Julia Rank

My background is in finance, having qualified as an Associate Chartered Accountant and worked for KPMG for a number of years for a wide range of clients, including those in media and communications.

In 2007 I made a slightly unusual career choice and went to work for an NGO in the Democratic Republic of Congo as their Country Finance Director. This was my first foray into working in international development and I have never looked back. I experienced the benefits of working in partnerships and saw first-hand the difference that community engagement made to the sustainability of our work. From a financial perspective, I also learnt to question everything, to never take anything for granted, and that basic financial controls get you a long way but are so often missing.

Upon returning to KPMG, I transferred to the Charities Team and worked with a number of NGOs providing audit and advisory services. This included working with donors including USAID, Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad), Swedish International Development Cooperation Association (Sida) and the UK Department for International Development (DFID) to ensure organisational readiness for funding and award compliance.

In 2015 I moved back into the charity domain to take on the role of Deputy Director of Finance for St Mungo’s: a charity and housing association which supports people who are sleeping rough, in hostels and at risk of homelessness. I am absolutely delighted to be a part of the Board of Trustees and to chair the Finance and Audit Committee at BBC Media Action, and am confident that my understanding of donor demands, from having worked for both donors and charities alike, will enable me to bring a unique insight to the organisation.