycross Zoo remains financially resilient and well positioned to deliver its conservation mission for years to come.   About Twycross Zoo Twycross Zoo is a leading conservation and education charity, committed to protecting endangered species, advancing conservation knowledge and inspiring future generations to take action for wildlife.   For more than 60 years, we have combined exceptional animal welfare, conservation action, education and visitor experiences to create meaningful impact for wildlife and communities.   As a charity, every decision we make is guided by our purpose. At the same time, we operate a significant and diverse commercial business that helps generate the resources required to support our mission.   We are an ambitious Charity with a clear strategic vision, strong values and an exciting future ahead. As both a conservation charity and major visitor attraction, Twycross Zoo offers a unique opportunity to balance commercial thinking with purpose.   Why Join Us? This is an exciting time to join the organisation. Alongside delivering our strategic plan, we are currently developing our £25 million Global Conservation Centre, which will significantly expand our conservation impact and provide new opportunities for collaboration, education and conservation science.   The successful candidate will help ensure the organisation remains financially sustainable, commercially focused and well positioned to maximise its impact.   The Role As Finance Director, you will: Provide strategic leadership across the Charity's finance and technology functions.Act as a trusted advisor to the CEO, Board of Trustees and Senior Leadership Team.Lead the organisation's financial strategy, planning, budgeting and forecasting processes.Support major investment decisions, business planning and long-term organisational sustainability.Provide insight, challenge and commercial perspective to support effective decision-making.Drive financial performance and support the diversification of income streams.Lead financial governance, risk management, statutory reporting and compliance activities.Provide executive oversight of technology, information governance and cyber security through the IT Manager.Lead and develop high-performing Finance and IT teams that deliver excellent service across the organisation.  About You You will be a qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent) with significant senior leadership experience gained within a complex organisation.   You will bring: Experience operating at Executive, Board or Trustee level.Strong strategic, commercial and financial leadership capability.A track record of influencing organisational strategy and supporting major decisions.Excellent business planning, forecasting and financial modelling skills.Experience of governance, risk management and regulatory compliance.Strong relationship-building and stakeholder management skills.The confidence to challenge constructively and support effective decision-making.A collaborative leadership style with a passion for developing people and teams.  Experience within the charity sector would be advantageous but is not essential. We welcome applications from candidates across the commercial, public and not-for-profit sectors who can demonstrate the skills, leadership and values needed to succeed in this role.   Reward Package £competitive salaryPrivate Medical Insurance12 weeks' company sick payPension scheme (8% employer contribution / 3% employee contribution)Life Assurance (4x salary)Salary sacrifice car lease schemeAdditional employee benefits and discounts  Interested? If you're looking for a role where you can shape strategy, work closely with a CEO and Board, and help lead a purpose-driven organisation making a meaningful contribution to wildlife conservation, we'd love to hear from you.   We welcome applications from both experienced Finance Directors and CFOs seeking an opportunity to apply their expertise within an ambitious conservation and education charity.   To apply, please send your CV together with a supporting statement outlining your suitability for the role and salary expectations to human.resources@twycrosszoo.org by 21 August 2026.