We’re Hiring!
Pathway is looking for a Freelance Senior Finance and Operations Professional for an urgent, short-term engagement.
Apply here - https://lnkd.in/dWdTCnD8
Details - See below
Key info:
Engagement: Short term engagement (estimated – 9 months)
Time commitment: Estimated 28 – 35 hours per working week
Location: Engagement can be completed remotely – with availability to work during Pathway’s working hours for 75% of the weekly time commitment. Must be willing and able to attend scheduled meetings and/or work from Pathway’s London office at least two times per month (reasonable travel expenses to be reimbursed by agreement)
Start: By 1st December 2025
Payment: £375 (including VAT if applicable) on day rate basis, billed monthly in arrears as self-employed consultant or via limited company.
Deadline: given the immediate availability, we will review expressions of interest on a rolling basis, with first review on November 17th and exploratory meetings soon after.
Application Link: https://wo1x5l9dxuv.typeform.com/to/WuleqFqf
About Pathway Fund:
We are the UK's first Black and Ethnic Minoritised (BEM)-led impact investment wholesaler, dedicated to catalysing opportunities for Black and Ethnically Minoritised communities across the UK. Our mission is to address structural inequalities within the UK investment ecosystem by providing bespoke and subsidised capital to BEM-led organisations, making it more affordable and accessible to those underserved by existing infrastructure. We act as a funder, convenor, and knowledge builder, bridging gaps between communities, finance, and policymakers to drive systemic change and foster inclusive growth and community wealth building.
Following the confirmation of its £12m Dormant Assets funding, we are now moving from setup to delivery — putting in place the structures, systems, and partnerships needed to make its mission a reality.
We are a small, collaborative team with an ambitious remit and a strong commitment to public value. Our culture is practical, flexible, and impact-focused: we build what’s needed, we work closely with partners, and we aim for excellence in everything we do.
Scope of Work:
The activities are key to Pathway’s expansion. Reporting temporarily to the CEO, and then to the COO, these include running, and where necessary setting up, Pathway’s Finance, IT, Data and Legal operations and ensuring an appropriate level of control and governance is set and maintained, especially as other processes are established (for example grant making).
The engagement required to start urgently to cover a 3 month gap whilst the part time COO is away from the business. However, upon his return in April, we intend to recruit for a broader Head of Finance & Operations role permanently, to which the contractor apply. Equally, we welcome expressions of interest from people who are interested in purely a temporary engagement– in which case we would envisage this being a 6- 9 month engagement.
Whilst much of Pathway’s core operational infrastructure has been set up, as a relatively new organisation that is now going through rapid growth, the existing operational processes need to be both maintained and enhanced / adapted for a larger organisation. The contractor will be required to lead this activity – both implementing current plans and also identifying other opportunities as they arise.
Key functions to be fulfilled:
Finance:
Systems, processes and controls required to maintain Pathways financial records and operate key finance processes (including payroll, taxation returns, audit, transaction processing (receivable / payable), production of regular management accounts and annual accounts)
Effective budget control throughout the organisation
Financial planning processes to support delivery of Pathway’s objectives and highlight financial risks and opportunities associated with their delivery
Efficient banking and Treasury management processes
Maintain effective working relationship with 3rd party finance support firm that operates Pathway’s financial transaction processes and systems
Ensure appropriate processes and controls are in place around monies received and granted on to ensure appropriate controls, safeguards, contractual and regulatory requirements are maintained
Support the development of financial policies and control framework
Initiate the tender for Pathway’s first firm of auditors
IT
Maintaining appropriate IT and teleco provisioning for the organisation (including IT systems, physical hardware (laptops & phones), software licensing, website, backup and support)
Set up and maintain effective working relationship with 3rd party IT support firm that operates Pathway’s core IT hardware and software infrastructure
Support the development and implementation of appropriate IT policies particularly GDPR, security, and data protection
Leadership & Governance
Supporting the CEO in ensuring the organisation operates efficiently and key controls are operating effectively, within the wider culture.
Support and attend to the Board, ensuring it is appropriately briefed on relevant issues.
Ensure shorter-term business and financial plans are in line with strategic plan, flagging risks and potential variances / delays to plan in timely manner
Facilities Management
Act as the liaison for Pathway’s shared office space provider
Ensure any staff working from home have appropriate facilities and Pathway is compliant with all homeworker responsibilities
Legal
Ensure Pathway has the appropriate framework of standard contract templates in place, and the team know how / when to use them
Ensure Pathway remains compliant with its own contractual obligations
Liaison with Pathway’s external lawyers
Person specification
Part One - Knowledge and Experience
Qualified accountant, with minimum 5 years’ PQE
Experience across the range of the finance areas covered in the role, preferably in a small (less than 10 people) organisation
Experience of initiating and leading process change in an organisation, preferably during a period of rapid growth
Previous involvement in managing IT and legal / contractual issues in an organisation
IT literate (good MS 365 and Xero experience an advantage) and comfortable working virtually and in remote teams
Experience in not-for-profit organisations, particularly a grantmaker, is an advantage
Part Two - Skills and Competencies
This is an exciting opportunity in a relatively young organisation. Whilst most of the necessary systems and controls are in place and functioning, there is an opportunity to evolve and refine many of those that were set up in the organisation’s infancy.
To be successful in this role, the contractor will need:
a proactive and flexible approach, able to identify and take forward opportunities and work effectively in partnership with others.
a positive and can-do attitude, willing to be pragmatic, adaptable and roll their sleeves up to get into details where necessary
to set a leading example in internal and external collaboration and partnership building to achieve our mission
good communication skills
to be confident and comfortable operating at all levels of the organisation, from supporting the induction of junior staff team members to working directly with the Board and individual Directors
The successful contractor will be:
financially literate with strong attention to detail and ability to explain financial issues to allcomers
outcome focussed, with a commercial mindset and excellent business acumen whilst remaining systematic and rigorous
credible, with the experience to work effectively with all members of a small team, attend and participate in Board committees and work effectively with important 3rd party suppliers (such as auditors, IT support providers, etc)