Begum Rice is the Finance Director at Social Development Direct. She is a Chartered Certified Accountant and a member of ACCA. She is responsible for the financial and commercial management of the company and acts as Company Secretary. Her role includes managing the finance team, preparing monthly management accounts and annual statutory accounts, supporting auditors during audits, reporting to Plan International UK, and presenting at quarterly Board meetings. She also contributes to pricing, project finance, commercial proposals, risk management, and the financial aspects of project delivery.
Begum is a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the Risk Committee, and the Pay and Reward Committee. She works across the organisation to ensure financial information supports strategy, business planning, and project delivery.
She has worked in senior finance roles across international development, education, healthcare and consultancy. Before joining Social Development Direct, Begum was Senior Finance Manager at another international development sector SME for 7.5 years, overseeing UK and international subsidiary finances, leading the finance team, managing multi‑currency treasury, and coordinating statutory and donor audits. Prior to that, she was Financial Controller at Westonbirt Schools, leading budgeting, management reporting and audit preparation during an organisational transition and acquisition.
Outside of work, Begum likes to take part in endurance events, with several marathons and varying‑distance triathlons under her belt.