Senior Business Manager - Office of the COO - FTC

About Us

At CIPFA, we're driven by a singular purpose: to transform lives through exceptional public financial management. As a leading international accountancy body, we champion integrity, transparency, and efficiency in the use of public funds. We believe that every pound spent should deliver tangible improvements to public services, creating a better future for individuals and communities worldwide. Join us in shaping a world where public money truly makes a difference.

About the Role

This role is offered on a 9-month fixed-term contract commencing in April.

The Senior Business Manager - Office of the COO provides senior-level strategic, operational and organisational support across the COO's portfolio, which includes IT, digital, transformation oversight, People & Culture (P&C), Training Services, Commercial Performance & Planning, Strategy and the CIPFA Advisory business.

Acting as a trusted adviser and strategic partner to the COO, the role shapes and drives the delivery of the COO's priorities. The role leads the development of high-quality executive papers, business cases and recommendations; coordinates complex, cross organisational initiatives; and embeds strong governance, planning and delivery across critical programmes of work. The core purpose of the role is to support the effective use of the COO's time and focus by anticipating issues, supporting prioritisation and ensuring key initiatives are progressed efficiently. Through this, the role contributes to the organisation's strategic objectives, performance, and ongoing transformation, while operating within established organisational frameworks and decision making structures.

Key Responsibilities

Key tasks include, but are not limited to:

Strategic & Executive Support

• Act as a trusted strategic adviser to the COO, providing high quality advice, analysis and recommendations on strategic, operational and commercial issues.
• Support the COO in setting and refreshing strategic priorities, ensuring focus on the high value outcomes.
• Shape and deliver high impact briefings, papers, presentations and reports for the Board, CLT, committees and external stakeholders, ensuring clarity, rigor and strategic alignment.
• Serve as a critical thought partner to the COO, offering structured thinking, constructive challenge and insight to support decision making.
• Lead and/or support complex, discrete and cross functional strategic initiatives on behalf of the COO, driving progress, alignment and measurable outcomes.

Business Case & Document Production

• Lead the development of business cases, restructuring proposals, investment papers and governance documents.
• Coordinate multi discipline inputs, including financial modelling, commercial performance insights, workforce information, and operational evidence from relevant teams.
• Ensure clarity, accuracy, consistency and alignment with CIPFA's strategic and financial objectives.

• Strategic Project Delivery & Cross Organisational Coordination
• Meeting Leadership & Stakeholder Coordination
• Operational Support Across the COO Portfolio

About You Qualifications

Degree qualified - Essential

Knowledge & Skills

• Proven experience operating at senior leadership level, providing strategic, operational and delivery across complex organisations, including roles such as Chief of Staff, senior executive adviser, management consultant or enterprise PMO lead - Essential
• Excellent written communication and document production skills, including business cases and executive papers - Essential
• Strong organisational, prioritisation and planning skills - Essential
• Ability to influence and build relationships across all levels - Essential
• Comfortable working independently, handling ambiguity, and managing sensitive information. Able to quickly understand new subject areas - Essential
• Able to quickly understand new subject areas and operate across a diverse portfolio - Essential
• Experience within professional services, consultancy, or membership bodies - Desirable
• Exposure to organisational design, change management or strategic planning - Desirable

Personal Attributes

• Proactive, solutions focused and delivery oriented Essential
• High levels of integrity, discretion and professionalism Essential
• Confident and able to represent the COO effectively Essential
• Collaborative Essential
• Inclusive Essential
• Focused Essential
• Accountable Essential
• Diplomatic and trusted by stakeholders Essential
• Thrives in a varied, fast paced role with broad responsibilities Essential

Our Employee Offer

In exchange for helping us to make a difference we offer:

• Reward - Giving you fair pay and generous benefits, which includes competitive salary, generous pension scheme, holiday scheme, family friendly benefits and more!
• Wellbeing - Empowering you to work flexibly, balancing your personal and professional life through our permanent 4 day working week (work 4 days, get paid for 5) and hybrid working, alongside a range of health benefits, such as access to an Employee Assistance Helpline and the opportunity to join our Health Cash Plan.
• Purpose - Connecting the work you do with its social value and impact through paid volunteering days and charity and community work.
• Growth - Enabling you to develop your skills and knowledge through access to training opportunities, paid professional membership subscriptions, and career break options.
• Culture - Our culture is one of respect. We give you a sense of belonging, supporting you to work with autonomy, openness, and collaboration.

We know that not all people come from the same background, or think the same - so why should we? At CIPFA, we want to be a great place to work where a diverse group of people from all backgrounds can turn up and thrive. When we hire, we want you to feel empowered to bring your best self to work.

Please let us know if you need any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.