Tributes have been paid to a “brilliant and unique” charity finance director after her death at the age of 55. 

Sharon Daley, who died last week from stomach cancer, held senior and finance roles at charities including Scope, the People’s Health Trust, the Centre for Ageing Better, Independent Age and Homeless Link during an almost 30-year career in the sector. 

She discovered that she had stage four stomach cancer after going to hospital with a broken toe. 

She was told in May that she only had a short time to live but used the remainder of her life to fundraise for Macmillan Cancer Support and Marlett’s Hospice, raising more than £27,000 for the charities. 

During her career, Daley had also been open about her diagnosis of bipolar disorder. 

John Hume, chief executive of the People’s Health Trust, which works to address health inequality across Great Britain, said: “Sharon was a truly remarkable and unusual FD – she understood her craft brilliantly but was also deeply engaged in the mission of all of the charities she worked for. 

“She was a fearless and outspoken critic of social injustice wherever it raised its head and had a warmth and sense of fun which lit up any room she walked into. 

“She was widely known across the sector and believed in being open about life struggles, which included opening up not only about her cancer diagnosis, but also about her own mental health and her diagnosis of bipolar disorder in 2016. 

“Her death is very much felt by the sector, her colleagues, friends and, of course, her family.”

Daley had volunteered for the Charity Finance Group during her career. 

Caron Bradshaw, chief executive of the charity, said: “Sharon was one of those brilliant and unique individuals who was a blend of fantastic technical knowledge, down to earth common sense and a quick humour. 

“She gave herself to others and always thought of everyone else.”

Richard Hawkes, chief executive of the British Asian Trust, said: “I had the great privilege of working with Sharon when I was chief executive of Scope and stayed in touch with her after we both moved on to other organisations.  

“She was one of the most decent people in the sector, totally understated, brilliant at what she did and never needed to tell everyone that!  

“The sector only thrives because of people like Sharon and we can all learn a great deal from her approach to life and work.”

Daley died at home at the end of last week with her sister and niece.