About the organisation
Empire Fighting Chance is a Bristol-based charity that works with young people aged 8-25, using psychologically informed non-contact boxing and personal support to help them unlock their resilience. They support young people experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage and behavioural issues to improve their mental health, reduce engagement in challenging behaviours and improve engagement in education. Impetus has been partnering with Empire since December 2023.
About the role
Empire is a successful charity started in 2006; it has enjoyed a long track record of financial sustainability and is in a strong financial position.
This year, the organisation’s CEO Martin Bisp will step out of that role to develop Empire's international work and policy influence. Co-founder Jamie Sanigar will become the new Chief Executive of Empire Fighting Chance.
At the same time, Empire is transitioning from being a highly respected community-based charity with a strong regional voice into a Global Centre of Excellence.
Together with Impetus, the new CEO would like to carry out a comprehensive review of Empire’s financial management: financial controls, governance, management accounting and planning. Ensuring processes and controls are fit and proportionate to Empire's new phase will help the organisation to:
A. Reduce exposure to financial risks and improve its financial resilience
B. Take strategic decisions (e.g. resource allocation and forward planning) equipped with usable and accurate information
We would like volunteer support to provide an independent assessment of Empire’s financial management, across:
i. Management accounting: Accounting system and tools, timeliness and accuracy of reporting, usefulness of reports and KPIs, performance review meetings
ii. Budgeting & planning: Budget process and ownership, alignment to delivery plans, cashflow and scenario planning, reserves planning; tracking of restricted funds and project/grant income
iii. Governance & controls: Board/Treasurer oversight, policies & delegations, internal controls, fraud & risk management processes
iv: Financial capabilities and capacity: clarity of roles, skills mix, routines
We would then like the volunteer to provide recommendations and a programme of recommended sequenced improvements that Empire can make to its financial management. The key deliverable will likely be an easy-to-digest report of key (prioritised) findings and recommendations from the review.
Timescales and estimated timelines: We estimate this will be a short term project over 4 weeks. Starting as soon as possible and complete before the end of March 2026.
Our ideal candidate
Our ideal candidate will have:
Financial expertise, with understanding of financial processes and resourcing requirements for a small charity
Understands financial controls and reporting from perspective of senior management
High level understanding of fundraising processes of a small charity
Must be able to engage on finances with non-experts
Must be flexible: able to ‘rightsize’ their scope, and calibrate their approach and their findings to the context
What’s in it for you
This is an opportunity to support the growth and impact of a grass roots charity as it becomes global! Empire support 100's of young people every year at their site in Bristol and their model is becoming internationally renowned.
This is also an opportunity for a volunteer interested in finance coaching to support a new CEO as he gets to grips with his new role and responsibilities.
Apply for the role
Please provide a short cover note setting out your motivations for volunteering for the organisation, any relevant skills/experience and why you think you might be a suitable candidate.
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