Preparing for a move to Glasgow – looking to learn about the UK charity sector

Hello everyone,

I’ll be moving from the US to Glasgow and am hoping to enter the job market in the first quarter of 2027. In the meantime, I’d love to start learning more about the UK charity sector, particularly from a finance and grants management perspective.

I’m a New Zealand Chartered Accountant with over 20 years of experience in public practice, working with small and medium-sized businesses. Since moving to the US, I’ve been working in the charity sector as a Senior Accountant, gaining experience across the full grants life cycle, including grant budgets, financial reporting, compliance and monitoring. I’ve also worked closely with the Director of Finance and CEO, giving me insight into the wider financial and operational needs of a charity.

As I prepare for the move, I’m keen to understand the differences between the US and UK charity sectors, including the regulatory environment, funding landscape, financial reporting requirements and the resources or professional networks that would be helpful for someone looking to build their career in the sector in Scotland.

I’d be very grateful for any recommendations, whether that’s useful websites, publications, training courses, professional networks, or organisations worth following to learn more about the sector and potential career opportunities.

I’d also love to hear from anyone working in charity finance or grants management in Glasgow or elsewhere in Scotland who might be willing to share their experience or advice.

Thank you in advance for any suggestions. I’m looking forward to learning more about the sector and connecting with the charity community in Scotland!