Job Description

Salary

79,937 - 84,144 per annum, basis experience

Contractual hours

35

Basis

Full Time

Job category/type

Marketing and communications

Date posted

05/09/2025

Job reference

REC006444



At AAT it's our mission to make it possible for more people to experience the opportunities a career in finance brings, through our accessible qualifications and supportive community.

We are the UK's leading qualification and professional membership body for vocational accountants. We pride ourselves on providing practical qualifications that meet the needs of both employers and employees, as well as products and services to support our members and customers throughout their careers.

Term:

Permanent

Location:

We have hybrid working in place, with 1-2 days per week, in our office in Canary Wharf.

What exactly will you be doing?

As

Head of Policy, Media and External Affairs

, you will lead AAT's external engagement strategy--shaping public policy, managing media relations, and building influential partnerships with government, regulators, industry leaders, and the wider public.

You will ensure AAT's voice is heard in policy debates, recognised across media platforms, and reflected in strategic conversations that impact our members and learners. This is a high-impact leadership role that combines advocacy, communications, and stakeholder engagement to advance AAT's reputation and influence.

Major objectives

Your major objectives will include:

Leading the development and delivery of AAT's policy strategy in alignment with organisational goals. Monitoring and analysing public policy, legislation and regulatory developments relevant to AAT. Representing AAT in government consultations, industry forums, and external engagements. Developing and executing a media strategy that enhances AAT's public profile. Managing relationships with journalists, media outlets, and influencers. Acting as a spokesperson for AAT on policy and external affairs matters. Building and maintaining strategic partnerships with key stakeholders. Leading the stakeholder engagement strategy and overseeing thought leadership activity. Managing and developing the Public Affairs, Media and External Affairs team. Overseeing budgets and resources to maximise impact and efficiency.

What are we looking for?

Strong leadership skills with experience managing teams in a matrix environment. Deep understanding of parliamentary processes and media engagement models. Proven success in public affairs or media roles, with a track record of raising organisational profile. Excellent communication and influencing skills across diverse audiences. Strategic stakeholder management and partnership development experience. Ability to work independently and collaboratively across teams. Knowledge of awarding and membership bodies and the wider education sector. Degree, apprenticeship, or equivalent experience.
Join AAT and lead the charge in shaping policy, driving media impact, and building strategic relationships that support our mission. If you're passionate about advocacy, communications, and external affairs, we'd love to hear from you!

What are the benefits?

At AAT we believe in treating our staff well and this is reflected in our wide-ranging benefits, which include:

Hybrid working (1-2 days per week in our London office) and opportunities for further flexible working. 25 days' annual leave, increasing one day per year up to a maximum of 30 days plus bank holidays. Great pension scheme, life assurance and critical illness cover. Health cash plan. Enhanced maternity and shared parental leave contributions of up to 6 months' full pay depending on the length of service. Regular wellbeing initiatives. Cycle2Work scheme and much more.

Closing Date:

The planned closing date for this role is

22 September 2025 at 17.00,

however, we reserve the right to close the role earlier than planned.

It's an exciting time to join AAT and we would love you to join us on our journey. In 2023 we achieved one-star company status in the Best Companies survey and we have recently launched our strategy to 2030.

We are committed to being an inclusive and welcoming place to work. We encourage applications from diverse candidates and make recruitment decisions based on skill and experience. We have a Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) Champions group, which leads on our D&I strategy and organise events to celebrate and raise awareness. We are a disability-confident committed employer and have signed up to the Race at Work Charter. We have also signed up for the Women in Finance Charter and in 2022 we exceeded our target for appointing females into senior positions.

Come and help us to make AAT an even better place to work!

Interested?

To apply please upload a copy of your CV and fill your application online.