Finance Manager and Core Business Partner

We are currently looking for an Finance Manager and Core Teams BP to work with our busy and growing Finance team.

Key Responsibilities

Financial operations and data integrity

• Manage the day-to-day transactional processing and reporting activities of the finance function, including:
• Purchase ledger/accounts payable
• Gift processing
• Charitable spending (grants/contracts/special funds)
• Payments and receipts
• Regular accrual and prepayments
• Bank and other account reconciliations
• Corporate credit cards (including card scheme administration) and other staff expenses
• Non-outsourced elements of the payroll process
• Ensure that all transactions are processed accurately and in accordance with agreed processes and timescales.
• Ensure that all transactions are correctly coded in the system, and that any errors are identified and corrected in a timely manner.
• Ensure that agreed controls are applied to the processing of payments and receipts, that payments are made correctly and in accordance with agreed timescales, and that receipts are banked promptly.
• Ensure that VAT is correctly coded in the system and support with the production of VAT returns.
• Have a thorough understanding of the management, maintenance, flow and reconciliation of financial data across multiple systems.
• Ensure the accuracy and integrity of financial data in the finance systems.

2. Line management

• Effectively line manage the six staff within the Financial Operations sub-team:
• Management Accountant
• Senior Finance Assistant
• 2 x Finance Assistants
• 2 x Gift Processors (activity managed by the Management Accountant)
• Identify clear goals, objectives, and responsibilities for individual team members.
• Ensure that there are effective development plans in place, that regular appraisals are carried out, and any capability and conduct issues are managed effectively.
• Provide coaching and other support to individual team members as required and encourage their professional and personal development.

3. Reporting and insight

• Monitor expenditure against budget, investigate and explain variances, and produce monthly budget holder reports.
• Support budget holders in understanding and monitoring their expenditure.

4. Collaboration

• Provide support to the Financial Planning and Analysis sub-team by the provision of transactional data/information as required.
• Collaborate effectively within the Finance team to enhance performance and ensure alignment with organisational objectives.
• Work with internal/external auditors and other stakeholders are required.

5. Business partnering

• Provision of business partnering support to the Foundation's core teams (People & Culture, Corporate Communications, and Operations):
• Build, maintain and develop effective relationships with members of the core teams and work closely with them to improve mutual knowledge and financial understanding.
• Develop the business partner role into one that is able to deliver effective financial performance information, support operational decision making, and support the development of a culture of value-for-money within the core teams.
• Work with the Head of Finance/Finance Director where strategic decision support and forward-looking insight/analysis is required.

Knowledge and qualifications

• Qualified or part-qualified accountant (e.g., ACCA, ACA, CIMA or equivalent) or qualified accounting technician (e.g. AAT).
• Understanding of the accounting framework and financial challenges for the charity sector.
• Commercial awareness.

Experience

• Demonstrable experience of managing multiple staff in a busy, transaction focussed team.
• Solid experience of purchase ledger, payment processes and bank reconciliations.
• Demonstrable experience of producing management information.
• Established track record of cultivating successful business relationships and partnerships.
• Some experience within the commercial sector is desirable.

Skills and abilities

• Highly numerate with advanced Excel skills (essential, will be tested).
• Strong problem-solving and communication skills (essential).
• Advanced user of Access Financials, Access Analytics and Access Office Integration (desirable).

Personal attributes

• Self-starter, able to work under own initiative and organise own time to meet deadlines.
• Proactive in building and maintaining robust business relationships.
• Deadline-oriented with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Strong organisational and time-management skills.
• Commitment to maintaining confidentiality and integrity in financial matters.
• Flexible, able to work with and contribute to the team.
• Attention to detail and accuracy.

Benefits

• Up to 12% employer pension contributions
• £1000 annual personal development budget
• Annual health and wellbeing personal allowance of £200
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, and parental leave pay accessible without length of service requirements.
• Health and wellbeing programme that offers optional free yearly health check-ups.
• Support for healthy eating via fruit bowls and onsite lunch facilities.
• Agile working, flexible hours, and supportive IT kit.
• Shower facilities and bike lock area.
• Generous annual leave (27 days + bank holidays)
• Subsidies for glasses
• Employee Assistance Programme