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Senior Finance Officer

14 hours per week

As our Senior Finance Officer you will contribute to Career Ready’s finance and operations function by providing high quality financial support to the charity. Working as part of a small team of three, you will perform core finance tasks and will support the Head of Finance and Operations with budgeting, reporting and auditing activities.

Main responsibilities and accountabilities

Bookkeeping and Accounting

• Ensure transactions are properly recorded and entered into Xero Accounts
• Assist with the annual audit
• Maintain financial files and records
• Manage and reconcile the accounts payable and accounts receivable
• Process payable invoices and staff expenses in line with fortnightly payment runs
• Perform credit control for maximum debt recovery
• Reconcile the bank statements for review the Head of Finance & Operations
• Assist with the preparation of annual budgets, forecasts and budget monitoring reports

Support to the Partnerships and Income Teams

• Collating financial information for funding applications as required
• Monitoring expenditure on grant-funded programmes
• Preparing financial reports on receivable grants as required
• Maintain electronic files of funding agreements and contracts

Payroll

• To support with the administration of monthly salaried payroll for staff, and internship payroll throughout Jun-Sep each year
• To raise monthly salary journals for review by the Head of Finance & Operations
• To process payroll payments via online banking portals

Essential skills and experience required

· Fully or part qualified – AAT, ACCA or CIMA or qualified by experience

· Clear understanding of financial controls, compliance, and reporting frameworks

· Intermediate to advanced knowledge of Microsoft Excel

· Ability to prioritise and meet competing deadlines

· Previous experience of computerised accounting and payroll e.g. Xero

· Previous experience of payroll administration that includes maintaining confidential data

· Ability to work as part of a team as well as on own initiative.

· Excellent attention to detail and high numeracy

· Ability to communicate financial information to different audiences

· Problem-solving ability

Desirable skills and experience

· To have an understanding of Charity Finance.

· Experience of working in a finance function in a charity

Salary and Benefits

Salary: £32,000 to £38,000 per annum FTE (pro rata for part time), depending on qualifications/experience

14 hours per week.  Career Ready is committed to supporting condensed/flexible working patterns

Permanent and remote

You will be rewarded with the following benefits:

· 6% contribution to personal pension plan, subject to 3% employee contribution.

· Annual leave: 27 days per annum plus bank/public holidays (pro rata for part time). The charity is also closed between Christmas and New Year. Career Ready also allows flexible use of some Bank & Public Holidays

· Cycle to Work Scheme

· Access to both our Reward Gateway Portal and an Employee Assistance Programme.

· Flexible working

· Work from home allowance and paid travel expenses.

We regret that Career Ready is unable to offer visa sponsorship and candidates must be able to demonstrate their right to work in the UK. In accordance with our commitment to safeguarding, offers of employment are subject to completion of a DBS check. 

Full details can be found in the candidate pack.

Timetable

Applications close at 9am on Monday 21 July 2025

Please note that the closing date may be brought forward if we receive strong applications.

Interim Head of Finance & Operations

Career Ready is a social mobility charity that believes that every young person deserves the opportunity to enjoy a rewarding future.

We were founded in 2002 by leading business figures with a mission: to boost social mobility by empowering young people and giving their talents a platform from which to flourish. Since then, we’ve grown in England and Scotland to support young people in areas of need.

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced, qualified Finance professional to lead our Finance & Operations function.

About the Role

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer the Interim Head of Finance & Operations leads on and assumes day to day responsibility for providing high quality, strategic financial management for Career Ready.

You will lead on business operations to ensure the ongoing effective functioning of the charity and drive sustainable growth.

The Interim Head of Finance and Operations plays a key role in leading greater organisational efficiency and simplifying processes and will continue the delivery of a project plan reflecting the 2025-30 strategy.

You will play a critical role in driving the increased quality of Career Ready’s offer to our stakeholders in line with our strategy, vision and values.

Member of our SMT, comprising of the CEO, Director for Scotland, Director of Programme and Partnerships and Heads of functions.

This is an interim role to cover a period of maternity leave.

Main responsibilities and accountabilities

· Lead, direct and manage the finance and operations functions, overseeing two direct reports, ensuring they deliver a high-quality service to all internal and external stakeholders and are seen as adding value, in enabling Career Ready to achieve its vision and strategic objectives through its people. 

· Continue the delivery of a project plan reflecting the 2025-30 strategy, ensuring that activities happen at pace, are deadline-driven and achieve a high level of impact.

· Assume overall responsibility for the financial management of Career Ready, working with the SMT to ensure high quality and effective use of charitable funds.

· Input into and review the financial elements of funding applications and ensure that fund accounting processes align with funders’ requirements for project reporting.

· Produce financial reports for various stakeholders, as well as leading on financial modelling.

· Have oversight of all financial and accountancy matters including month end reports, management accounts, cash flow management, compliance, tax liability, presentation of management information and KPIs. Ensure that the CEO and Trustees are provided with accurate, timely information and analysis. 

· Oversee and coordinate the fully managed payroll services with the external bureau for all Career Ready employees and for some internship students (Jun to Aug during the Summer)

· Administration of the Staff Opt-In Pension Scheme, including onboarding new staff (Royal London)

· Act as a role model in our ‘one team’ culture. Lead in the development of efficient working practices across the charity, creating momentum and supporting motivation within the charity. 

· Lead risk management strategies and internal control procedures to minimise the risk of loss, or damage to, Career Ready’s assets. 

· Prepare and submit annual operational budgets and annual accounts to the CEO for review and approval.

· Draft and deliver papers for Trustees and Finance and Fundraising Committee (F&FC) meetings. 

· Attend Board and F&FC meetings to present papers and answer questions related to areas of expertise. 

· Provide day to day line management of the Senior Finance Officers and support their ongoing growth and development.

· Management of organisational governance and compliance activities, including policy management.

· Oversee and manage the organisation’s risk management register and process, with input from SMT.

· Oversee reviews and renewals of all insurance policies that affect the organisation.

· Lead on the compliance of statutory and charity regulatory reporting, giving guidance to colleagues where required.

· Ensure any changes to processes and procedures across the function are clearly documented.

Person Specification

Essential skills and experience

•  Belief and commitment to Career Ready’s mission and values
• Qualified (ACA/ACCA/CIMA/AAT) accountant with at least 5 years’ experience in financial management including budgeting, preferably in the charity sector.
• Significant experience in producing management and financial accounts
• Skilled in financial reporting and producing VAT returns
• Preparing for and ensuring a successful year-end audit, and demonstrable knowledge of UK Charities SORP and other reporting standards
• Experience in budgeting to support strategic decision making.
• Financial dexterity and strong analytical skills.
• Strong IT skills, including advanced MS Excel skills and extensive of using an accounting software, preferably Xero
• Excellent organisational and prioritising skills and ability to work independently and with autonomy
• Strong starter finisher with ability to lead and drive projects
• Knowledge of charity governance and compliance requirements
• Ability to build excellent relationships and have effective engagement with stakeholders
• Good communication skills and ability to communicate financial concepts to non-finance staff
• Attention to detail
• Ability to present financial information to various audiences
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and sensitivity of financial information
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to cope with competing demands to deadlines
• Honest and dependable

Desirable skills and experience

• Experience of leading a team, strong team building skills
• Line management experience
• Experience of using MS Planner or other project management tools
• Genuine interest in the work done by the Charity
• Experience of using a CRM (Salesforce)
• Degree in financial management or accounting

Full details are provided in the candidate pack

Salary and Benefits

Salary: £52,000 to £54,000 FTE (salary will be pro-rata for part time hours)

28-35 hours per week.  Career Ready is committed to supporting condensed/flexible working patterns.

Permanent and remote.  Travel to London required on an occasional basis

You will be rewarded with the following benefits:

· 6% contribution to personal pension plan, subject to 3% employee contribution.

· Annual leave: 27 days per annum plus bank/public holidays (pro rata for part time). The charity is also closed between Christmas and New Year. Career Ready also allows flexible use of some Bank & Public Holidays

· Cycle to Work Scheme

· Access to both our Reward Gateway Portal and an Employee Assistance Programme.

· Flexible working

· Work from home allowance and paid travel expenses.

We regret that Career Ready is unable to offer visa sponsorship and candidates must be able to demonstrate their right to work in the UK. In accordance with our commitment to safeguarding, offers of employment are subject to completion of a DBS check. 

Timetable

Applications close at 9am on Monday 21 July 2025 

Please note that the closing date may be brought forward if we receive strong applications.

This is an interim role to cover a period of maternity leave, with a provisional start date of late September for a handover period.

We’re looking for a proactive and organised Team Administrator to play a key role in keeping our organisation running smoothly, providing vital support across all teams and functions.

About Khulisa: 

Khulisa, meaning 'nurture' in the Zulu language of South Africa, is an award-winning charity dedicated to providing therapeutic support to young people. We focus on reaching those who are most at risk – young people from deprived communities who are often marginalized, vulnerable to exclusion, and at heightened risk of becoming involved in crime.

Our approach centres on safe, exploratory methods that aim to understand behaviour and experiences often rooted in trauma, abuse, and neglect. We deliver intensive therapeutic programs within educational and community settings, empowering young people to confront the underlying causes of their emotional distress and work toward healing. To create lasting, sustainable change, we also work to establish trauma-informed environments around young people by equipping parents, caregivers, educators, and other professionals with the tools they need to offer effective, supportive care. Currently, our services are active in London and Manchester. 

About the role: 

The purpose of this role is to provide high-quality administrative support across the organisation, ensuring the smooth and efficient running Khulisa's day-to-day operations. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Scheduling and organising internal staff meetings and events 
• Providing end-to-end support in Khulisa's recruitment processes
• Managing Khulisa's central mailbox 
• Taking resposibility for Khulisa's invoice management system
• Carrying out monthly payroll administration

For a full list of duties and responsibilities, please see the attached job description below. 

The post holder will be required to work from home permanently but be willing and able to easily travel to various locations across the London and the North West as necessary to fulfill the requirements of the role and to engage with stakeholders and colleagues.

What we're looking for:

Abilities/Experience

• Experience in a similar position working across departments and teams to provide support - or a demonstratable ability to do this 
• Experience of using digital platforms for for scheduled and ad hoc administrative processes, including relating or organisation's operations or other functions 
• Ability to perform financial administrative tasks, such as expenses administration, using relevant software
• Excellent organisational and time management skills 
• Ability to prioritise competing commitments and work accurately and methodolically under pressure and work tight deadlines
• Ability to properly deal with sensitive / confidential information
• Experience working within a small but close-knit team
• Demonstrable ability to plan and prioritise own workload with minimum supervision 
• Ability to buy strongly into strategic objectives and reflect passion for Khulisa's work with and for Young People
• Willingness to work occasional weekends and evenings when required 

Knowledge/Skills

• Strong IT skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Excel spreadsheets
• A commitment to Khulisa's work 
• Some knowledge of Salesforce or other similar CRMs

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: We are actively looking to recruit a diversity of talent. We embrace, respect and value the difference in our employees and believe that we and our work is better for it. We are committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive environment that consists of fairness, dignity, and caring for everyone, and one that enables every employee to flourish and realise their potential.

Do you have a meticulous eye for numbers and a desire to support a great cause? We’re hiring a Finance Assistant to support the smooth and accurate financial operations of the charity, ensuring all transactions are recorded and processed in a timely manner. This role is key to helping the charity to manage its resources efficiently and transparently.

Find out more in the candidate pack on our website.

Prospectus are delighted to be working with a long-standing client to recruit a Finance Assistant. This is a remote role, with the option for hybrid working 1–2 days per week from their Edinburgh office, based just a short walk from Waverley train station.

The role is offered on a permanent, full-time basis (37.5 hours per week, though 35 hours will be considered), with a salary of £27,000 pro rata per annum.

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone with bookkeeping experience, a keen eye for detail, and the ability to manage finance operations in a cloud-based environment.

Role Overview
The Finance Assistant will report to the Finance Manager and play a key role in delivering day-to-day accounting functions, ensuring smooth financial operations across purchase and sales ledgers, bank reconciliations, credit control, and payment processing.

The postholder will use Sage 50 Accounts, Excel, and online banking systems, while also interacting with Beacon CRM to track and reconcile donation and grant income. You’ll support month-end and year-end processes and assist in preparation for the annual audit.

Key Responsibilities

• Process purchase ledger invoices, obtain approvals, post to Sage, and set up BACS payments
• Administer staff and freelancer expense payments
• Generate sales invoices and monitor credit control
• Perform daily/weekly bank postings using bank feeds and reconcile bank accounts regularly
• Handle credit card postings and voucher collection
• Monitor shared finance inbox and respond to staff and supplier queries
• Post donations and subscription income and notify relevant teams of grant receipts
• Support reconciliation between Sage and Beacon CRM
• Assist with Gift Aid monitoring and continuous improvement of finance processes​​​​​​​

​​​​​​​Candidate Profile

Essential:

• Proven experience in a similar finance assistant/bookkeeping role
• Proficiency with accounting software (ideally Sage 50), including general ledger, supplier and bank modules
• Strong MS Excel, Word, and Outlook skills
• Experience in purchase and sales ledger management
• Understanding of BACS payment processes
• Comfortable working independently and to deadlines in a remote setting

Desirable:

• Experience working in the charity or not-for-profit sector
• Knowledge of fund accounting and Gift Aid
• Part-qualified or fully qualified (e.g. AAT) or qualified by experience
• Familiarity with CRM systems such as Beacon
• Intermediate Excel skills (lookups, pivot tables, filtering)

Personal Attributes:

• Reliable, consistent, and detail-oriented
• Able to work independently with minimal supervision
• Positive, enthusiastic, and willing to adapt to new ways of working
• Strong communicator with the ability to collaborate effectively across departments

Dedicated to creating social change through music, AudioActive  provides free open-access sessions, workshops, and opportunities  that empower young people in Sussex to explore their talent, find  their voice, and shape their futures. Whether it’s emerging rappers,  producers, or vocalists, AudioActive nurtures raw potential,  providing young people with the tools to turn passion into purpose.  From grassroots sessions to talent development, AudioActive is  where music meets social impact. We are restless, unafraid, and  excited about what we do. 

The Director of Operations is a delivery-focused leadership position  responsible for ensuring AudioActive runs like clockwork. This  role is perfect for someone who thrives on creating order from  complexity, enjoys the satisfaction of well-oiled systems, and takes  pride in operational excellence. You’ll be the backbone that ensures  everything functions seamlessly, allowing our creative teams to  focus on their transformative work with young people. 

As part of the Senior Management Team (SMT), integrity and  discretion in handling sensitive information will be paramount.  Our ideal candidate thrives in a collaborative environment, ready  to contribute to the growth of our organisation. Enthusiasm, a  positive attitude, and a passion for our mission are qualities we  highly value. If you are a proactive starter-finisher with these  attributes and a commitment to making a difference, we invite you  to join our team.

Responsibilities:

LEADERSHIP

• Contribute to ongoing development of the business and strategic plans
• Lead implementation of operational plans and decisions
• Deputise for CEO when required
• Support learning and development of direct reports
• Develop and maintain key stakeholder relationships
• Identify operational development opportunities for the organisation

OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT

• Lead organisational governance and operational functions
• Develop and maintain operational systems and solutions
• Responsibility for building and asset management
• Ensure compliance with statutory requirements
• Oversee GDPR, insurance, and health and safety protocols
• Implement and maintain quality management systems
• Oversee IT infrastructure and digital systems
• Manage the Trustee Meeting organisation, document generation, trustee communication and administration
• Explore ways to make operations and facilities more environmentally sustainable as Environment Lead
• Ensure environmental considerations are factored into organisational decision making. 

SYSTEMS EXCELLENCE & PROCESS MANAGEMENT

• Design, implement and continuously refine operational workflows and procedures
• Establish and maintain comprehensive process documentation and standard operating procedures
• Conduct regular systems audits to identify inefficiencies and implement improvements
• Working with the Business Analyst, oversee the creation and maintenance of operational dashboards and performance metrics
• Develop fail-safe procedures and contingency planning across all operational areas

HUMAN RESOURCES

• Design, implement and continuously refine operational workflows and procedures
• Establish and maintain comprehensive process documentation and standard operating procedures
• Conduct regular systems audits to identify inefficiencies and implement improvements
• Working with the Business Analyst, oversee the creation and maintenance of operational dashboards and performance metrics
• Develop fail-safe procedures and contingency planning across all operational areas

See attachment for further responsibilities 

Work with the HR Manager to provide an excellent HR service for the organisation.

Lead on the HR system (Staffsavvy), ensuring all onboarding and recruitment is completed in an efficient and timely fashion in line with internal policies and legal requirements. Work with the HR Manager to develop the system and maximise its use across the organisation.

Have a working knowledge of employment law, be able to offer first level advice to managers on HR policies and procedures. Act as the first point of contact for our employees on HR matters. Monitor and liaise with managers about sickness and probation, escalating any issues and seeking guidance from the HR Manager. Provide accurate and efficient HR coordination and administration.