Company secretary jobs in wealden, east sussex

We are looking for a highly skilled and visionary senior leader, with a proven track-record of financial and business management and the creation of robust and innovative financial and operational strategies. The Senior Finance Lead will be a member of the senior leadership team, entrusted with strategic responsibility and supervising day to day management of the financial and commercial operations across the business including the shop, café, nursery, admissions and educational courses. The Senior Finance Lead will conduct rigorous analysis of financial data, trends and performance metrics to derive insights and offer recommendations for informed decision making.

Responsibilities will include overseeing the organisation's financial and operational activities and ensuring robust financial systems and processes are in place throughout the Trust, working collaboratively with the CEO and senior management to form a financial, retail and business strategy, act as Company Secretary to the Trust and lead on GDPR and information security.

In return Great Dixter offer a market rate salary and benefits package. To apply, please send a full cv with a covering letter outlining your suitability for the post.

Early applications are encouraged; interviews may be staged and we may choose to appoint at any time during the application process.

Join Mersey Rivers Trust and Help Make a Real Impact for Rivers, Wildlife and Communities! 

Are you a skilled finance and governance professional looking to use your expertise for good? Mersey Rivers Trust is seeking a Finance and Governance Manager to join our Senior Leadership Team and help shape the future of our environmental charity. 

We’re a passionate team working to protect and restore rivers across Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire — and we need someone like you to ensure our finances and governance are as strong as our mission. 

APPLICANTS MUST LIVE WITHIN OR CLOSE TO THE MERSEY CATCHMENT – APPLICATIONS FROM OUTSIDE THIS AREA CANNOT BE CONSIDERED.

The Mersey Rivers Trust (MRT) is an environmental charity focussing on the protection and enhancement of rivers and waterbodies in the Mersey Catchment. It operates in an area covering Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire. We have an annual turnover of c£1m and employ 19 staff delivering up to 30 projects per year. The Trust works with partners, local communities, and volunteers to deliver a wide range of projects including river restoration, reduction of flood risk by Natural Flood Management techniques, river monitoring, volunteer events (eg river clean-ups/invasive species control and citizen science), community engagement and education events, farm advice/plans and biodiversity net gain. The Trust continues to evolve to meet the increasing challenges of protecting and enhancing rivers and waterbodies in the catchment.

We are seeking a Finance and Governance Manager to join our Senior Leadership Team and lead the Trust’s finance, governance, and back-office functions. This is a pivotal role focused on ensuring financial integrity, regulatory compliance, and effective charity governance. While not involved in field-based project delivery, the Finance Manager plays a strategic role in supporting the organisation’s mission by enabling robust financial planning, reporting, and operational support. You will work closely with the Chief Executive Officer, Board of Trustees, and project teams to ensure the Trust remains financially resilient and well-governed.

As the Finance and Governance Manager, you should possess expertise in financial control and reporting, allowing you to effectively handle delegated responsibilities. Your numerical skills and critical thinking abilities will enable you to proactively address challenges and streamline processes. 

The role holder will report directly to the Chief Executive Officer and will be a member of the Senior Leadership Team. The role will also include direct line management responsibilities of the Administration Officer. 

If you are a motivated financial professional with a passion for driving organisational success, we invite you to apply and contribute to our team’s growth. 

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the management of the back-office function and Charity governance of MRT.
• Act as the Company Secretary to ensure compliance with financial and legal requirements, as well as maintaining high standards of Charity governance.
• Work with the Chief Executive Officer to prepare and manage budgets, provide input to the Trust’s business plan and strategic initiatives.
• Contribute to the strategic direction of the Trust as a member of the Senior Leadership Team.
• Provide financial insight and analysis to support strategic decision-making and long-term planning.
• Support the development and implementation of organisational policies and procedures to ensure good governance.
• Act as a key liaison with the Board of Trustees, preparing and presenting financial and governance reports to inform oversight and decision-making.
• Lead on the development of internal controls and risk management strategies to safeguard the Trust’s assets and reputation.
• Oversee all payments, manage cash flow, income and claims.
• Support financial planning for grant funding applications to support delivery of our objectives.
• Line management of the Administration Officer.
• Renew the annual insurance policy ensuring adequate cover and value for money.
• Maintain, oversee, and update all project management reporting systems on time and to budget (including timesheets, expenses and monthly reports).
• Complete all necessary reports and keep suitable records in line with the funding requirements and document retention policy.
• Highlight any new risks and issues identified whilst carrying out duties, and work with the team to manage and resolve them.
• Fulfil duties as assigned by the Chief Executive Officer.
• Any other reasonable duties as required by MRT.

The post holder will be home based with travel throughout the Mersey catchment. The applicant will need to live within or close to the Mersey catchment to facilitate regular travel to meetings. Remote working from other parts of the country cannot be considered for this role due to the need for regular face-to-face interactions. 

Candidate profile

Essential

• A financial control and reporting background, qualification or qualified by experience. 
• Experience of organisational governance, ideally with knowledge of UK General Accounting Practice and Charities regulations.
• Experience of financial and management reporting within a small to medium-sized organisation.
• Experience of liaising with accountants to prepare annual accounts and reports required by the Charity Commission.
• Experience of cash flow forecasting.
• Familiarity with Xero financial and project management software (or similar).
• A confident and clear communicator with the ability to communicate financial information in an appropriate manner for non-financial trustees and staff.
• Aptitude in problem-solving.
• Self-motivated and able to work effectively from home with strong communication skills and with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to work flexibly across the working week when necessary.
• Ability to prioritise and plan activities to meet strict deadlines.
• Excellent literacy, numeracy and report-writing skills.
• Excellent presentation and communication skills.
• Strong negotiation and influencing skills.
• Good computer literacy skills (e.g. with Excel, Word, PowerPoint and project reporting systems).
• A reliable team player with good attendance and work performance.
• Ability to set performance objectives and ensure these are achieved.
• Excellent organisational / admin skills and attention to detail.

Desirable

• Experience in financial planning for funding applications.
• Experience of working in the charity or not for profit sector.
• Understanding of small-scale charitable trading.
• Experience of commercial contract management.
• Experience of managing an IT service provider.
• Knowledge of the Mersey Catchment.
• Good network of contacts in the sector. 

General notes

• Some travel around the Mersey Catchment will be necessary therefore a current driving licence and access to a vehicle (insured for business use) is desirable or otherwise access to public transport networks. 
• This position will from time to time require work during some evenings, weekends and public holidays to meet the needs of the post. A time-off in lieu system is operated by the Trust.
• We will also require the successfully applicant to undergo a basic DBS check and provide satisfactory references from previous employers.

The Company seeks an experienced Project Manager to work with our Founder Fiona Laird to manage the Regeneration Theatre Company through its next stages of fundraising and delivery.

This is a newly created part-time, fixed term freelance contract for an experienced, motivated and committed manager.

Key responsibilities

1. Outreach Offer:  To build and develop our Outreach Offer with engaged key delivery partners; to pursue new outreach partner possibilities; and to manage the development of the outreach offer and delivery methods with the Outreach Lead, Principal Actor, and Artistic Director.

2. Fundraising:  To raise funds in conjunction with the Director and freelance Fundraiser, and in particular manage the P/T freelance Fundraiser in planning and delivering donor approaches and fundraising events; any grant applications and other funding opportunities.

3. Donor Network: To maintain positive and appropriately timed communications with current - and incoming -donors and supporters to ensure they remain committed, and develop them as ambassadors for the project.

4. PR and Communications:  To ensure high quality social media and website comms around the project and its activities.

5. Finance & Budgeting: To oversee and develop our Budget and appropriate financial records and reporting requirements for the Outreach delivery, Donors and other funds, in line with the Directors, and our Freelance Accountant; manage cashflow, accounts and all company accounting requirements.

6. Governance: To manage and develop any required Policies and Procedures for the project. To oversee the project in its new governance structure in consultation with the Director.

7. To manage the Project’s P/T freelance Administrator, Outreach Lead and Principal Actor.

The role works to Founder/Director Fiona Laird.

Person Spec

· Proven track record of project managing for a not-for-profit/social enterprise project

· Proven experience managing freelance, part time staff for positive outcomes

· Experience managing budgets and accounting processes

· Experience working with managing Founder/Directors

· An interest in theatre as an instrument for personal and societal positive change

Contract

12 month fixed term contract initially; with mutual review after 6 months.

6/8 days per month TBA. 

Remote working with some in person meetings with the company – and with funding opportunities. £200 - £250 per day. Role has potential to develop dependent on progress of the company. 

We are looking to appoint someone who sees risk not just as a challenge to avoid, but as an opportunity for kingdom impact. This role calls for someone able to blend robust yet proportionate compliance and an eye for detail, with bold, faith-shaped decision-making.

In this newly created role, you will play a key part in shaping how we coordinate policies, manage risk, and navigate complexity with both diligence and hope. You will ensure that our compliance meets or exceeds required standards, strengthening trust and relationships. You will support governance that enables wise decision-making and foster a risk management culture that both protects the organisation and recognises and seizes opportunities, all while actively pursuing and staying faithful to our calling.

• Salary: £33,000-36,000 (pro-rata) + benefits
• Location: Home-based or the option of a desk at our office in Oxford.
• Terms of appointment: Part-time (22.5 hours per week). Permanent
• Closing date: Monday 3 November at 9am
• Interview date: Interviews will be held over 10 and 11 November 2025

Key responsibilities:

• Compliance management
• Legal agreements and advisory implementation
• Risk management
• Governance support

For more information, see our application pack.

Benefits include:

• 33 days’ annual leave, including bank holidays
• Up to 5 days’ extra leave to serve on the Board of an external organisation
• Competitive contributory pension scheme
• Employer pension contributions up to 7.5%
• Fully employer-funded life assurance
• 24/7 employee assistance programme for emotional and practical support
• Tax-free home-working allowance
• Family-friendly employer
• Monthly in-person team days in Oxfordshire or the Chilterns (expenses covered)
• Hot-desking facility at Oxford office
• Fully paid-for professional development opportunities.

​It is an occupational requirement of this role that you have a clear, personal commitment to the beliefs set out in our Statement of Faith and Doctrinal Position Statement.