Help Chartered IIA build the systems, culture and confidence it needs to support internal auditors and strengthen the profession across the UK and Ireland.
About the role
The Director of Finance and Operations is a new senior leadership role, reporting to the Chief Executive and joining the senior leadership team. You will lead the internal enabling directorate that supports our member-facing work. This includes finance, people, governance, technology, data, facilities, communications, project management and operational processes.
The role will help bring together functions that have previously sat in different parts of the organisation. You will create stronger rhythms of planning, delivery and decision-making, build confidence in data and systems, and support teams to work with greater consistency and accountability.
Your leadership will help Chartered IIA remain financially resilient, make better use of technology and data, and ensure colleagues have the structures and support they need to deliver well for members.
Who we are looking for
You will bring senior financial leadership experience, a relevant finance qualification and the ability to lead beyond finance across a broad operational remit.
You may have worked in a membership body, professional body, charity, education, regulation, standards, learning or another mission-led setting. More important is your ability to lead services that support people, members and good governance.
You will be comfortable improving systems, strengthening processes and helping teams work through change. You will bring sound judgement, emotional intelligence and the confidence to set clear expectations while building trust.
We are looking for someone who can work strategically, stay close to detail when needed, and communicate clearly with colleagues, senior leaders and non-executive stakeholders.
If you connect with the role Chartered IIA plays in supporting a vital profession and you can help build the internal platform behind that work, we would be pleased to hear from you.
To access the job information pack for this position, please follow the instructions on the ‘How to Apply’ page. Following this, should you like to have an informal conversation, you can email our advising consultant at Peridot Partners:
James Hunt | james@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07711 405444
Welcome from the Chief Executive
Dear Candidate,
Thank you for your interest in becoming our Director of Finance and Operations.
Our members are at the centre of our work. They look to us for learning, technical guidance, qualifications, quality assurance, events, advocacy and connection with others in the profession.
That responsibility matters. Internal audit has an important role to play in good governance, organisational learning and public trust and we want Chartered IIA to be the best possible resource for those who do this work.
We are not-for-profit and have made good progress. We have strengthened our financial position, launched a new brand, website and CRM system and supported the profession through new global standards and the Internal Audit Code of Practice. We have also seen membership grow, alongside strong engagement with our conferences, forums and quality services.
We now want to build on that progress by strengthening how we work internally. We are reshaping the organisation around a more member-first approach, with clearer support for the teams that deliver membership services, learning, knowledge and professional development.
That means improving our systems, our use of data and technology, our planning, our decision-making and the way teams work together.
This new Director of Finance and Operations role is central to that work. You will lead the internal enabling directorate, bringing together finance, people, governance, technology, facilities, communications and project delivery. The role will help us create stronger foundations for the organisation, so our colleagues can do their best work and our members experience a service that is responsive, joined up and easy to access.
Finance will be a key part of your remit, and we need someone who can help us remain financially resilient and make sound decisions about investment, risk and sustainability. We also need broader operational leadership. You will help build confidence in our data, strengthen how projects are delivered, support our transition to outsourced HR provision, and help colleagues work with clearer ownership and shared standards.
We are looking for someone who combines professional rigour with thoughtful leadership. You will be comfortable working through change, asking good questions, listening carefully and setting clear expectations. You will bring experience of leading teams and services, and the judgement to build trust with colleagues, Council and senior leaders.
If you are motivated by the opportunity to strengthen a professional body with a clear public role, I hope you will consider applying.
We would be very pleased to hear from you.
Anne Kiem, OBE
Chief Executive
Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors (Chartered IIA)
About us
The Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors is the professional body dedicated to internal auditors in the UK and Ireland. Since 1948, we have championed and supported the vital work of internal auditors across organisations of every size and sector.
We support more than 10,000 members through learning, qualifications, technical guidance, events, advocacy, quality assurance and professional networks. Our role is to help internal auditors develop their skills, uphold high standards and show the value that internal audit brings to organisations and society.
We are the only professional body dedicated exclusively to internal audit in the UK and Ireland. We are part of a Global network of Institutes of Internal Audit and are the ones with a Royal Charter and the authority to award chartered status.
Why we’re here.
Our purpose is to champion and lead the internal audit profession.
Internal audit plays an important role in good governance, organisational learning, assurance and public trust. We help our members navigate changing expectations, develop their practice and demonstrate the contribution internal audit makes to stronger organisations.
We work for the benefit of our members, the organisations they serve and the wider profession. Our Royal Charter means we also have a duty to benefit society. That means providing high-quality learning and guidance, creating space for members to connect and share ideas, and advocating for the value of internal audit with employers, regulators, policymakers and other stakeholders.
What we work hard to do.
- Nurturing talent: We support people at different stages of their internal audit careers, from those entering the profession to experienced practitioners seeking chartered status. Our certifications, designations and learning programmes help members build confidence, capability and professional recognition.
- Leading in learning: We provide knowledge, insight and training that helps members respond to new standards, emerging risks and changing expectations. This includes qualifications, technical content, research, webinars, events and specialist guidance.
- Championing internal auditing: We advocate for the profession and help others understand the value internal audit brings. We work to ensure internal audit is recognised as an essential part of strong governance, organisational resilience and better decision-making.
- Building long-lasting partnerships: We work with members, employers, volunteers, partners and stakeholders to strengthen the profession. Our aim is to provide the infrastructure, insight and support members need, while encouraging collaboration across the internal audit community.
Our Royal Charter.
Chartered IIA was granted a Royal Charter in 2010. Royal Charters are normally reserved for bodies that work in the public interest and can demonstrate pre-eminence, stability and permanence in their field.
Our Charter gives us the authority to award individual chartered designations, including Chartered Internal Auditor status. This is a significant distinction for the Institute and for the profession we represent.
Strategic objectives.
We pursue our purpose through four strategic objectives.
- Develop our members: We want members to have access to high-quality programmes that develop their skills and competencies, whatever their background, experience or stage of career.
- Support our members: We create opportunities for members to learn from each other, build networks and access trusted guidance. This includes events, forums, communities, training and quality assurance services.
- Advocate for our members: We help stakeholders understand the role and value of internal audit. This includes working with audit committees, senior leaders, regulators, policymakers and the public to promote the contribution internal audit makes to better organisations.
- Build resilience: We need the right resources, systems and people to serve our members well. This means managing our finances prudently, investing in our staff and strengthening the infrastructure that supports our work.
Our UK, Ireland and global role.
Chartered IIA is the UK and Ireland affiliate of the Institute of Internal Auditors, the global professional body for internal audit. Through this affiliation, our members are part of an international community of more than 245,000 internal audit professionals in over 120 countries.
We also operate a small Irish subsidiary, which mainly focuses on delivering an annual Ireland Conference. This reflects our long-standing commitment to supporting internal auditors across both jurisdictions.
For the Director of Finance and Operations, this means joining an organisation rooted in the UK and Ireland, connected to a global profession, and responsible for maintaining strong financial, governance and compliance arrangements across a small but important group structure.
Our values.
We want to create a positive and supportive environment for our staff, members and stakeholders. Our values guide how we work and how we serve the profession.
- Integrity: We act honestly, consistently and fairly. We do the right thing, even when it is difficult, and we are transparent and accountable for our actions.
- Respect: We value the worth and dignity of others. We listen with an open mind, consider different perspectives and treat people with courtesy.
- Member-focused: We put members at the centre of our work. We listen to their needs, respond to their concerns and aim to provide the best possible service.
- Professional: We set high standards for ourselves and our work. We aim to be knowledgeable, competent and reliable, and to deliver on our commitments.
Learn more about us
Accessibility information
We understand that different members of the community have different access needs and have made some modifications to the way we do business to accommodate people from diverse communities and abilities.
We offer the following amenities:
- Step free access to the building, all key meeting rooms and bathrooms, and an accessible workstation
- Accessibility dogs are welcome
- Interviews can be held in meeting rooms that support hearing loops
- Papers and materials can be presented in different formats
- A sign language interpreter can be accessed for interview
- Working patterns and locations can be adjusted
The Institute makes available Disability Awareness & Inclusion, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, Menopause Awareness, Sexual Harassment Awareness, Unconscious Bias and Mental Health Awareness training for all staff.
To arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultant at Peridot Partners:
James Hunt| james@peridotpartners.co.uk | consultant phone number
Thank you for your interest in this role. Please download the job pack.
To formally apply, please submit a CV and supporting statement (ideally a maximum of 2 sides of A4 each) that clearly outline your suitability for the role against the criteria provided in the person specification, including your interest and motivation in applying for this position.
Please include your home address, contact email and mobile.
Please ensure that your application is emailed to response@peridotpartners.co.uk, inserting “Application: Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors — Director of Finance and Operations” into the subject field. You will receive an acknowledgement of receipt within 2-3 days. If you do not receive an acknowledgement, please contact our admin team.
Following review of the candidate information pack, should you like to have an informal conversation, you may email our advising consultants at Peridot Partners:
James Hunt | james@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07711 405444
As a sector-leading executive search consultancy, we know the importance of creating recruitment processes that are fair, inclusive and free from bias. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a process that values differences.
If you require any job information in an alternative format (e.g. large print), please contact the lead consultant. Please also let us know if you would like to submit your application in an alternative format.
Applicants with disabilities are welcome to contact us in confidence at any stage of the recruitment process to discuss any reasonable adjustments or support that may be required to ensure fair and equal participation.
Recruitment selection processes are based on evidence of competence stated in the person specification and in relation to our values.
Timetable
Closing date: 9 a.m. Monday 2nd November 2026
Candidates informed of outcome: By COB Friday 6th November 2026
First stage interviews (virtual): Wednesday 11th November 2026
Second stage interviews (in person, London): Thursday 19th November 2026
Equal Opportunities Monitoring
Peridot and Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors are committed to promoting equality and diversity. To help us raise awareness and support a culture that is diverse and recognises and develops the potential of all, we need to appreciate the profile of candidates who apply for positions. We will send you an equality monitoring survey at the point of receiving your application and at the time of placement. This ensures that our processes remain inclusive and equitable throughout, and provides us with important data to help us showcase our impact.
The information will be treated confidentially and anonymously and will help us to support our commitment to fair recruitment practice. All information provided will be held in the strictest confidence and will not be shared with anyone, in line with the Data Protection Act 2018.
The information provided does not form part of the decision-making process and will not affect your application. Learn more about why we collect this data here.
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