Interviewing for first CEO (charity) role - any advice on what I'll be asked?

[InterviewPrep101]

Hello, I've applied for my first CEO role at a charity and have recently spent two hours with the charity, looking round their premises, meeting staff etc. All went well.
I've now been called back for a more formal interview and I wondered if others had any experience of the type of questions they're likely to ask? I am of course researching the charity, its trustees, services etc and can Google to find out suggestions but I'd be grateful if anyone can share any first hand experience- whether that's as a interviewer, interviewee, HR role and so on.
TIA

Hi

It is likely to be split into areas:

Experience of the type of service/transferable skills
Strategic development
Financial planning
Fundraising if that is relied on
Leadership skills

Also your understanding of charity governance, working with a board etc.

It depends on the size and structure as to how operational the questions will get. I.e safeguarding questions

Values will be a big one if they are a decent charity - what are their values and how will you demonstrate them, if they dont ask you that then I would ask them at the end of the interview. Happy to help if you have any other questions.
I'm on my third charity CEO role and am also a trustee.

Good luck!

Thanks @scater, appreciate it.

I'm working through my CV and the job spec to highlight relevant skills, hopefully that'll help. I'm also making sure I have a number of scenarios that I can call on to show leadership, management, skills etc.
Do you think that sounds like enough?

I'm more nervous that I'm going to get really hot and start sweating! (F**king menopause.)

That sounds good. I would have stuff prepped on change management, culture change and working with a board. If you haven't worked with a volunteer board or NEDs in another form before, think about it and do a bit of reading on the Chair/CEO relationship.

Don't worry about sweating, all charities are full of weird people, sweating is nothing

I’d also be prepared to have an idea of how you would approach your first hundred days / what do you think your priority should be.

Try and have an idea whether those interviewing you think there is a crisis that needs to be addressed straight away, or whether you have time to listen, ask questions and observe before getting stuck into changes.

I would think about how the cost of living crisis is likely to be impacting the charity. Will it make a difference to your fundraising? A greater demand on services? Fewer volunteers? A combination of everything?

definitely also use the interview as a time to figure out whether you could work with the board. In a good CEO - Board relationship. There will often be a little friction from time to time but, overall, it should be a really constructive relationship. The board should offer supportive challenge and be a critical friend. Unless it’s a properly tiny charity, they shouldn’t be overly operational, and you should certainly get the impression that they respect your expertise.

Lots of good stuff already. So much depends on the type of charity & what it does but sustainability is one that comes up a lot - how will you sustain services in the face of reduced funding from statutory sector and/or grant funders