Charities want both bankers and accountants

Financial industry roles are drying up, so now's the chance to wake up your inner philanthropist and consider a move to the not-for-profit sector. And with charities finding it more difficult to secure funding, they're keen to tap the expertise of bankers and accountants.

Charities are feeling the pinch as much as everyone else, says Dr Peter Boone, a former managing partner at investment bank Brunswick-UBS in Moscow and founder of charity Effective Intervention.

"Funding to the charity sector is collapsing just like the financial sector," he says. "Government funding has been cut, corporates have been scaling back charitable giving and some people funding us can no longer afford to do so."

The result is that charities are having to diversify their income streams, and are keen to attract ex-financial sector workers with the right skills and contacts.

Julia Oliver, partner and talent manager who focuses on the not-for-profit sector at recruiters Gatenby Sanderson, tells us: "We're seeing a lot of roles around income generation and business development. People from client-facing roles in the financial sector are ideal for these type of roles as they have the commercial nous and good networks with other corporates."

These roles can be called director of income generation, directors of business development, or directors of employer engagement, she says, but they equate to one thing - raising money.

As a result, the pay is (relatively) high, and can come in at around 85-90k.

"There is huge scope for someone in financial services to move to NGOs and help raise funds," agrees Boone.

The other area where jobs in the charity sector are being created is around the more generic finance and accounting positions.

Amnesty International, Save the Children, Shelter and RSPCA have vacancies in this space to name but a few.

And while they are interested in financial sector expertise, a large number of people are considering the switch, says Andrew Clark of FSS Financial Recruitment.

"The risk is that all these people flooding into not-for profit the sector may not wish to stay for very long," he says "Clients are concerned that they may return to financial services once it picks up again."