Meet Sarah Crawford: Our New Finance and Operations Director

Sarah joined us in February 2025, bringing a wealth of experience from her career in accountancy, where she specialised in supporting charities through independent examinations, audits, and advisory work.

We’re excited to welcome Sarah Crawford to the team as our new Finance and Operations Director and Deputy Chief Executive! Sarah joined us in February 2025, bringing a wealth of experience from her career in accountancy, where she specialised in supporting charities through independent examinations, audits, and advisory work.

At our charity, Sarah will be overseeing finance, IT, CRM development, GDPR, and managing our central support team. But beyond the numbers, she has a deep passion for the charity sector, having volunteered and served as a trustee for several organisations.

To help you get to know Sarah a little better, we asked her a few quick-fire questions!

Q&A with Sarah

What drew you to join our charity?

Prior to my role at Pharmacist Support, I had been working in accountancy practice for nearly 30 years and had specialised in the audit and independent examination of not-for-profit sector clients for most of my career. It has always been my ambition though to work within a charity and pass on my skills and knowledge and when I saw the role with Pharmacist Support and met the fantastic team, I knew it was the right place for me to make the move into the sector.

How has your background in finance shaped your approach to working with charities?

I have always found working with clients from the voluntary sector rewarding and had developed a real affinity with the sector, I have also been a volunteer and trustee of many organisations, so I have seen many different sides to charity work.

Sarah Crawford, Finance and Operations Director

The people working in the charity sector, are generally doing so for more than financial reasons, and this means their objectives and outlook are different to more commercial organisations. The role of a professional adviser in these organisations becomes extremely valuable, as those resources may be lacking internally, so it can often mean in your professional role you can become an extension of the staff team.

I would have to say being personable, honest and approachable have been key attributes to working with the sector.

What excites you most about your new role?

I am really excited to be part of the Pharmacist Support team and support them in continuing to provide support to the Pharmacy sector through good financial management and support services. The charity is just entering into a new 5 year strategic plan and I am keen to support the team and trustees in achieving the charity’s objectives.

What’s something people might be surprised to learn about you?

When I was at school I was on the quiz show Blockbusters and won 2 gold runs. Also, I would hope people would be surprised that as an accountant I’m not that boring!

If you could describe your perfect weekend, what would it look like?

My perfect weekend would likely involve a combination of getting a rare lie in (this doesn’t happen often with 2 children), a long dog walk, a Leeds United win, going out for tea and then a good film, snuggled on the sofa with my family.

Favourite book, film, or album?

Now this is tricky, as someone with quite an interest in all 3 of these. My favourite book would have to be Pride and Prejudice, as I have read it repeatedly, as well as having the BBC adaptation on repeat. The film would have to be Gladiator, as I’m a big fan of Russell Crowe, and the album it would have to be from Band of Horses, Acoustic at the Ryman Auditorium.

If you could have dinner with any three people, past or present, who would they be?

My first guest would have to be Bob Mortimer, as anyone who’s watched Would I Lie To You can attest, he would definitely be entertaining, add in James O’Brien, the radio host, for a bit of depth and culture and then perhaps Stacey Solomon, as she seems like one of the nicest people on the TV.

What’s one piece of financial advice you think every charity should know?

Have a good reserves policy and review and monitor it regularly.

How can volunteers and supporters help make your job easier?

As a charity we are often reliant on the support, both financial and otherwise, from the general public, beneficiaries and our volunteers, but I would probably say the question should be phrased in reverse, my role is to help support the work of the charity and make being a volunteer or supporter feel rewarding, and make individuals feel supported and valued.

Finally, sum yourself up in three words!

Organised, caring and friendly.

We hope you’ll join us in giving Sarah a warm welcome!