Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Senior Financial Accountant - Fixed-Term
Reference: AUG20257890
Location: Flexible in UK
Contract: Fixed Term until 31st December 2026
Hours: Full Time, 37.5 hours per week
Salary: £47,313.00 - £50,309.00 Per Annum
Benefits: Pension scheme (7%), Life Assurance scheme, 26 days' annual leave (plus bank holidays)
The RSPB reserves the right to extend or make this role permanent without further advertising dependent on business needs at the end of the contract term.
This is an excellent opportunity to join our busy Finance team and develop your skills in one of the UK’s leading conservation charities. This role arises in order to support the Finance Systems Replacement project which is a Board priority and a major digital change project.
In order to facilitate this we are looking for additional support in our Financial Control Team. We are looking for a strong technical professional, whose financial expertise and specialist knowledge are a given. The main purpose of the role is to provide technical financial accounting support, with a focus on, but not limited to VAT, gift aid and corporation tax, preparation of statutory accounts, to ensure that RSPB and its related group entities comply with a range of regulatory and external stakeholder reporting requirements and specific project requirements related to the implementation of the new finance system.
What's the role about?
You will be part of a team of professionals reporting to the Financial & Treasury Controller.
As part of a team of 5 your main duties will be to:
- Deal with VAT, Gift Aid and corporation tax enquiries, produce returns, etc.
- Be involved in the preparation of the Trustees’ Report and Accounts (including subsidiary and related entities); This involves co-ordinating input from the wider Finance team as well as liaison with the Communications and Corporate Governance and Risk teams to provide an integrated narrative that clearly articulates RSPB’s impact and the challenges it faces.
- Liaise and provide information to internal and external audit.
- Help manage and reconcile the fixed asset system with particular focus on getting the fixed asset data ready for accurate transfer to new finance system.
- Financial analysis and technical reporting including government statistics returns
With an income of over £170m per annum and 1.15 million members the RSPB combines worldwide charitable impact with a substantial commercial operation. The scale and diversity of the operation gives scope for this role to make a significant impact on the delivery of RSPB’s work as well as the opportunity for major personal development.
Essential skills, knowledge and experience:
- Fully qualified accountant or part qualified in final year of exams.
- Good working knowledge of the rules, regulations and standards in respect of tax legislation (VAT and Gift Aid), preferably for the charity sector.
- Good working knowledge of the rules, regulations and standards in respect of financial reporting (Accounting standards and company law) preferably for the charity sector.
- Ability to analyse, interpret and communicate financial data.
- Ability to communicate financial information to both a finance and non-finance audience.
- Experience within a medium sized organisation (Income £50m+) of preparing reports/returns for external stakeholders including Tax returns (VAT, Gift Aid and corporation tax), Annual Reports and Annual Returns (Charity Commission, Government agencies).
Desirable skills, knowledge and experience:
- Advanced knowledge of MS Excel
- Experience of accounting software within a medium sized organisation.
- Experience of communicating with HMRC and other regulatory bodies.
- Experience of communicating with internal and external stakeholders including auditors, trustees and directors.
Additional information:
- The role can be hybrid within the UK however you may be periodically required to attend our HQ finance office at RSPB HQ in Sandy, Bedfordshire.
- This role may require some travel within the UK.
- This role may require some overnight stays away from home.
The RSPB works for a healthy environment for all and we therefore expect you to take action in accordance with our Environmental Policy and objectives. Together we can make a positive difference for our world.
In the RSPB, volunteers are a major resource and make a vital contribution to the RSPB’s aim to take action for the conservation of wild birds and the environment. Employees are responsible for encouraging, developing and supporting volunteers in their work for the RSPB.
Support for obtaining taxation qualification can be considered.
Agreed professional subscriptions are paid by RSPB.
Closing date: 23:59, Tue, 2nd Sep 2025
We are looking to conduct interviews for this position on: 11th September 2025.
Please note that we will be actively recruiting for this role and reserve the right to close this vacancy should sufficient applications be received.
Interested?
If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.
As part of this application, you will be asked to provide a copy of your CV and complete an application form where you will have the opportunity to tell us how you meet the criteria set above.
We are committed to developing an inclusive and diverse RSPB, in which everyone feels supported, valued, and able to be their full selves. To achieve our vision of creating a world richer in nature, we need more people, and more diverse people, on nature’s side. People of colour and disabled people are currently underrepresented across the environment, climate, sustainability, and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we are particularly interested in receiving your application. Contact us to discuss any additional support you may need to complete your application.
The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.
No agencies please.
Registered Charity
More than 1000
The RSPB brings people together – people like you – to protect the things that matter to us all.
Thank you!
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
You'll play a vital role in developing work experience opportunities for adults with learning disabilities as well as supporting our team members into permanent employment. This is a new role which will require you to show heaps of flexibility and learn-as-we-go in order to shape and develop our impact into the future.
If you have pints of personality and want to work for a fantastic cause, we want to hear from you. You’ll be experienced in coaching or mentoring, be well organised and understand the barriers faced by people with a learning disability when moving into employment.
You'll support and develop our team. This means:
- managing a caseload of between 6 and 10 people who are neurodivergent and/or have a learning disability, and who are looking to move into supportive employment locally
- preparing our team members for long-term employment by supporting them to understand their skills, aspirations and goals by offering employment profiling, job matching, action planning and skill development opportunities
- working to a minimum target of 2 adults moving into long term employment by the end of your contract
- undertaking monthly work coaching sessions for team members to develop and upskill them in brewing and bar management skills
- supporting team members to reduce work-related barriers such as travel-to-work, better-off calculations, disclosure of health & wellbeing needs and budgeting
- providing in-work support to assist team members in maintaining and retaining employment, including frequent in-person meetings during the first few months of a successful employment match
You'll be responsible for our employer engagement. This means:
- undertaking tailored job searches and proactive engagement with employers to source supportive, paid job opportunities which meet our team members preferences and match their developing skillset
- identifying potential opportunities for employment within their businesses and sales opportunities amongst employment partners
- providing education and support to employers, which may include negotiating adjustments and on-going employer support to ensure job retention
- building Ignition’s profile as a skills-based, local employment specialist
You will develop our wider employability programme. This means:
- organising and facilitating regular employment taster days for people with learning disabilities looking to move into work in order to raise aspirations and developing an understanding of the workplace
- planning & running CV development workshops to help adults with learning disabilities prepare for the world of work
- developing our evidence-based employability model, drawing on good practice from other sectors, in order to constantly improve and refine the model
As part of your 20 hours per week, you will also be required to undertake one evening or weekend shift per week of up to 6 hours, as a Taproom Supervisor.
What we need from you (the essentials):
- experience of working or volunteering with neurodivergent adults or people with learning disabilities
- experience of leading, teaching, coaching, mentoring or otherwise supporting groups of people
- an understanding of the barriers to employment experienced by adults with learning disabilities
- proven experience of meeting and exceeding outcomes and targets
- well organised with experience of managing a varied workload
- outstanding interpersonal and communication skills with an ability to build rapport with people
- good administrative skills with an ability to use IT and tools such as Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint
- a flexible and hands on approach with an an ability to think and problem-solve independently
- being comfortable trialling new approaches and learning in response
What we’d ideally like from you (the desirables):
- experience of supporting people to obtain employment
- knowledge of the benefits system and how to navigate this when moving into employment
- experience working in a bar or other customer service setting
Non Charity Employer
11 - 20
Ignition employs and trains adults with learning disabilities in order to support people into employment who would otherwise find it difficult.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.