A Day in the Life: Meet Cathy, Schoolreaders Head of Finance

A strong and transparent financial viewpoint is vital to every successful charity. At Schoolreaders, that viewpoint is held by Cathy, our Head of Finance.

With more than 25 years’ experience in charity finance, Cathy plays a crucial role in ensuring our resources are used effectively, transparently, and in ways that maximise impact for children and schools across the country.

We spoke to Cathy to find out more about her role, her journey to Schoolreaders, and what a day in the life looks like behind the spreadsheets.

What is your name, job role, and where are you based?

My name is Cathy, and I’m the Head of Finance at Schoolreaders. I joined the organisation in June 2025 and work closely with colleagues across the charity to support our financial planning and reporting. I’m still relatively new, but I’ve already loved getting to know the team and the important work the charity does.

Can you tell us a bit about your previous job role, and why you chose to join the team here?

I have over 25 years’ experience working in the charity finance sector. Most recently, I was Finance Manager in a busy multi-academy special educational needs trust, which was a challenging and rewarding environment.

Before joining Schoolreaders, I also spent several years living overseas with my young family. During that time, alongside learning a new language and immersing ourselves in a different culture, I homeschooled my children. Teaching them to read and write was a huge part of that experience and helped engender a real love of reading across our family.

That personal connection to reading, combined with my professional background in charity finance, made Schoolreaders feel like a perfect fit.

What does a typical ‘day in your life’ look like?

My days are a balance of detailed financial work and collaboration with colleagues across the organisation. I spend a lot of time working with budgets, forecasts, and financial reports, helping to ensure that Schoolreaders remains financially sustainable and able to grow its impact.

I love a balanced spreadsheet and the story that numbers can tell about an organisation. Good financial information helps us make informed decisions, plan for the future, and demonstrate our impact clearly to funders, trustees, and supporters.

Working in a charity like Schoolreaders means understanding how every pound spent contributes to helping children improve their reading. That sense of purpose runs through everything I do.

What does ‘success’ at Schoolreaders look like for you?

Success, for me, is knowing that the charity is on a strong financial footing and able to continue supporting volunteers and schools year after year.

When finances are well managed, it allows the rest of the organisation to focus on what really matters,  helping children develop confidence and a love of reading. Being part of that, even from behind the scenes, is incredibly rewarding.

Finally, what do you do for fun?

When I’m not working, I have a passion for modern crochet and enjoy a good coffee. I also love rummaging for bargains in charity shops - there’s nothing quite like finding a hidden gem!

Cathy is part of the dedicated team at Schoolreaders who work behind the scenes to ensure the charity can continue making a difference.

Thanks to the experience, care, and commitment of colleagues like Cathy, Schoolreaders is able to support thousands of children to discover the joy of reading.