23 April 2026

Benefits to you:

  • Health Cash Plan (Including Medical/Dental/Online retail discounts)
  • Employer pension contribution
  • 25 days holiday FTE, increasing with length of service up to a maximum of 30 days
  • Option to purchase additional annual leave (up to 10 days per annum)
  • Celebration Leave
  • Life Insurance
  • Employee Assistance Program with Health Assured
  • Refer a friend scheme
  • 50% discount on nursery fees
  • Day camps discounts: 1 week free and 1 week at 50% per child per annum
  • Campsite and activities discounts at YMCA Fairthorne Manor
  • Cycle to work scheme

Charity Introduction

YMCA Fairthorne Group’s charitable vision is for Children and Young people to be empowered to realise their potential. As a community-based charity working across Hampshire and Isle of Wight we achieve our vision by partnering with communities so that all children, young people, and families can Belong, Contribute and Thrive.

We operate 6 high quality Early Years settings, where all children who attend our settings have the very best start in life due to our exciting curriculum, engaged staff and inclusive practices. We support young people between the ages of 18 and 30 who are at risk of homelessness, allowing them to realise their true potential from foundations set in our supported housing and youthwork. In addition, we also provide much needed community facilities, including an outdoor education centre in the wider Southampton area.

Job Purpose

The Chief Financial Officer is a key strategic partner to the CEO and a central member of the Executive Leadership Team, helping to ensure the Group’s long-term financial sustainability, resilience and growth. This sits across five key priorities:

  • Growth and income diversification
  • Transformation
  • Digitisation
  • Systems change
  • Leadership and people management

The CFO will support these priorities and shape organisational strategy through clear financial insight, sound risk management, and strong governance and assurance. The role carries executive responsibility for finance, IT, facilities, governance, risk, data protection and organisational assurance.

Main Duties & Responsibilities:

  • Strategic leadership
  • Financial strategy, planning and performance
  • Governance, legal, risk and assurance
  • Financial control, reporting and compliance
  • Leadership, people and culture

Qualifications and Experience

  • Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA)
  • Significant senior financial leadership experience, ideally across multi-site operations (Early Years/Youth Services/Housing/Charity or not-for-profit
  • Proven executive-level experience influencing strategy and Board decision-making
  • Strong commercial and financial acumen, balancing mission with sustainability

Personal Attributes

  • Genuine enthusiasm for the charity’s work
  • Strategic thinker with confidence to provide constructive challenge
  • Excellent communicator, able to translate complex financial information clearly
  • Calm, resilient and agile, thriving in a fast-paced environment
  • Strong leadership skills with experience developing high-performing teams

Successful applicant will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure via Disclosure and Barring Service.

We are an equal opportunities charity with commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion in the workplace. A copy of this policy will be made available on request.

Please apply now for this rewarding position and be part of an amazing charity who continue to support and achieve wonderful things within the community.

Early Years Employee Benefits

Early Years Careers

Apply now

Please apply now for this rewarding position and be part of an amazing charity that continues to support and achieve wonderful things within the community.

    By submitting this form you are agreeing for Fairthorne Group to contact you in line with our Privacy & Cookie Policy

    The successful applicant must undertake an Enhanced Disclosure via Disclosure and Barring Service.

    We are an equal opportunities charity with a commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion in the workplace. A copy of this policy will be made available on request.

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