This is an excellent opportunity to join CARE International UK’s Programme Management Team in a senior programme finance role at a time when the organisation is continuing to evolve how it funds and delivers programmes. The role sits at the heart of CARE’s engagement with a wide range of institutional, corporate, and philanthropic donors and plays a critical role in ensuring programmes are well designed, financially robust, and compliant from proposal stage through delivery.
As Senior Programme Finance Specialist, you will work across diverse funding mechanisms, including traditional grants and commercial contracts, and collaborate closely with programme managers, country offices, and finance colleagues across the CARE confederation. The role offers meaningful exposure to complex programmes and innovative funding arrangements, as well as the opportunity to shape how CARE strengthens financial quality, risk management, and donor confidence across its portfolio.
About you
You are an experienced programme finance professional with strong budgeting and financial analysis skills and a track record of supporting proposals and managing grants for institutional and corporate donors. You are comfortable working on complex proposal budgets, including for commercial contracts and non-traditional funding mechanisms, and have a solid understanding of donor compliance requirements and cost recovery principles.
You bring excellent attention to detail, strong Excel skills, and the ability to explain financial and contractual issues clearly to non-finance colleagues. You are confident working independently across a mixed portfolio, supporting programmes across the full project lifecycle from proposal development and contracting through to delivery, reporting, and close-out. You share CARE’s commitment to tackling structural inequality and are comfortable working in line with feminist leadership, localisation, and safeguarding principles.
About the role
The Senior Programme Finance Specialist provides senior financial, contractual, and compliance leadership across a mixed portfolio of programmes funded by institutional, corporate, and philanthropic donors. The role has a strong focus on programme funding and proposal development, working closely with Programme Funding colleagues, Programme Managers, and Country Offices to develop compliant, well-structured budgets and financial narratives.
Key objectives include ensuring robust financial design at proposal stage, effective financial oversight during delivery, and strong compliance and audit readiness across the portfolio. The role also contributes to financial risk management, supports contract negotiations and amendments, and provides technical advice and capacity strengthening to colleagues and partners. Strong budgeting capability, experience with institutional and corporate proposals, and the ability to work confidently with commercial contracts are central to success in this role.
Right to Work in the UK
Following recent changes to Skilled Worker Visa eligibility, a number of roles have been removed from the immigration salary list.
Applicants residing outside of the UK may apply for this role if it is has an eligible occupation code, identifies as a ‘higher skilled’ job and meets the salary threshold. Before submitting your application, please review the latest Skilled Worker Visa guidance here.