Salary: As per Secondment Policy
Contract Type: Secondment (20 months)
The Vacancy
The Vacancy
Our Islamic Relief UK team is seeking a Head of Community Finance, Governance & Strategy to establish and lead an exciting new Community Finance function that will transform access to ethical and inclusive financial services for underserved communities across the UK.
This is a unique opportunity to build a Community Development Finance Institution (CDFI) from the ground up, shaping strategy, governance, regulatory compliance, operations and partnerships while delivering meaningful social impact.
As Head of Community Finance, Governance & Strategy, you will lead the end-to-end creation of a UK CDFI, including legal and governance structures, regulatory authorisation, operational design, capital mobilisation and pilot delivery. Working closely with senior leadership, external partners, regulators and stakeholders, you will play a pivotal role in developing innovative financial solutions that are rooted in Islamic Relief’s values and principles and safeguarding expectations and regulatory requirements.
About the Role
Reporting directly to the Director of Islamic Relief UK, you will lead the end‑to‑end creation of a UK CDFI, including legal set‑up, governance, policy framework, operational design, capital mobilisation and regulatory engagement, and to initiate controlled pilot operations that demonstrate need, impact and viability.
You will act as programme lead and (where required) nominated senior manager for regulatory applications, ensuring that the CDFI meets all prudential, conduct, AML/CTF and data protection expectations prior to any lending or customer onboarding.
The role works closely with the IRUK Director and Steering Committee to provide clear plans, risk reporting and decision papers, and will build effective partnerships to support product design, referrals, customer support and investment readiness.
About You
You will have a proven ability to build partnerships, navigate complex regulatory environments and lead major programmes from concept through to implementation.
Most importantly, you will share Islamic Relief's commitment to supporting vulnerable communities and promoting ethical approaches to economic empowerment, and a strong commitment to creating positive social impact.
You will have:
Significant leadership experience in community finance, retail/consumer lending, financial inclusion, social investment or a related regulated financial services environment.
Proven track record of designing and launching financial products and operations (including underwriting, affordability, collections, complaints handling and customer support).
Strong understanding of UK regulatory expectations relevant to lending and customer-facing financial services (e.g., consumer credit, AML/CTF, sanctions, data protection, vulnerable customers, financial promotions as applicable).
Experience leading governance and risk management processes, preparing Board/committee papers and managing stakeholders to decision.
Excellent programme leadership skills: planning, budgeting, delivery management, prioritisation and reporting against milestones and KPIs.
Strong analytical capability (financial modelling, portfolio performance, credit/risk MI) with the ability to translate analysis into clear recommendations.
Outstanding interpersonal skills with the ability to work collaboratively across teams and build trusted relationships with community partners and funders.
Commitment to IRW/IRUK values and the ability to work sensitively and effectively with diverse communities, including people in vulnerable circumstances.
Relevant professional qualification (e.g., Islamic finance, risk, compliance) and/or postgraduate qualification in a relevant discipline.
We welcome applications from candidates with strong experience in financial management, governance, strategic planning and community-focused leadership. Please highlight any relevant experience in your application, particularly your experience leading teams, managing budgets, supporting organisational decision-making and developing strategies that deliver meaningful impact for communities.
For more information, please click on the Documents tab above to view the full Job Description.
If you are talented, reliable, service-minded, resilient and a highly motivated professional looking for a meaningful career, with a strong commitment to IRW’s mission and values of sincerity, excellence, compassion, social justice and custodianship, please apply by completing our online application form.
For more information on the excellent company benefits we offer our employees, please visit:
What we offer UK colleagues - Islamic Relief Worldwide
PLEASE NOTE: The vacancy closes at 23:59 on the deadline date.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible!
Pre-employment Checks:
Any employment with Islamic Relief will be subject to the following checks:
screening clearance
Criminal records check
proof of eligibility to live and work within the UK
receipt of satisfactory references
Please note, for UK-based roles, we are only able to accept applications from candidates who are eligible to work in the UK. We are unable to progress applications which would require sponsorship.
Our values and commitment to safeguarding
IRW is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people, adults and beneficiaries with whom IRW engages. IRW expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.
The post holder will undertake the appropriate level of training and is responsible for ensuring that they understand and work within the safeguarding policies of the organisation.
All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records checks. IRW also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.
In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment.
By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.
Islamic Relief is an equal opportunities employer
The Company
Islamic Relief is a faith-inspired humanitarian aid and development agency working to save and transform the lives of some of the world’s most vulnerable people. We work in over 45 countries, assist people of all faiths and none according to need and do not discriminate in any way. Our proximity means we can often respond swiftly to emergencies and work in areas that other organisations cannot access.
We are the only UK-based Muslim faith-inspired charity to have been certified against the Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability (CHS), which is designed to ensure that charities best meet the needs of the communities they serve.
Islamic Relief is a member of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), we have Consultative Status with the UN Economic and Social Council, and we are a signatory to the Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
What We Offer
Islamic Relief Worldwide recognises our staff as our biggest asset, and so we offer a range of benefits designed to support their professional development, mental and physical health, and work/life balance.
For more information click here.
Personal learning and development opportunities
Annual leave and additional leave
Service related pension scheme
Maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave and pay
Healthcare
cash plan
Employee assistance support
Occupational advanced sick pay
Mental Health First Aiders
Charity volunteering
Cycle to Work scheme
On-site car parking
Field
visits
Our Values
Sincerity
We are driven and motivated by sincerity to God and our duty to humanity.
Excellence
A commitment to excellence is a hallmark of our operations, programmes and conduct towards the vulnerable people we serve.
Compassion
Every life is precious, so we join other humanitarian actors in easing the suffering caused by disasters, poverty and injustice.
Social Justice
We empower poor and vulnerable people to have their rights fulfilled and to achieve their God-given potential.
Custodianship
We value and protect the Earth and its resources, including its people, and we aim to honour the trust people place in us to be transparent and accountable.
