Chief Finance Officer, Wellcome
Global charitable foundation for science research
Be an early applicant
Global charitable foundation for science research
1001+ employees
Be an early applicant
1001+ employees
Company mission
Wellcome's mission is to support science to solve the urgent health challenges facing everyone.
Role
Who you are
- The right individual will bring extensive finance leadership experience aligned to Wellcome’s scale and complexity, a proven track record in a complex, high‑performing organisation, and the ability to act as an agent of change who can anticipate organisation needs and educate the organisation on future requirements
- You will demonstrate excellent strategic thinking, strong interpersonal skills, and be credible and persuasive at all levels, with high intellect, high emotional intelligence, strong self‑awareness and a growth mindset
- Pragmatic, solutions‑focused, resilient, collaborative and comfortable with ambiguity, you will operate at pace and be aligned with Wellcome’s values, supporting decisions that strengthen impact, sustainability and organisational effectiveness over time
What the job involves
- The Chief Finance Officer (CFO) is a crucial role in this multifaceted and highly complex organisation, requiring leadership through influence, consensus‑building and strong governance
- The CFO will be working alongside leaders recognised globally for their contributions to science, policy, global health and investment and will participate in a wide range of discussions relating to operational performance, mission investment decisions, investment performance and organisational effectiveness
- The CFO will be a major driver, together with the COO, of operational efficiency, resource optimisation and disciplined budgeting
- The Finance function has recently undertaken a significant implementation of an ERP system, Oracle Fusion, which is to conduct the majority of Wellcome’s financial transactions. Wellcome is prioritising stronger controls and improved reporting to ensure it realises the full benefits of its systems integration
- A defining part of the role is navigating Wellcome’s different types of financial activity, ensuring strong alignment, robust cashflow forecasting, long‑term financial modelling and liquidity oversight, and effective provision of financial insight that underpins investment decisions
- Wellcome is seeking a senior finance leader who will play a collaborative role in supporting the organisation’s long‑term mission, with an emphasis on contribution, judgement, and the ability to shape thinking through providing clear financial insights and expertise to world‑leading experts in science and health
Application process
- Closing date: Thursday 26th February
Salary benchmarks
Our take
The Wellcome Trust was originally founded in 1936 to fund medical research and has since grown into the UK’s largest private scientific research fund, and one of the wealthiest charities in the world. Disbursing over £1 billion in funds a year, it has provided funding to numerous medical research projects in its focus areas of mental health, climate & health and infectious diseases. These include the Cancer Genome Project and the Ebola Emergency Initiative.
Wellcome's 2022 decision to divest itself of its shares in fossil fuels has also relieved it of a persistent source of controversy, as this was potentially hindering the credibility of its climate change research. Wellcome has since partnered with the World Economic Forum to collect data on how climate change is affecting health worldwide.
The company is also moving to adjust to a more global role. The majority of its funding has historically been allocated to UK firms, but as climate change and infectious diseases know no borders, neither does research into solutions to these problems. ln 2019 it established an office in Berlin to strengthen its scientific links in the EU and to allow it to more easily fund important research outside of the UK.
Steph
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Insights
6% employee growth in 12 months
Company
Company benefits
- Holiday – 25 days’ holiday a year plus bank holidays (and we usually close between Christmas and New Year)
- Pension (defined contribution plan) – you contribute at least 3% and we pay in 15% of your salary
- Income protection – to maintain your income if you have a prolonged illness or disability
- Life assurance – four to six times your basic salary if you’re a member of our pension plan
- Interest-free travel season ticket loan
- Private medical insurance – we pay the cover, you pay the tax (and you can pay to add dependants)
- Gym and fitness classes – free membership to on-site gym and subsidised fitness classes and treatments
- Employee assistance programme – free, independent 24/7 help and advice for work-related issues as well as problems affecting your home life
- Mental health support – our network of mental health first aiders can be a first point of contact, or help while you're receiving professional help
- Health assessments (free and voluntary) – after you’ve been here for one year, then every two years after that
- Occupational health – annual eye tests and flu jabs, as well as job-related vaccinations
- Flexible working – we make every effort to support flexible working, including flexible working hours and remote working (we respect people's different working preferences and the need for a healthy work-life balance)
- Flexi-leave scheme – you can buy or sell up to five days of your holiday entitlement a year
- Staff social club – a range of sports teams and fun events throughout the year
- Volunteering – we give you up to four days' paid leave a year to contribute to our local community
- Give As You Earn – allows you to make tax-free donations to the charities you care about
- Cycle-to-work scheme – we offer at least 25% discount on bikes and cycling equipment and we have secure cycle storage, lockers and showers
- Subsidised restaurant and cafe
- Wellcome Collection discounts – 20% off food, drink and gifts from our cafe, restaurant and shop
- Discounts through Perkbox – shopping, restaurants, cinema tickets, phone insurance and gift cards
Company HQ
London, UK
Leadership
Jeremy Farrar
(Director)Has been Director of the Wellcome Trust since 2013. Before that was Director of Oxford Clinical Research Unit, working on research and clinical trials for diseases in Vietnam.
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