Chief Finance Officer

Chief Finance Officer

Closing date: Thursday 26thFebruary

We have appointed the executive search firm Odgersto lead the search for the Chief Finance Officer. You can view Odgers privacy policy here

For more information and to apply please follow this link

Please note any application submitted directly to Wellcome may not be considered.

About us

Wellcome is one of the worlds leading charitable foundations dedicated to supporting science to solve the urgent health challenges facing everyone. The organisation has a long history of enabling breakthroughs that transform our current understanding of life health and wellbeing.

Wellcome is financially and politically independent funding all its mission work from returns generated by its financial investment portfolio valued at 39.9bn as of 30 September 2025.

In 2024/25 the organisation invested 1.9bn into missionrelated research partnerships and programmes worldwide and remains committed to spending 16bn between 2022 and 2032 to advance its mission. This independence allows Wellcome to take informed risks pursue longterm goals and tackle complex challenges beyond the remit of governments and traditional funders.

The Chief Finance Officer Opportunity

The Chief Finance Officer (CFO) is a crucial role in this multifaceted and highly complex organisation requiring leadership through influence consensusbuilding 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 Wellcomes 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 Wellcomes different types of financial activity ensuring strong alignment robust cashflow forecasting longterm 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 organisations longterm mission with an emphasis on contribution judgement and the ability to shape thinking through providing clear financial insights and expertise to worldleading experts in science and health.

The right individual will bring extensive finance leadership experience aligned to Wellcomes scale and complexity a proven track record in a complex highperforming 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 selfawareness and a growth mindset. Pragmatic solutionsfocused resilient collaborative and comfortable with ambiguity you will operate at pace and be aligned with Wellcomes values supporting decisions that strengthen impact sustainability and organisational effectiveness over time.

Diversity and Inclusion is at the heart of everything we do

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Required Experience:

Chief