Help shape the future of one of the UK's leading bereavement charities as Director of Finance & Corporate Services.
Who we are
Cruse is the UK’s leading bereavement charity, supporting people through one of the most difficult experiences of their lives. For over 65 years, Cruse has provided compassionate, expert and accessible support to individuals, families and communities affected by grief.
Operating across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, Cruse delivers a range of services including bereavement counselling, national helplines, digital support and training. The organisation is deeply values-led, with kindness, inclusivity and compassion at the heart of everything it does, alongside a growing commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
Following a period of significant organisational change, Cruse now has a new strategy, a refreshed senior leadership team and a clear ambition to strengthen its long-term financial sustainability through the growth of unrestricted, commercial income.
Read more about our workAbout the role
This is a rare opportunity to join Cruse Bereavement Support at a pivotal moment in its development and help shape the future of one of the UK’s leading bereavement charities. As Director of Finance & Corporate Services, you will be a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, working closely with the Chief Executive, Board of Trustees and colleagues across the organisation to ensure Cruse remains financially sustainable, operationally effective and equipped for future growth.
Reporting directly to the CEO, you will provide strategic leadership across finance, governance and corporate services, leading the development of long-term financial plans, risk management frameworks and organisational infrastructure. Alongside financial stewardship, you will oversee digital, data and technology, human resources, governance, facilities and organisational support services, ensuring these functions enable excellent service delivery and support the charity’s ambitious strategic goals.
This is a broad and influential leadership role that combines strategic thinking with practical delivery. You will play a central role in driving transformation, strengthening organisational resilience and ensuring resources are directed where they can have the greatest impact.
Ultimately, every decision you make will help Cruse continue its vital mission: ensuring that bereaved people across England, Wales and Northern Ireland receive the support, understanding and respect they need during some of the most difficult times in their lives.
Who we are looking for
We are seeking an accomplished and values-led senior leader who combines outstanding financial expertise with a genuine commitment to social impact. You will be a qualified accountant with significant leadership experience gained in both the commercial and charity sector and a track record of shaping organisational strategy, driving improvement and providing trusted advice at Executive and Board level.
You will bring the credibility, judgement and commercial acumen needed to lead a complex charity through a period of growth and transformation. Equally comfortable discussing long-term strategy with trustees as you are reviewing operational performance, you will understand how effective financial stewardship, strong governance and high-quality corporate services contribute to organisational success.
Beyond technical expertise, you will be a collaborative and authentic leader who can engage, influence and inspire. You will have experience leading multidisciplinary teams, building strong relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders and translating complex financial or organisational issues into clear, practical recommendations. A strong understanding of governance, risk management and organisational resilience will be essential, alongside a passion for continuous improvement and innovation.
Experience leading functions beyond finance, such as HR, facilities, governance, and digital, data and technology, would be particularly valuable, as would exposure to charity, public sector or other purpose-driven environments.
Most importantly, you will be motivated by purpose. You will share Cruse’s commitment to supporting bereaved people and bring the empathy, integrity and emotional intelligence needed to lead within an organisation where compassion, inclusion, ambition and authenticity are central to everything we do. This is a role for someone who wants to use their expertise not only to build a strong organisation, but to create lasting impact for the people and communities Cruse serves.
To view the role description and person specification, please go to the ‘How to Apply’ tab above, fill in your details and download the candidate pack.
For further information or to arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultant at Peridot Partners:
Louise Steer | louise@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07903 713862
Welcome from the Chief Executive
Dear Candidates,
Welcome to Cruse Bereavement Support. We are a national charity supporting people across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Cruse has been providing expert bereavement and grief support for over 65 years. We have national services, over 80 local branches, and a website attracting around 1 million visitors annually.
We are currently reshaping our approach to both income generation and operational delivery, so it is a particularly exciting time to join us and be part of shaping and delivering growth and increased impact.
Our future plans include investing in digital transformation and developing new approaches to income generation, including commercial products.
Our employees and volunteers are the backbone of our work. Through our incredible team of employees and 3,300 volunteers, we provide specialist support and information online, by phone and in person. But this is only possible with the income we raise each year to fund our services.
This role, reporting to the CEO, is responsible for providing strategic leadership, financial stewardship and corporate governance across the organisation. You will ensure the charity’s long-term financial sustainability, operational resilience and regulatory compliance, enabling the organisation to deliver its mission and maximise impact for bereaved people. In addition, the role leads our wider corporate services, including DDaT (Digital, Data and Technology), HR, and Facilities, ensuring that Cruse has the systems and infrastructure required to operate efficiently, manage risk and support future growth and transformation. This role also includes Company Secretary responsibilities.
This role would suit someone who enjoys driving change and transformation aligned with the needs and values of a charity committed to delivering real impact and focused on sustainability.
Within this microsite, you can find out more about Cruse, the work we do and the details of this role. I hope you will feel inspired to join our team and be part of supporting people, so they are not alone in their grief.
Lucy Harmer
Chief Executive, Cruse Bereavement Support
About us
At Cruse, we believe bereaved people should not be alone in their grief. We provide specialist support and information online, by phone and in person for bereaved adults, children and young people across England, Northern Ireland and Wales. Our services include our website information, the national Cruse Helpline, group and one-to-one bereavement support sessions, delivered nationally and locally by our trained bereavement volunteers.
Bereavement and grief can have a wide impact on family, friends, colleagues, professionals, and communities. We deliver expert specialist training, working with companies, private and public sector organisations, groups and individuals to improve the support and services they provide to bereaved people, including colleagues and customers.
We are here to equip and empower society to show people the respect and kindness they deserve following a bereavement. Our wide-ranging activities and experience include sharing people’s stories and experiences through our website and social media, raising awareness of the impact of grief and bereavement and the information and support available. We also work with organisations to upskill their staff.
“I went from absolute depths of despair; I really couldn’t see a way out of the hole I was in … to complete relief, and an ability to think rationally. It was a godsend. I honestly think Cruse saved my life.” (feedback from a bereaved peson supported by Cruse)
You can read more about some of the people we have supported on our website: Your stories – Cruse Bereavement Support.
Our vision
Our vision is that we live in a world where everyone grieving is supported, respected and understood.
Our mission
Our mission is that we support people through one of the most painful times in life – with bereavement support, information and campaigning.
Our values
Values are crucial to the culture of any organisation. Our values underpin everything we do. Whether we’re talking to a client or to a member of our own team, we always strive to be kind, inclusive, ambitious and genuine.
We are kind: Kindness underpins how we communicate and treat each other. Much like with grief, we have no idea what another person’s journey is or what they are dealing with, so we approach and respond with kindness.
We are inclusive: Grief does not discriminate and neither do we. Everyone’s experience of a bereavement is different, and we honour everyone’s differences.
We are ambitious: We encourage and stretch each other. We are a highly motivated, passionate, professional and determined team. The more we succeed in our ambitions, the more we move towards our vision.
We are genuine: We are honest, open to real conversations, tackling difficult subjects. We respect the courage it takes to be vulnerable when seeking support and speaking up. We learn from mistakes, and we feel safe to be challenged. We bring our whole selves to our roles.
Learn more about us
Thank you for your interest in this role. Please download the Candidate Pack.
To formally apply, please submit a CV and supporting statement (ideally maximum 2 sides of A4 each) that clearly outlines 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: Cruse Bereavement Support — Director of Finance & Corporate Services” 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.
For further information or to arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultant at Peridot Partners:
Louise Steer | louise@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07903 713862
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 7th September 2026
Candidates informed of outcome: Thursday 17th September 2026
First stage interviews (remote): Monday 21st September 2026
Second stage interviews (remote): Friday 25th September 2026
Please note that this vacancy may close earlier than the advertised closing date if we have received a high volume of applications. We encourage early applications to avoid disappointment. If you would like to discuss the timeline for this appointment, please contact the lead consultant.
Equal Opportunities Monitoring
Peridot and Cruse Bereavement Support 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 launched on 25 May 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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