Charity Finance Group is proud to partner with Bayes Business School and Sawyer Vincent to offer the Inspiring Financial Leadership Course for 2026/27.
The Inspiring Financial Leadership programme (IFL) is one of our core annual training programmes, and has produced hundreds of IFL alumni to date.
During the 8 sessions, you’ll be encouraged to step outside the box and rethink the traditional role of the finance professional while being equipped with the tools, leadership skills and expertise to help you with your career progression.
Who should attend?
This annually hosted course is for people who have responsibility for, or for those who want to move into a position of leading the financial management of a charity and contribute to their organisations strategic development and planning.
Benefits to you
-
Focus on your personal leadership development in an ongoing, supportive group of peers
-
Broaden your support network by developing relationships with others in similar roles
-
Engage in a leadership programme specifically designed for charity finance professionals
-
Take advantage of an individual coaching session with one of the programme leads
-
Gain skills and expertise to take you to the next stage of your leadership journey
Benefits to your organisation
-
Explore leadership models and techniques which will directly apply to your organisation
-
Understand the impact a charity finance leader can have within your organisation
-
Explore the elements that enable a team to work cohesively and perform well
-
Further the strategic role of finance in furthering your organisations impact
-
Opportunities for industry networking
Programme Leaders
The programme leaders of the Inspiring Financial Leadership programme are:
-
Sayer Vincent partner, Judith Miller
-
CCE consultant, Maggie Smith
Programme structure
Drawing on robust leadership research and grounded in the challenges that finance professionals face, this course creates a unique blend of learning that combines the latest leadership principles with practical advice and support from finance leaders in the sector.
This is an interactive course which uses a mix of practical experience, research and best practice. The modules allow participants to practice proven models and practical techniques in a supportive environment which they can then apply in their own organisations. Discussions will be focused on real situations and issues facing the participants.
- Module 1 – Tuesday 6th October 2026 – Programme Launch: Leadership from the Finance Function
- Please Note: only the first Module will be taking place in person in London at 106 Bunhill Row, London EC1Y 8TZ. This will be an opportuity for attendees to meet and network in person. If you think this may be an issue for you to attend the first Module in person please let us know on events@cfg.org.uk
- All other Modules will be taking place online.
Online Modules:
- Module 2 – Wednesday 4th November 2026 - Developing a Coaching Approach
- Module 3 – Wednesday 9th December 2026 - Self as Leader: You and Your Leadership
- Module 4 – Thursday 14th January 2027 - Leading Change
- Module 5 – Thursday 11th February 2027 - Effective Communication
- Module 6 – Wednesday 17th March 2027 - Delivery Through Others
- Module 7 – Tuesday 20th April 2027 - Harnessing the Power of Teams
- Module 8 – Thursday 20th May 2027 - Influence and Impact
Tickets to this event guarantee placement for all 8 modules.
CFG and our Inspiring Financial Leadership (IFL) course partners, Sayer Vincent and The Centre for Charity Effectiveness (CCE), are delighted to offer the Ian Theodoreson bursary aimed at supporting BAME led finance teams and/or organisations.
Having collaborated to deliver this flagship offering for a number of years we recognise the significant part it plays in career development support within the charity finance space. The Ian Theodoreson bursary scheme will target non-CFG members with help for CFG membership fees and IFL places.
To view the application criteria and apply for the Ian Thodoreson Bursry, please follow this link to the application.
Programme overview
|
Module 1: Leadership from the finance function – full day, in-person, London |
|
This session focuses on the principles and behavioural attributes associated with inspiring financial leadership, and goes beyond the traditional functional role of a finance leader. What are the particular challenges in moving the finance function to a key decision maker and business partner in an organisation, and how can you overcome them? We will also spend some of this day thinking about how we conduct ourselves as leaders and which styles best serve for the impact we seek to have.
|
|
Module 2: Coaching for Empowerment |
|
What are the skills you need to develop staff in the finance team to act as agents for powerful, collaborative and innovative change, with the ability to question and consider the shifting environment? We will draw distinctions between coaching and mentoring and introduce a simple and powerful model that will equip you to encourage empowerment of individuals in your organisation.
|
|
Module 3: Self as Leader |
|
In this session we will continue the work of self-awareness highlighted from the research and begun at the start of the programme. This session will help us identify our own behavioural preferences as well as thinking about those of others. Through this awareness and curiosity, we will find support in building diverse, more inclusive workplaces.
|
|
Module 4: Leading Change |
|
The role of finance leaders in change is key. This session will focus on the range of possible responses to change and discuss practical tools for building trusting relationships, in order to develop the capacity and capability within the organisation to meet its strategic objectives and purpose. We will explore how to improve engagement with change and ways of reducing resistance. |
|
Module 5: Communication |
|
Working with colleagues across the organisation is a key part of the finance leader’s role. Presenting technical information to non-experts in a way that can guide their decision making and fully engage them with the process of business development is essential. We will consider a range of communication skills and explore how to use them with internal and external stakeholders and create action plans to build more fruitful relationships.
|
|
Module 6: Delivery Through Others |
|
An important theme in the outstanding leadership research findings was this one – recognising that in organisational life, it’s really the only way to get things done and to have the desired impact. This session will build on the areas of difference and engagements from earlier in the programme. We will also explore how to create a working environment where trust can thrive and enable stronger, more effective working.
|
|
Module 7: The Power of Teams |
|
What are the elements that make for a high performing team? We will have already spent time exploring positive working relationships and this session will allow space to think about psychological safety and what creates it. We will also examine conflict and clarify healthy vs unhealthy conflict at work.
|
|
Module 8: Influence and Impact |
|
This final module will bring together the strands from the programme to support you in being more intentional and consistent in behaving as the sort of leader you wish to be. There will be reflection around the influence you have and the impact you can and do make.
|
06/10/2026 - 20/05/2027
08:15 - 11:30
Online
24.00 CPD Approved
Location
Online