Help shape the next chapter of growth, sustainability and impact at the UK's leading charity for children with brain injury and neurodisability.
Who we are
The Children’s Trust is the UK’s leading charity for children with brain injury and neurodisability. Our purpose is to support children, young people and their families so they can live the best life possible.
With a clear vision for the future, we are positioned to lead innovation in childhood brain injury and neurodisability rehabilitation. We have an ambitious new strategic direction focusing on innovative rehabilitation approaches that will help more children rebuild their lives after brain injury and neurodisability.
Our aim.
Every year, 40,000 children in the UK are left with a brain injury. About 350 children sustain a severe acquired brain injury, needing rehabilitation. Only one in four of those children can currently come to The Children’s Trust.
At the core of our strategy is a bold ambition: to be the UK’s leading provider of paediatric neurorehabilitation, transforming outcomes through expertise, compassion and innovation. Over the next five years, we will expand and strengthen our services, invest in life‑changing neurotechnology, future‑proof our outstanding school, and build a sustainable organisation that can help more children, sooner.
What we believe in.
We believe that all children have the right to be children, regardless of health conditions, physical challenges or life circumstances. They have the right to play, to laugh and to learn. They have the right to make connections with each other, with their families and with the world around them. The Children’s Trust exists to create these opportunities, specifically for children with brain injury and neurodisability.
What we do.
Every year, we provide rehabilitation, education, care and community services to thousands of children, young people and their families across the UK.
Our national specialist centre in Tadworth, Surrey, is home to the largest children’s neurorehabilitation service of its kind in the UK.
We help children through play, exploration, laughter and having fun; things that are often absent when a child has limited mobility or has had a challenging time. When therapy, healthcare and education are combined with music, arts and crafts, day trips and other fun activities, children are encouraged to focus not on their limitations, but on the goals that matter to them — and to enjoy themselves along the way.
About the role
The Children’s Trust is seeking an experienced Finance Director to join the UK’s leading charity for children with brain injury and neurodisability on a fixed-term basis. Reporting to the CEO and serving as a key member of the senior leadership team, you will provide strategic financial leadership during an important phase of organisational development.
This is not a turnaround assignment; the charity has achieved two consecutive years of surplus performance and is financially stable. Instead, the role focuses on supporting future growth and long-term sustainability, while leading finance, procurement, payroll and clinical assets and partnering closely with trustees and executive colleagues.
What you’ll do.
As Finance Director, you will provide strategic financial leadership at a pivotal point in The Children’s Trust’s development. Working closely with the CEO, Board and senior leadership team, you will ensure the organisation has the insight, planning and financial discipline required to support its next phase of growth and service evolution.
Key areas of focus will include:
- Leading financial planning, forecasting and business partnering across the organisation.
- Providing financial modelling, scenario planning and analysis to support strategic decision-making.
- Presenting financial insights and recommendations to the executive team, Trustees, Finance Committee and Audit & Risk Committee.
- Leading finance, procurement, payroll and clinical assets through an established and capable leadership team.
- Building capability within the finance function and supporting succession planning for future leaders.
Who we are looking for
We are seeking a commercially minded and strategically focused finance leader who combines strong technical expertise with a collaborative and people-centred leadership style.
You will be comfortable operating at executive level, bringing both strategic insight and the credibility to influence key decisions across a complex organisation.
You will likely bring:
- Significant senior financial leadership experience within a charity, healthcare, education or similarly regulated environment.
- A proven track record of supporting organisational change, transformation and sustainable growth.
- Strong commercial acumen alongside a sound understanding of charity finance and governance.
- Experience of financial modelling, business planning and supporting board-level decision making.
- The ability to develop and empower high-performing teams while maintaining stability and engagement.
Just as important as your experience is your leadership style. You will be a trusted and authentic partner who can challenge constructively, build strong relationships and work collaboratively across the organisation.
This is not a role for someone seeking change for change’s sake; instead, you will recognise what is working well, bring people with you and help shape the next chapter of The Children’s Trust’s success.
Please note: the required start date is Wednesday 16th September.
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 Officer
Dear Candidate,
Thank you for your interest in becoming the Director of Finance at The Children’s Trust.
We are the UK’s leading charity for children with brain injury and neurodisability. We deliver rehabilitation, education and community services through skilled teams who work with children and young people and their families.
We are unique, with an international reputation for the work we undertake to improve the lives of the children and families with whom we work.
We provide information and support to thousands of children with brain injury and their families annually through education, care, therapy, and research.
We provide expertise and experience in meeting the needs of children and young people with acquired brain injury, neuro-disabilities, and complex health needs.
As the Director of Finance, you will report to the Chief Executive Officer. You will be responsible for providing excellent financial management and reporting to optimise the organisation’s performance. You will manage the Finance, Procurement and Clinical Asset teams, working closely with SLT colleagues in the key business areas and take all necessary actions to support the organisation in the achievement of its agreed business and strategic objectives.
You will be a natural and enthusiastic leader with experience in managing high-performing teams, translating strategic objectives into clear actions and supporting continuous organisational improvement and change.
This is a chance for an outstanding candidate to make a significant and lasting difference to the lives of thousands of children and families.
Kind regards,
Mike Thiedke
Chief Executive Officer, The Children’s Trust
About us
The Children’s Trust is the UK’s leading charity for children with brain injury and neurodisability, transforming lives through innovative rehabilitation, education and community services. For over four decades, we have been pioneering new approaches to help children rebuild their skills, confidence and futures after life-changing injuries.
Supporting more children to get home and back to what matters.
Every year, children’s lives – and the lives of their families – are turned upside down by a sudden brain injury. The impact can be devastating. Suddenly, they may no longer be able to walk, talk, stand, sit, or feed themselves.
We help give them their futures back, restoring lost skills, developing new ways of doing things and supporting children to rebuild their confidence, independence and joy.
In 2024/25, we supported 406 children and young people through our national specialist centre, school, therapy and community programmes. There were 65 children on average at our Tadworth site per day across both our school and rehabilitation service.
With personalised support, we help children learn to walk again, find their voice, eat independently and adjust to a new way of life. Together with families, we focus on real-life progress and meaningful outcomes.
Our services
Residential neurorehabilitation.
Our national specialist centre in Tadworth, Surrey, provides the UK’s largest residential rehabilitation service for children with brain injury and neurodisability. Here, multidisciplinary teams work intensively with children and their families to restore lost skills or develop new ways of achieving independence.
The Children’s Trust School.
Our residential, non-maintained special school welcomes residential and day pupils aged 2-19, offering a unique educational environment where learning is seamlessly integrated with therapy and healthcare. From our early years provision through to preparing young people for adult life, we ensure every child reaches their full potential.
Our community rehabilitation service.
We offer digital resources, national virtual advice and consultation and community rehabilitation and outpatient packages for children with acquired brain injury. The service offers a range of support through a tiered model, with escalating levels of support based on the level of need and identified goals.
Aiming high.
We aim to run our charity to the highest standards and to always work in an open and transparent way. Our continued progress on improving the quality of our work is subject to internal audit, external regulatory inspection from Ofsted Care, Ofsted Education, the Care Quality Commission and multi-agency oversight.
Our most recent inspections from Ofsted Care rated a ‘Good Rating’ and The Children’s Trust School is rated by Ofsted Education as ‘Outstanding’. We are also regulated by the Charity Commission, the Fundraising Regulator and the Gambling Commission.
Our site at Tadworth Court, nestled in the Surrey countryside yet easily accessible from London, provides a therapeutic environment where children can focus on achieving the goals that matter to them.
Our values: The Five Promises.
Everything we do is guided by our Five Promises, developed in partnership with the children, young people and families we serve:
- Child first: The child is at the heart of everything we do.
- Aim high: We believe in potential and strive for excellence.
- Own it: We take responsibility and are accountable.
- Be open: We are honest, transparent and inclusive.
- Care deeply: We act with compassion and empathy.
Our promises help ensure The Children’s Trust remains a place where people are proud to work, volunteer and receive care.
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: The Children’s Trust — Director of Finance (Interim)” 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
Where possible, please send your application as soon as you can to allow Louise time to speak with you ahead of her representing your details to The Children’s Trust.
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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.
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Recruitment selection processes are based on evidence of competence stated in the person specification and in relation to our values.
Timetable
CLOSED FOR APPLICATIONS
Candidates informed of outcome: By Thursday 13th August 2026
First stage interviews (online): Wednesday 19th August 2026
Second stage interviews (in person): Wednesday 26th August 2026
Equal Opportunities Monitoring
Peridot and The Children’s Trust 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.
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