Operational finance

• Oversee and contribute to day-to-day financial processing, reconciliations, approvals and controls, ensuring accurate records, clear audit trails, and good stewardship of charitable funds.
• Maintain robust internal financial controls, so funds and assets are protected and delegated responsibilities are clear.
• Manage payroll preparation and oversight, currently outsourced, including pensions, payroll checks, and related reporting.
• Manage cash flow, banking arrangements and investments, balancing security, liquidity and value for money.
• Ensure statutory financial reporting and Charity Commission; Companies House and HMRC obligations are met, working closely with auditors.
• Ensure appropriate processing of Gift Aid, tax, payroll-related returns and other financial compliance matters, keeping clear records of decisions and assumptions.

People, systems and continuous improvement

• Provide line management and support for the Finance Officer, creating a positive, well-organised and learning-focused finance function.
• Work collaboratively with managers and budget holders to build financial confidence, improve budget ownership, and help services use resources effectively.
• Lead the development of a positive finance culture where information is timely, understandable, and used constructively to improve planning, accountability, and impact.
• Maintain, review and improve financial policies, procedures and systems so they remain proportionate, accessible, compliant and fit for a growing charity.
• Lead finance-related change projects, ensuring improvements to systems, reporting and processes are well planned, communicated and embedded.

Compliance, risk and stewardship

• Maintain financial arrangements that support safe and compliant service delivery, including insurance, and ensure any financial risks that could affect services or organisational stability are raised promptly.
• Support proportionate procurement, supplier management and value-for-money decisions that balance quality, cost, risk, and social value.
• Support the development, review and monitoring of reserves, cash management and investment approaches, helping trustees balance sustainability, risk and mission delivery.
• Keep up to date with relevant charity finance, governance, accounting and regulatory developments, including charity SORP requirements, and advise the Chief Executive on implications and improvements.
• Undertake other tasks to commensurate with the position as required.

Person Specification

Qualification

• Recognised professional finance qualification or equivalent senior finance experience, with a demonstrable commitment to continuing professional development and to maintaining up-to-date charity finance knowledge.

Knowledge and experience

Essential

• Strong practical experience of preparing management accounts, budgets, forecasts, cash flow information and financial reports for senior leaders, boards or committees.
• Sound understanding of charity or not-for-profit finance, including restricted and unrestricted funds, reserves, cost allocation, grant or contract reporting and funder requirements.
• Experience of maintaining effective financial controls, audit trails, risk management arrangements and good financial governance.
• Experience of day-to-day finance operations, including reconciliations, ledgers, payment processes, income recording, payroll checks and month-end preparation.
• Experience of supporting, supervising or working closely with finance staff or colleagues to deliver accurate, timely and well-organised finance processes.
• Confident use of finance systems, data and Excel to support reporting, forecasting, controls and decision-making.
• Experience of working constructively with senior leaders, managers, auditors, funders or external advisers.

Desirable

• Experience of charity accounts, charity SORP, statutory reporting or working directly with auditors on annual accounts.
• Experience of improving finance systems, processes, reporting tools or digital ways of working.

Skills and competencies

• Able to move confidently between strategic financial thinking and detailed operational problem-solving.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to identify financial risks, trends, pressures and opportunities and turn them into practical advice.
• Clear and accessible communicator, able to explain financial information in non-technical language and build confidence among non-finance colleagues.
• Good judgement, accuracy and attention to detail, with the ability to balance compliance, confidentiality, timeliness and proportionate decision-making.
• Organised and responsive, with the ability to manage deadlines, competing priorities and changing demands calmly and constructively.
• Collaborative and supportive leadership style, with the ability to set clear expectations, give helpful feedback and develop confidence in others.
• Curious and improvement-focused, with the ability to simplify processes, strengthen routines and make financial information easier to use.

Personal Qualities

• Warm, calm and approachable, with the ability to create confidence in finance across the organisation.
• Comfortable with both responsibility and hands-on work, bringing reliability, humility and a practical problem-solving mindset.