Finance manager jobs in Manchester, greater manchester

About the eoa (Employee Ownership Association)

Employee ownership in the UK is at a critical moment. The sector has more than doubled since 2020. Awareness is rising. Evidence is compelling. Businesses, communities, and policymakers are increasingly recognising that a people-powered approach can unlock fairness, resilience, and productivity.

We believe the UK can reach 10,000 employee owned businesses within the decade, transforming succession, broadening ownership, and reshaping the economic landscape. But achieving this relies on bold, strategic, values-led leadership across our community.

The eoa exists to build and connect that community: a network of more than 850 member businesses, thousands of employee owners, specialist advisors, policymakers, and partners committed to powering fairer livelihoods and stronger businesses through employee ownership.

Purpose of the Role

The Finance Manager leads the eoa’s finances to ensure the businesses resources are used effectively, efficiently, and sustainably.

You will develop robust financial systems, reporting, and analysis to provide insight and assurance to the SLT and Board, playing a central role in safeguarding the eoa’s financial health and enabling its strategic goals to be achieved.

Role Summary

• Contract: Permanent
• Hours: 22.5 hours per week, working pattern to be agreed with successful candidate
• Location: Manchester (hybrid). You will be expected to attend the office at least twice per month, and more often where needed
• Salary: £45,000 (£27,000 pro rata) p/a
• Pension: Up to 7% employer pension match (from year 1 anniversary)
• Annual Leave: 30 days leave + bank holidays
• Reports to: Membership & Operations Director
• Management of: Finance and Business Support Administrator

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and delivery of the organisation’s financial strategy, ensuring it underpins and enables operational delivery.
• Manage the annual budget-setting process, working closely with colleagues to align budgets with strategic priorities.
• Manage day-to-day financial operations, including financial accounting, membership renewals, bank account management, cash flow monitoring, credit control, payments, and function oversight.
• Take responsibility for accurate and timely payroll and pension delivery, working in partnership with an external provider.
• Prepare and reconcile monthly, and year-end accounts, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and robust controls.
• Produce accurate, timely financial forecasts, management accounts and financial analysis to support operational and strategic decisions.
• Ensure compliance with statutory requirements including tax (VAT, PAYE, Corporation Tax) and financial reporting obligations.
• Maintain strong internal controls and risk management processes, safeguarding the organisation’s financial health.
• Act as a signatory on company bank accounts, ensuring appropriate authorisation and governance arrangements are in place.
• Lead the ongoing development and improvement of finance processes and systems, and automations to drive efficiency and effectiveness.

Knowledge, Experience, and Attributes

• Degree-level education and either ACCA, CIMA, or ACA qualification.
• Proven track record in budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management, and delivering accurate management accounts and financial analysis.
• Experience of working for or preparing SME accounts, managing audits, risk, and internal controls, with a focus on continuous improvement of systems and processes.
• Strategic thinker who can translate complex financial data into clear, actionable insight for senior leaders and the Board.
• Highly organised, proactive, and solution-focused, with excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Collaborative, adaptable, and professional, demonstrating integrity and sound judgment in all financial matters.

What Constitutes Success in This Role?

Success in this role means the eoa has reliable, efficient, and well-governed financial operations that underpin all aspects of the business. You will ensure day-to-day finance processes are accurate and timely, cash flow and budgets are effectively managed, and statutory obligations are met with confidence. By providing clear analysis and insight, you will support the SLT and Board in making informed decisions, drive improvements in systems and reporting, and enable the eoa to achieve its strategic priorities.

Key outcomes for the role Measures

1. Outcome: The eoa maintains accurate, timely, and insightful financial reporting and analysis to support decision-making.
   Measure: Accurate monthly management accounts and forecasts delivered on time. Rolling forecasts and scenario analyses updated regularly.
2. Outcome: Budgets are aligned with strategic priorities and financial resources are optimally managed.
   Measure: Budgets prepared and approved within agreed timelines. Variance between budgeted and actual expenditure monitored and reported. Cash flow maintained within agreed thresholds.
3. Outcome: Statutory, regulatory, and internal governance requirements are met and risks are effectively managed.
   Measure: All statutory filings (tax, Companies House, pensions) submitted accurately and on time. External audit completed with no significant issues. Internal controls and risk management processes maintained and reviewed annually.
4. Outcome: Financial systems and processes support operational efficiency and organisational growth.
   Measure: Transaction processing, reconciliations, and payroll delivered accurately and on schedule. Improvements in process efficiency implemented.
5. Outcome: Finance contributes proactively to strategic decision-making and organisational development.
   Measure: Financial insight and recommendations consistently inform senior leadership decisions. Evidence of finance-led initiatives driving cost efficiency or strategic impact.
6. Outcome: Finance function evolves to meet organisational needs and supports a culture of improvement.
   Measure: New or updated systems, processes, or reporting tools implemented successfully. Finance function demonstrates improved efficiency, effectiveness, or scalability over time.

How to apply

To apply, please submit:

• A two-page CV
• And ane of either:
  • Cover letter setting out your motivation, approach, and what you will bring to the role
  • Video (maximum 10 minutes) setting out your motivation, approach, and what you will bring to the role

Applications should be submitted before 9:00am 14 July 2026. We will close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. If you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

Interviews will be in Manchester on 28 & 29 July 2026.

The eoa welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds, particularly those who are under-represented. We recruit based on values, skills, and contribution to our purpose.

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Prospectus are proud to be supporting our client on the growth of their pioneering Nature Based Solutions (NbS) work. NPP identifies, secures and manages commercial and strategic partnerships for the UK’s 15 national parks. It’s a small, ambitious and entrepreneurial organisation, committed to increasing the impact, resources and influence of these vital landscapes, helping us all to #BeMoreOutside.

As part of this ambition, we are now seeking an NbS Modelling Manager to join a newly established, DEFRA-funded Feasibility & Modelling Unit.

Working within a specialist NbS team, you will play a pivotal role in translating nature recovery projects into credible, investment-ready propositions across national parks and national landscapes. This is a unique opportunity to operate at the intersection of conservation, land management and green finance, applying advanced modelling to unlock private investment into nature at scale.

Working closely with project teams and Feasibility Managers, you will lead on financial and ecological modelling, helping to quantify ecosystem services and shape projects that can successfully access revenue through mechanisms such as carbon markets, biodiversity net gain (BNG), and other payments for ecosystem services. A key part of your role will be developing robust financial models and ensuring projects align with the expectations of investors, offtakers and landowners.

You’ll also engage externally with a range of stakeholders, including equity investors and partners, providing confidence in the financial viability of projects and advising on innovative financing approaches. Alongside this, you will contribute to wider knowledge sharing, helping to strengthen understanding of green finance across protected landscapes.

You’ll be working in a fast-evolving and commercially emerging space, where your ability to combine technical expertise with strategic insight will be critical.

You will bring strong experience in financial and/or ecological modelling within environmental or natural capital settings, with a deeper or more specialised focus on green finance and nature markets. This might include experience gained within organisations such as environmental consultancies, natural capital firms, or market-focused organisations such as Environment Bank or similar.

Comfortable working with complexity, you’ll be confident building and interrogating financial models, understanding investment drivers, and communicating clearly with both technical and non-technical audiences. You will bring a high level of attention to detail alongside the ability to see the bigger strategic picture.

A proactive and collaborative approach is essential, as is the ability to work independently within a remote team while managing multiple strands of work.

This is a fully remote role, with travel across the UK to national parks and team meet-ups. Candidates must be willing and able to travel as required.

As a specialist Recruitment Practice, Prospectus is committed to building inclusive and diverse organisations, and we welcome applications from all sections of the community. We invest in your journey as a candidate and are here to support you throughout the process.

To apply, please submit your CV and a cover letter detailing your relevant experience for this role.