Finance jobs in northamptonshire, east midlands

The Association for Cultural Enterprises (AfCE) supports over 500 member organisations across the UK and internationally, helping the cultural sector generate earned income through commercial activity. As an Arts Council England-funded organisation, AfCE delivers sector-leading training, benchmarking, data-led insights, events, and advocacy to drive financial resilience in arts, heritage, and culture.

AfCE runs a year-round programme of live training events around the UK and Europe, as well as its signature annual Cultural Enterprises Conference and Trade Show. We have ambitions to grow attendance at these events, as well as growing our membership.

The Association is a charitable organisation, which also has a trading company, Cultural Enterprises (Trading) Limited (CET).

We are looking for a new Finance Manager to join a small, friendly, and ambitious team, to review the day-to-day processes and policies and identify opportunities to improve reporting  and make operational efficiencies. The Association is growing, so now is an exciting time to join our team and work with our members across the cultural sector.

Job Summary

The purpose of this role is to provide sound financial management for the Association and CET through:

• Statutory financial reporting in line with Charity SORP/UK GAAP, including annual returns to Companies House and the Charity Commission

• Management accounting, reporting and analysis to funders, management, staff, and Trustees/Directors

• Preparation and maintenance of budgets, forecasts and plans, including cashflows and project budgets

• Supervision and control of day-to-day accounting transactions, including oversight of the finance aspects of the Apprentice role

• Oversight and implementation of robust financial systems, policies, and procedures

• Responsible for financial queries, working with the Apprentice as first point of contact for external contacts
   

Main Duties

• Supervise day-to-day accounting operations and ensure accurate financial record keeping, including coding, allocations, reconciliations, and tax accounting

• Oversee invoice generation and debt recovery processes

• Process payments and staff expenses for authorisation

• Produce regular management accounts on an accruals basis, providing interpretation and advice to the Executive Team, Finance & Risk Committee, Trustees/Directors, and funders

• Lead on budget preparation and forecasting, including project-specific budgets; monitor and reforecast as needed

• Prepare statutory accounts in compliance with charity SORP and liaise with external auditors and the Treasurer

• Manage contracts with financial services providers, including bookkeepers, auditors, banks, and investment managers

• Attend AfCE and CET Board meetings

• Fulfil company secretarial duties, including:

  • Filing confirmation statements and annual accounts for ACE and CET with Companies House and Charity Commission

  • Filing changes in Trustees/Directors

• Complete Arts Council England (ACE) returns, including provision of financial information for quarterly payment processes when required

• Negotiate and implement insurance policies including:

  • General insurance

  • Cyber security

  • Life assurance

  • Staff sickness policy

  • Trustees’ liability

  • Conference insurance

• Oversee monthly payroll, including statutory payments to HMRC and pension providers, and liaise with bookkeepers for payroll updates or changes

• Review VAT returns for accuracy before submission to HMRC
   

Note on External Bookkeepers
External bookkeepers currently provide support limited to payroll and VAT processing.

Person Specification

Personal Qualities

• Self-disciplined, organised, proactive and self-motivating

• Logical and methodical approach to finance and administration

• Trustworthy, honest, reliable and conscientious

• Confident, professional, and personable, able to communicate easily within a small team and with external stakeholders
   

Professional Competencies

Essential

• Professional accounting qualification such as ACA, ACCA, or CIMA

• Strong knowledge of charity SORP and charity finance regulations, including VAT and Gift Aid

• Experience with Xero or equivalent cloud-based accounting systems

• Strong reporting skills

• Team player with excellent interpersonal skills

• High level of accuracy and attention to detail

• Experience producing management accounts and supporting senior leadership and boards

• Ability to interpret financial data for non-financial colleagues
   

Desirable

• Experience working in a small charity or business

• Understanding of the cultural or charitable sector

• Experience of remote working
   

Benefits

• Unlimited holiday policy

• 5% employer pension contribution

• Life insurance

• Flexible working arrangements by agreement with the CEO

We are an inclusive, equal opportunity employer and value diversity. All employment is decided on the basis of experience, merit and organisational need.

For full information on this role, including the key responsibilities and person specification, please view the job pack.

Applications close at 23:59 on Sunday 13th July 2025.

The Organisation

ImpactEd Group is a purpose-driven organisation dedicated to supporting education and social sector organisations to become both impactful and operationally sustainable. We provide consulting, evaluation, data, and philanthropy expertise to help our partners make evidence-informed decisions and improve outcomes. We also incubate TEP Services. With a strong focus on responsible business practices, employee ownership, and long-term sustainability, we are now looking for a Commercial Operations & Finance Manager to work in our central Shared Services team, supporting our Group commercial operations, financial systems and wider operational processes.

The Opportunity

You will play a crucial role in supporting employees across ImpactEd Group, its trading subsidiaries, and associated companies (including TEP Services Limited). As part of the Shared Services team, you will manage and improve operational and finance systems and processes, enable employees to work efficiently, and provide high-quality management information, compliance support, and organisational oversight.

You will also play a key role in supporting the design and successful delivery of core commercial operational processes. This includes:

• Supporting Managing Directors and Sales Teams with the tracking and progression of leads and opportunities within our CRM system;

• Providing data and reports to inform sales forecasting, pricing strategies and performance KPIs;

• Assisting in financial management, forecasting, utilisation analysis, and margin reporting;

• Work closely with the Finance Manager to support the effective provision of our finance function;

• Identifying process improvements and opportunities for automation or system integration;

• Ensuring compliance with agreed protocols for sales, contracting, and cost management.

You’ll manage the day-to-day use and optimisation of commercial and operational systems (e.g., CRM, finance tools), working with colleagues across the organisation to embed scalable, sustainable ways of working. You’ll also work alongside the People team to operationalise systems that support the ImpactEd Group Employee Handbook and core internal services. Limited administrative support for the Group Directors will be a part of the role.

You are someone who enjoys a well-structured to-do list, can manage competing requests, and brings a continuous improvement mindset. You are systems-savvy, detail-oriented, and motivated by making a meaningful contribution to a purpose-driven organisation.

Why Us?

As well as a commitment to the organisations we work with, we have a commitment to our people and developing the next generation of leaders. Our employee experience is organised around four themes:

• Trust: we support hybrid working, offer flexible hours, and provide responsive management.

• Shared ownership: we are an employee-owned organisation and look to share ownership with our employees, including through ownership awards, EMI options and transparent governance.

• Connection: we pay for your travel, provide termly company offsites, support informal clubs and societies, and provide opportunities for in-person and digital connection between colleagues. 

• Health and fulfilment: we have an extensive professional development programme, provide an annual books and development budget allowance and offer 3 days of CPD leave per year in addition to annual leave. We offer all employees access to a healthcare plan and wellbeing advice.

As a growing organisation we are committed to diversity and inclusion and providing a positive experience of work and maintain an annual EDI action plan, supported by a Board sponsor.

Our partner seeks a seasoned, analytical management accountant, with experience in project accounting and finance business partnering within an international charity. This is a 1 year fixed-term contract.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with project leads to monitor budgets and provide tailored financial insights, and regular reporting on project performance and expenditure tracking, ensuring effective resource management across funded initiatives.
• Prepare bespoke financial reports in line with external funding agreements, meeting all donor-specific compliance and deadline requirements.
• Serve as a primary contact for day-to-day finance-related queries from both UK and international colleagues, offering guidance on systems and processes.
• Contribute to the preparation of monthly management accounts, supporting senior finance colleagues in the analysis and review of organisational performance.
• Assist in the development of year-end statutory accounts and provide support throughout the external audit process, including documentation collation and response to auditor queries.

Requirements

• Part-qualified accountant with at least 2 years of experience working in a similar role within an international charity, and a sound knowledge of preparing management accounts, undertaking analysis and doing project and donor accounting.
• Strong IT and systems skills
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, a strong command of the English language and report writing ability.
• Team player, able to be supportive and manage a varied a workload with little supervision.

This role offers remote working from the UK, with the candidate expected to attend meetings in London once ever 2-3 months. This role is only open to candidates with the right to work in the UK without requiring sponsorship. This a 1 year FTC with an immediate start preferred.

• 0.6 contract, 22.2 hrs. Over 3 days or more.
• 1 day minimum in office, other days flexible/hybrid.
• 33 days annual leave
• If you have experience of most of these, please apply:
• Finance qualification and/or 3 years experience and/or working towards qualification (we can help with study costs)
• Quickbooks skills -enter budgets, create reports, handle credit notes/refunds
• Confident using Excel 
• Month-End jobs -balance sheet rec, BvA, Management accounts
• VAT returns, quarterly
• Worked in small charity/business -used to wearing multiple hats
• SORP -you understand charity accounting rules
• Calm Under Pressure: You can stay focused and meet deadlines, even when things get busy.
• Great Communicator: You’re good with people and can communicate clearly in writing and in person.
• Self-Motivated: You take initiative, work well independently, and don’t need constant supervision.
• Service-Oriented: You genuinely want to do a great job and help others.
• Detail-Oriented: You notice the small things and make sure tasks are completed accurately.
• Willing to Learn: You’re open to training and developing your skills further.

Civitas Recruitment is delighted to be working with a fantastic charity who aims to help keep women and children safe. Their goal is to empower women through the provision of support and advice to secure accommodation and successfully move on to independent living, free from abuse and fear. An exciting opportunity exists for a Temp Finance Manager to join the team. As Temp Finance Manager, you will assist the finance and administration manager with daily finance operations, such as overseeing the financial controls procedures, ensuring that policy and expectations are clear and maintaining the financial records for all income and expenditure streams. This is a part time (21 hrs), temporary role (4-8 weeks), flexible working options available. *Due to the sensitive nature if this role we will be considering female applicants only for this post in accordance with the provisions of the Occupational Requirement (Equality Act 2010, pursuant to schedule 9 part 1)

Who are we looking for?

Ideal candidates will be an experienced finance professional accustomed to working in a small busy finance function. You will have excellent financial transactional and bookkeeping experience. You will maintain the financial records for all income and expenditure streams, ensuring the timely and accurate production of month end accounts, reconciliations and reporting from SAGE. Previous experience of creating and implementing financial procedures and policies as well as experience of devising and implementing systems improvements will be beneficial.

If the above role description sounds of interest and you feel like you meet the criteria; please apply immediately or for further information, please contact Syed at Civitas Recruitment for a full JD and informal discussion. Early applications are encouraged as we will be reviewing on a rolling basis.

We are seeking a new Finance and Administration Officer following the upcoming retirement of a long-serving team member. A key member of the SLA central office team, the Finance and Administration Officer plays a vital role in ensuring smooth financial operations and providing essential administrative support for our membership. In addition to administration support, this role is responsible for maintaining accurate financial records, book-keeping and effective day-to-day financial operations, producing financial reports using XERO and our CRM.

You will be experienced in financial and administration operations of a charity or similar , with an AAT qualification or matching worked experience. Familiarity with XERO will be an advantage. You will be able to bring understanding of cashflow and financial analysis of figure, working with accountants as required.

You will also have excellent customer service skills and be able to work effectively with all stakeholders from our members, to funders to suppliers. You will be determined and have an excellent eye for financial and administrative detail. Your duties will include general administration and:

Financial operations and record-keeping

• Manage day-to-day financial transactions and maintain accurate records of all SLA accounts and petty cash; book-keeping
• Process and record all incoming payments, including foreign cheques (into bank account)
• Monitor cashflow and expenditure, keeping track of spending
• Pay invoices upon approval and ensure timely monthly payments (e.g. pensions, HMRC)
• Handle creditor and supplier communications and resolve related issues
• Monitor and follow up on overdue payments with a focus on membership payments

Invoicing and income tracking

• Issue and track membership and subscriber invoices and reminders
• Keep office team informed of payment statuses
• Prepare sales, cost, and profit reports for SLA publications
• Conduct annual publications stock take

Payroll and reporting

• Liaise with the accountant on salary payments; process salary BACS payments
• Support year-end financial reporting by providing necessary documentation to accountants
• Produce regular financial reports and analysis as required
• Supporting preparation of budgets, working with accountants as required

 Event financial administration

• Manage financial aspects of SLA events, particularly the annual conference (e.g., exhibitors, sponsors, and delegates)
• Process and record staff/trustee expense claims
• Support with bookings accommodation and travel for Board meetings

To be successful in this role you should demonstrate:

• Strong experience in financial and office administration
• Knowledge of accounting principles  
• Experience of working with XERO or similar
• Experience of using CRM systems (ideally IMIS)
• Experience of working for a small charity and / or membership association
• Accuracy, numeracy, attention to detail
• Ability to manage own workload, prioritise and meet competing deadlines
• Excellent customer service manner
• Being a team player

The Association is a UK wide organisation, working mostly remotely. Working patterns can be negotiated and we welcome applicants from all over the UK. We strongly encourage candidates of all different backgrounds and identities to apply. Each new role provides us with an opportunity for us to bring in a different perspective, and we are always eager to diversify our team. The SLA is committed to building an inclusive, supportive place, where you can do brilliant and rewarding work.

To apply please send a one page covering letter and CV with the job title in the subject line by 11th July.  Applications without a covering letter will not be considered. No agencies please.

Due to the volume of applications we cannot provide individual feedback. We really appreciate your interest. If you haven’t heard from us within one week of the deadline, it means we’ve moved forward with other candidates on this occasion. We encourage you to apply again in the future. Please note we may close recruitment early should the right candidate be identified.

A mission-driven and impact focused single programme NGO is seeking a Finance Business Partner with strong financial modelling skills for a part-time, fully remote fixed term contract for approximately 4-6 months. The role is to support the Finance Director, HR team, CEO and other stakeholders with business partnering, along with specific financial modelling projects.

The organisation’s mission is to get 3-6 year old children in rural Africa to thrive. They have developed an award-winning Early Childhood Development programme, proven its impact through rigorous evaluation, and scaled it with governments in both Ghana and Uganda. It is currently reaching over 300,000 children per year, and we aim to reach 1 million children per year by 2028. The programme benefits both preschool age children and unlocks the potential of marginalised rural parents.

You will work in a busy finance team based in the UK, Ghana and Uganda. The role can be done fully-remotely from within the UK, and the salary range on offer is circa £50,000 - £60,000 FTE (pro-rata). It is anticipated there will be around 2-3 days work per week for approximately 4-6 months.

Experience within a business partnering / modelling role within the NGO sector would be very useful, but is not essential.

Duties include:

• Work focused on adaptions for new contexts: The programme targets rural communities in Ghana and Uganda. This year the organisation plans to scale to a new country and to test ways to adapt it for this new context. They are also keen to explore whether the programme can be adapted for refugee settings.
• Financial modelling focused on selecting a new country to launch the programme
• Specific cost modelling and fundraising modelling around the corporate sponsorship of the organisation’s radio station project

• Develop and strengthen robust and flexible cost models (including sensitivity analyses/stress testing) to guide decisions around the pace and rate of scale, staffing & resource requirements (HR), ensure value for money and maximise cost efficiencies.
• Develop robust budgets for new and renewal funder applications, considering complexities around funder restrictions, currency exchange and forecast economic conditions.
• Analysis and modelling on organisational procedures & policies and capacity building projects

Requirements:

• Fully or part-qualified ACCA, CIMA, ACA or equivalent
• Demonstrable experience with finance business partnering to a range of stakeholders
• Strong financial modelling skills – ideally in things such as cost analysis, funding analysis etc
• Intermediate/advanced Excel and strong data analysis skills
• An understanding of international charity finance - donor reporting, programmes finance, foreign currency transactions is useful
• Experience juggling multiple projects at once
• Must be able to start the role quickly - ideally immediately available or with a short notice period

Closing date: Ongoing / ASAP

Interviews: Ongoing

Please send your CV for immediate consideration.

About Us
At YMCA Trinity Group, we are committed to fostering a positive and rewarding work environment. We understand that the well-being and satisfaction of our staff and volunteers directly impact the quality of care and support we provide to our clients. We also value the vital contributions each individual makes in helping us achieve our mission.

The Role
Are you a strategic thinker with a passion for financial leadership?

We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to join our executive team. As the CFO, you will play a crucial role in shaping the financial future of our organisation, driving growth, and ensuring financial stability.

What We’re Looking For
We’re seeking a qualified senior finance professional with:

• Proven experience in a senior financial leadership role

• Strong technical understanding of charity finance and compliance

• Excellent relationship-building skills with staff, auditors, trustees, and other stakeholders

• The ability to lead and mentor a high-performing finance team

• A values-led approach aligned with YMCA’s purpose and ethos

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic financial leadership, advising the CEO and Board on financial direction and policy

• Lead the organisation’s budgeting, planning and reporting processes

• Ensure legal, regulatory, and statutory compliance across all financial activities

• Manage and develop the Finance Team, embedding strong processes and financial controls

• Produce annual operating plans and oversee financial KPIs

• Act as Company Secretary for YMCA Trinity Group and its subsidiaries

• Lead relationships with external auditors and financial specialists (e.g. tax, VAT, payroll)

• Maintain strong engagement with the Trustees, the FRaC Committee, and the Executive Team

Why Join Us?

• 5 weeks holiday & public holiday allowance, plus a paid day off for your birthday (Pro rata)

• Competitive rates of pay and company pension (NEST Scheme)

• Your DBS Check Facilitated / Cost Paid as part of your onboarding

• Employee Assistance Programme for wellbeing support

Interview Dates
Interviews are scheduled to take place on Thursday 17th & Friday 18th July 2025 in Peterborough.

Contact Us
For an informal discussion on the role, contact Jonathan Martin (contact details can be found on LinkedIn). 

Financial Modelling Analyst | £50,000 - £55,000 | 12-month FTC | Fully Remote

For the UKs largest not-for-profit social enterprise in the employment and social mobility sector, we are recruiting a Financial Modeller / Analyst on a 12-month contract which could go permanent. Working closely with the finance business partners and commercial operations teams, this role will develop models to review commercial bids and acquisitions and provide insight to senior leaders on value drivers to inform decision making around bidding strategy and financial planning. This role will suite someone with first-rate commercial tendering, bidding, financial modelling, and Excel skills and a strong relationship builder from either the commercial or social enterprise sector. CFA or CIMA qualifications are preferred. Please note, this is a fully remote role but applicants need to be UK-based.

Main Duties:

• Deliver financial and commercial analytics, and modelling, focusing on new business development, bidding and tendering
• Implement best practices in modelling and business development processes across the group
• Utilise modelling standards such as FAST, F1F9, Mazars, Smart, ICAEW Modelling Code, Operis, or BPM.
• Summarise and present complex opportunities and risks for senior management decision-making
• Build and maintain strong relationships across finance, operations, and business development teams
• Support wider team in annual budgeting and long-term forecasting
• Support the Senior Financial Planning Analyst and business leaders in developing and implementing strategy

Person Specification:

• CFA is preferred, but would consider CIMA or ACCA qualified too
• Finance background or degree, or FMVA, BIDA Financial Modeller / Data Analyst
• Experience with modelling standards such as FAST, F1F9, Mazars, Smart, ICAEW Modelling Code, Operis, or BPM.
• Experience of working in a commercial bids, deals, or transactions environment
• Strong technical financial modelling and due diligence within professional services
• Financial modelling of large-scale contracts, pricing schedules, and business cases
• Forward financial planning, costing and option / investment appraisals
• FP&A, budgeting, and forecasting experience
• Advanced Excel, ideally VBA

________

As an employer, we are committed to ensuring the representation of people from all backgrounds regardless of their gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, race, religion, ethnicity, age, neurodiversity, disability status, or any other aspect which makes them unique. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds to apply and would encourage you to let us know if there are steps, we can take to ensure that your recruitment process enables you to present yourself in a way that makes you comfortable.

Role: Freelance Bookkeeper / Accountant

Location: Student Minds, Leeds - remote working contract. Some in person work may be required approximately 2 to 3 times per year.

Hours: 15 - 20 hours per week; flexible working Mon - Fri, to suit your availability

Fee: £20 per hour, inclusive of VAT if applicable (open to discussion – please include your rates in your application)

Contract: 6 to 12 months, reviewable

Start Date: July 2025, exact start date to be agreed

About Us

Student Minds is the UK’s student mental health charity. We have a clear vision: No student should be held back by their mental health. We empower students to build their own mental health toolkit to support themselves and their peers through university life and beyond. We challenge the higher education sector, health sector, and government to make student mental health a priority. 

We are looking for a detail-oriented and reliable bookkeeper or accountant to join our friendly team, help manage our financial records efficiently and support day-to-day financial administration.

The Opportunity

We’re looking for a friendly and reliable freelance bookkeeper or accountant to join our extended team and help keep our finances running smoothly. You’ll play a key behind-the-scenes role, working with the Senior Finance Manager to support our charity’s sustainability and activities. Student Minds is a medium sized charity (turnover approx £1m and 27 staff) and we need to make every penny work to support our student communities.

This role would suit someone who enjoys working with purpose-led organisations, and who values flexibility, collaborative working and community impact.

Your Key Responsibilities

• Maintain accurate financial records and ledgers.

• Process accounts payable and receivable.

• Support the invoicing process.

• Reconcile bank accounts, control accounts and company payment cards.

• Reconcile income reports.

• Prepare draft monthly management accounts.

• Prepare financial reports.

• Manage routine credit control.

• Manage the central finance email inbox.

• Ensure financial data integrity and confidentiality.

What We’re Looking For - Minimum Criteria

• Proven experience (at least 2 years) as a bookkeeper or in a similar role, ideally with charities or community organisations

• Proficiency and experience in Xero accounting software.

• AAT Level 3 qualification or equivalent.

• Strong attention to detail and organisational skills.

• Knowledge of financial regulations and tax procedures.

• Proficient with Microsoft Office packages, with advanced knowledge of Excel

• Grade C and above / Grade 5 and above in GCSE Maths or equivalent.

• Excellent communication skills.

We can only accept applicants who are residents of the UK with a valid right to work.

What You'll Gain

• A flexible freelance role with real community impact

• The chance to work alongside a values-driven team

• An opportunity to support a long-standing charity doing meaningful work supporting positive wellbeing and mental health

How to Apply

If this sounds like a good fit, we’d love to hear from you! Please send us an email (detailed on our BreatheHR site, and in our recruitment pack) outlining:

• your experience and qualifications, telling us how you meet the role requirements

• your freelance rate 

• include your CV

• if you wish to be considered under our priority interview scheme.

Priority Interview Scheme

We recognise that candidates from ethnically-diverse backgrounds may face additional barriers throughout their careers and when applying for charity roles. We are committed to taking positive action to expand the diversity of our staff team by offering a prioritised interview scheme for candidates from ethnically-marginalised backgrounds.

If you meet the minimum criteria for this role and are from an ethnically-diverse background, you'll be prioritised for an interview under our Priority Interview Scheme.

Closing date for applications: Sunday 6th July, 23.59; interviews during mid July, by arrangement.

Student Minds is committed to building an inclusive team and welcomes applicants from all backgrounds and walks of life.

Christ's College is seeking to appoint a full-time, permanent Management and Investment Accountant.

Management and Investment Accountant
Location: St Andrew's Street, Cambridge, CB2 3BU
Salary: £46,735 - £52,566 per annum
Vacancy type: Permanent, Full time, 36.5 hours per week

The Management & Investment Accountant will work with the Head of Finance, the Bursar and College budget holders to effectively manage income and expenditure and make decisions that will positively contribute to the financial position of the College. This will be achieved through timely provision of accurate financial information to key decision makers.

We would like to hear from you if you have previous experience and a good working knowledge of accounting and financial reporting, and are proactive, well organised, and diligent. The abilities to work to deadlines whilst paying attention to detail, and work both as an individual and as part of a team are essential.

The benefits on offer are many and include 33 days’ annual leave (inclusive of bank holidays), pension scheme, a free meal when at work, and the opportunity to work in a beautiful environment. Facilities on-site include a college gym and a multi-faith prayer room. 

Closing date: Noon on Monday 7 July 2025

Interested?

Please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website where you can find further information and details on how to complete your application.

No agencies please.

Managing Director - Green Finance / Rothbury Conservation Trust 

Salary: up to £90,000 per annum  

Location: Home Based, Office facilities available, some UK travel will be required.  

Full time (35 hours per week)  

Permanent contract 

Closing date for applications: 20th July 2025  

First interview: 1st August 2025  

Second interview: 8th August 2025 

About Us 

The Wildlife Trusts are a grassroots movement of people from a wide range of backgrounds and all walks of life, who believe that we need nature and nature needs us. We have more than 944,000 members, over 38,000 volunteers, 3,600 staff and 600 trustees. There are 46 individual Wildlife Trusts, each of which is a place-based independent charity with its own legal identity, formed by groups of people getting together and working with others to make a positive difference to wildlife and future generations, starting where they live and work. 

Every Wildlife Trust is part of The Wildlife Trusts federation and a corporate member of the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts, a registered charity in its own right founded in 1912 and one of the founding members of IUCN – the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Taken together this federation of 47 charities is known as The Wildlife Trusts. 

The next few years will be critical in determining what kind of world we all live in. We need to urgently reverse the loss of wildlife and put nature into recovery at scale if we are to prevent climate and ecological disaster. We recognise that this will require big, bold changes in the way The Wildlife Trusts work, not least in how we mobilise others and support them to organise within their own communities. 

The Wildlife Trusts are on a mission to bring about a people-powered nature and climate recovery by empowering people to take meaningful action for nature, and to create an inclusive society where nature matters to everyone, everywhere. We are ambitious in our desire not just to slow, but to reverse the declines in nature. Together we have developed a bold, new collective strategy which outlines our vision and the actions we will take to restore nature over the next eight years. 

Central to our strategy are our three goals which set out what we are striving to achieve by 2030 in pursuit of our vision of a thriving natural world. Goal 1 is to put nature into recovery with abundant, diverse wildlife and natural processes creating wilder land and seascapes where people and nature thrive. Goal 2 is to inspire people to take action for nature and climate, resulting in better decision-making for the environment at both local level and across the four UK nations. And Goal 3 is to enable nature to play a central and valued role in helping to address local and global problems, such as by helping tackle climate change and supporting wellbeing and education. 

Achieving these ambitious objectives means that we must develop new ways of working which increase the scale and impact of our work. Therefore, we have embarked on a programme of strategic transformations that are essential to achieving our goals, and which will result in a stronger and more effective Wildlife Trust movement for the long term. RSWT is leading the transformation programme across The Wildlife Trusts including in community organising, equality, diversity and inclusion, and funding nature’s recovery. The Wildlife Trusts have existed for over 100 years thanks to a strong membership base and traditional fundraising activities. 

Now, to achieve the level of funding needed to reverse nature’s decline, we need to diversify and increase our income by exploring new ways of funding such as innovative finance. 

About You  

Do you want to lead the field in the development of private investment into nature’s recovery? 

Fundamentally, you will have worked at a senior level as a Managing Director/CEO and have financial investment and commercial leadership experience that translates into strong awareness and understanding of financial investment markets and how these financial mechanisms can be used to drive large-scale investment, in this case into a green finance vehicle(s) for the Wildlife Trusts. We need you to translate that experience into solutions that scale up nature’s recovery, by developing realisable business propositions that create revenues from corporate sales of nature-based services such as biodiversity net gain credits or voluntary carbon credits amongst many other possible services. 

An innovative problem-solver with an entrepreneurial spirit, you will need to develop compelling and practical commercial strategies which can be successfully delivered within the Wildlife Trust Federation. As such you will be a great communicator, with a personable style who can work with many different people across the wonderful variety of geography, size, scale, and activities of the 46 Wildlife Trusts. 

The Wildlife Trusts value passion, respect, trust, integrity, pragmatic activism and strength in diversity. Whilst we are passionate in promoting our aims, we are not judgmental and are inclusive. We particularly encourage applications from people who are underrepresented within our sector, including people from minority backgrounds and people with disabilities. We are committed to creating a movement that recognises and truly values individual differences and identities. 

RSWT take our Safeguarding responsibilities extremely seriously. Please click here to read our commitment statement. The Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk. For applicable roles, applicants must be willing to undergo checks with past employers and Disclosure and Barring Service checks at the eligible level. 

As a Disability Confident employer, we are committed to offering an interview to anyone with a disability that meets all the essential criteria for the post. Please let us know if you require any adjustments to make our recruitment process more accessible. 

RSWT are committed to increasing the diversity of its staff through its Levelling the Field recruitment pledge and will put any ethnic minority applicants that meet all the essential criteria for the post through to the next stage of recruitment. 

Please be aware we may not accept applications if we have reason to believe they have been wholly produced using generative AI tools. 

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is a key member of the senior 
leadership team, responsible for overseeing the operational and 
financial management of the charity. 

As a Chartered Accountant, the COO will bring strong financial 
expertise and strategic insight to ensure the charity’s resources 
are efficiently and effectively used to deliver its mission. 

This includes managing the day-to-day operations, ensuring 
financial health and compliance, driving operational efficiency, 
and working closely with the CEO and Board to implement the 
charity’s strategic vision.

Ethex and our sister company Energise Africa, are two leading direct impact investing platforms for individual investors that want to invest in extraordinary organisations. Our award-winning crowd-funding platforms enable individuals to invest directly in businesses that support causes they believe in – whether it’s fighting climate change, reducing poverty or building resilient communities. 

Since 2013 Ethex and Energise Africa have raised over £160 million of investment for over 100 impactful organisations from 20,000 impact investors. We are leading innovators in the field and this role provides the right candidate with an excellent opportunity to be part of a group at the cutting edge of impact investing.

Ethex is a 50% shareholder in Energise Africa and, although the two platforms offer different investment opportunities to individuals, there is very considerable overlap in their target market, proposition and opportunity.  The two businesses share Marketing, Finance and Operations resources.

Our Commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Ethex is committed to providing equal opportunity for all applicants. Growing, maintaining and promoting a diverse team is a top priority for us and we believe that we are made stronger by the unique capabilities and qualities that each person brings to our company. Applications are welcome from all, regardless of age, disability, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion or belief, race, sex, sexual orientation, trans status or socioeconomic background. We positively encourage applications from people from marginalised backgrounds.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

General

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Financial Controller to oversee all financial aspects of both Ethex and Energise Africa. Reporting to the CFO, the Financial Controller will be a key member of the senior management teams, responsible for ensuring the accuracy, integrity, and timely delivery of financial information for both entities. This role requires a good understanding of accounting standards, excellent analytical skills, and the ability to contribute strategically to the growth and sustainability of both Ethex and Energise Africa. The ideal candidate will be passionate about the missions and values of both organisations and comfortable working in a dynamic and purpose-driven environment.

Key Responsibilities:

Financial Management & Reporting:

• Oversee financial accounting for both companies, working with our finance assistant, who is responsible for book-keeping, banking, AR and AP.

• Prepare accurate and timely management accounts.

• Manage the process for production of the annual report and accounts for both entities, liaising with external accountants / auditors and ensuring timely completion.

• Prepare and present financial reports and analysis to the respective senior management teams, Boards of Directors and funders of Ethex and Energise Africa.

Budgeting & Forecasting:

• Lead the annual budgeting processes for both organisations, working collaboratively with departmental heads to develop realistic and achievable budgets.

• Develop and maintain financial forecasting models to support strategic decision-making for both entities.

• Monitor budget performance, analyse variances, and provide insightful commentary and recommendations for both Ethex and Energise Africa.

Cash Flow Management:

• Manage the cash flow of both companies, ensuring sufficient liquidity to meet operational needs and strategic objectives.

• Develop and implement strategies for optimising cash flow and working capital across both entities, considering any intercompany transactions.

Tax & Compliance:

• Stay up to date and ensure compliance with all relevant tax legislation and accounting standards.

• Prepare quarterly VAT returns.

• Check corporation tax returns prepared by external accountants.

Systems & Processes:

• Continuously review and improve systems, processes, and controls to enhance efficiency and accuracy and safeguard the assets of both entities.

• When applicable, oversee the implementation accounting software and other relevant financial tools for both organisations.

Stakeholder Management:

• Build and maintain strong relationships with external stakeholders, including accountants, banks, non-executive directors and funders.

• Provide financial information and support to teams within Ethex and Energise Africa.

Skills & Experience:

• Qualified Accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent) with significant post-qualification experience.

• Proven track record in a responsible finance role, ideally as a Financial Controller or similar, with experience managing finances for multiple entities or a group structure.

• Strong technical accounting skills and a thorough understanding of relevant accounting standards and regulations.

• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret complex financial data and provide insightful analysis for both organisations.

• Strong budgeting, forecasting experience across multiple business units.

• Experience managing cash flow and working capital effectively across multiple entities.

• Proven ability to develop and implement robust financial controls and procedures for different operational contexts.

• Experience managing the audit process and liaising with external accountants.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to present financial information clearly and concisely to different stakeholders across both organisations.

• Strong IT and modelling skills, including advanced proficiency in Excel and experience with accounting software.

• Ability to work independently, take initiative, and manage multiple priorities effectively.

• A proactive and results-oriented approach with strong attention to detail.

• A genuine commitment to the missions and values of both Ethex and Energise Africa.

Personal Attributes:

• Highly ethical and trustworthy.

• Strong work ethic and a proactive approach.

• Excellent organisational and time management skills, with the ability to manage demands from two separate organisations.

• Ability to thrive in a dynamic and evolving environment.

• Collaborative and team-oriented.

• Passionate about positive impact, ethical finance, and renewable energy in Africa.