Financial accountant jobs in bristol

Financial Accountant

Maternity Cover (Up to 12 months)

£47,000

To start ASAP

Bristol /Hybrid

Financial Accountant required for a leading specialist children's health charity on a 12 month fixed term contract basis. The Finance team is undergoing an exciting period of transformation, including the implementation of a new finance system. This is a key role where you will help lead the month-end processes, statutory accounts, VAT compliance, and audit preparation. You'll play a key role in implementing a new finance system (Microsoft Business Central) and act as systems administrator for financial platforms.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure accurate financial data and continuous process improvement
• Administer finance systems and support system transition
• Prepare VAT returns and optimise tax recovery
• Manage cash flow and support investment decisions
• Coordinate audit preparation and respond to queries
• Communicate financial info to non-financial staff

Requirements

• Qualified Accountant (CCAB or equivalent) with 12+ months post-qualification
• Strong month-end and reconciliation experience
• Charity VAT knowledge and experience completing VAT returns
• Excellent communication and analytical skills
• Experience with financial systems; Business Central desirable

Benefits

• 4 wellbeing days/year
• Generous leave and pension
• Family/caring leave
• Employee savings scheme

This is an opportunity for a well-rounded accountant to join the Bild group of charities. The post-holder will be responsible for all management accounts across a group of four charities, whose combined turnover is circa £4m per year.

Key Responsibilities and Duties:

• Oversee day-to-day accounting and financial controls
• Prepare monthly management accounts, reports, and financial statements
• Responsible for development of management reporting

• Meeting regularly with budget holders to review financial performance and outstanding commitments.

• Manage payroll, tax returns, and financial reporting for funders

• Support the Business and Finance Director in preparing annual budgets and forecasts.
• Support the Business and Finance Director with the annual audit process

General Responsibilities:

• Access and work within Bild’s policies and procedures. 

• Attend internal cycle of team meetings relevant to this role. 

• Engage with line management, supervision (where appropriate) and appraisal process. 

• Comply with data protection regulations, ensuring that information on clients, employees, volunteers and other stakeholders remains confidential. 

• Take responsibility for personal learning and development with support from line manager. 

• Work in a manner that facilitates equal opportunities and inclusion for all. 

• Remain professional and respectful at all times, promoting positive relations with all those we encounter in our work. 

• Maintain health and safety and risk awareness for self and others across the organisation. 

• Undertake any other duties that Bild may require within the remit of this role. 

Help shape the financial future of a fast-growing charity supporting Gaza’s children. If you’re a qualified, detail-oriented finance professional who thrives in purpose-driven settings, we’d love to hear from you!

About Children Not Numbers

The conflict in Gaza has left thousands of children in urgent need of medical care, trauma support, and long-term assistance. Children Not Numbers is a grassroots UK-based charity committed to the health, safety, education, and wellbeing of Gaza’s children.

Children Not Numbers was established in early 2024 to address the urgent need to support Palestinian children caught up amid an unprecedented conflict. Within 18 months, we have grown rapidly into a global network of c.200 staff and volunteers, most of whom are volunteer paediatric medics representing more than 30 subspecialties.

Our work includes:

• Emergency medical aid for sick and injured children in Gaza, delivered through collaboration between local staff and an international network of volunteer medics

• Short-term medical evacuation for urgent and complex cases – more than 230 children have been safely evacuated to date

• Rehabilitation and trauma support for children with life-changing injuries and extreme psychological trauma

• Maternal Support Programme – over 500 women supported across 1,100+ appointments

• Education and Empowerment Programme, currently supporting 300 children in Gaza with academic and psychological care

• International advocacy, including engagement with the UN, European Commission, UK government and other international bodies

About the role

 As Finance Manger you will have opportunity and agency to make a huge contribution:

○ Ensuring smooth financial operations;
○ Agency to set up and develop the function;
○ Supporting our team on the ground, and patient facing team to ensure they are empowered to make a difference.

As well as this opportunity to make a difference, you will supported in your role by an international team that cares and supports one another, where diversity is a given and creating a sense of belonging is core to who we are and what we do.

We are seeking a values-based, experienced and qualified Finance professional to support and oversee all our financial operations, including but not limited to recordkeeping, payment processing, reporting, and systems oversight, ensuring transparency and compliance.

Reporting to the charity co-founders and directors, you’ll work closely with the Senior Leadership Team, Fundraising and People teams, and Trustees.

About you

We are seeking a qualified accountant (e.g. ACCA, CIMA, ACA) - or equivalent - with proven experience of budget development and financial reporting (trusts, foundations, or institutional funders). You will have a track record of managing supplier relationships, payment platforms, and international transactions, and a demonstrated ability to prepare financial statements and reports for fundraising teams, boards, or trustees. 

Please see the job description document attached for a full list of role responsibilities and person specification. 

Harris Hill is delighted to partner exclusively with Consumers International, the only global membership body for consumer organisations, to recruit their new Lead, Management Accountant on a permanent, part-time (2 days per week) basis. Consumers International unites over 200 member organisations in more than 100 countries. As the independent voice for consumers worldwide, it works with Members and partners to advocate for safer, fairer, and more sustainable markets, from energy to digital goods, from food systems to circular economy solutions.

The purpose of the role is focused on generating and developing monthly management accounts information and providing insight and direction to the Director General and Leadership Team. Reporting directly to the Head of Finance and Organisation Development, you will play a key role across the business in improving data capture and managing reporting across the team.

Please note, for this role you can be based remotely. Additionally, the salary on show is the FTE.

As Lead, Management Accountant, you will:

- Prepare monthly management accounts, including comparatives to budgets, trends and forecasts

- Compile Balance sheet reconciliations

- Prepare quarterly Project Income and Expenditure reports for Project Managers

- Prepare interim/final financial Project reports for submission to Funders

- Prepare quarterly VAT returns

- Provide accurate and timely financial information to support the organisational financial strategy and decision-making process

The successful applicant will:

- Have demonstrable experience in finance within the charity sector, in a similar role

- Be Qualified CIMA/ACCA/ACA or Part qualified on final stage

- Have a strong understanding of charity accounting principles, including SORP

- Have experience of managing financial ledgers, systems and processes

- Have strong IT skills, particularly in Excel, and the ability to manage large amounts of data

- Have excellent communication skills, both written and verbal

If this sounds like you and you're keen to hear more, please do get in touch ASAP!

Please note, only successful applicants will be contacted with further information.

As leading charity recruitment specialists and a certified B Corp™, Harris Hill is committed to high and ever-improving standards of equitable and inclusive recruitment. We actively welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality and other protected characteristics.

Permanent

35 hours per week

£35,100 per annum

Benefits:

-28 days holiday a year, plus Bank Holidays

-Stakeholder pension scheme with matching contributions up to 8%

-Free confidential counselling service: available to all staff and volunteers

Full details about our benefits can be found on our website.

Location: Hybrid (occasional travel to London office)

The Children's Society has been helping children and young people in this country for over 140 years. We run local services that support children when they are at their most vulnerable and in desperate need of help. We're there for children, every step of the way.

This role sits within our Finance Team.

We are currently looking for a Management Accountant to join our dynamic, ambitious team.

In order to be successful in this role, you must have:

-Part-qualification (ACCA, CIMA, ACA (ICAEW), etc.) and actively studying

-Strong attention to detail and ability to analyse and interpret significant amounts of financial data

-Highly IT literate and experienced at using multiple software tools, including Microsoft Excel

-Charity sector experience desirable

The Children's Society runs over 100 local services that help thousands of young people who desperately need our support, and we campaign to get laws and policies changed to make children's lives happier and safer.

Every day we're changing the lives of children in this country for the better - and with your help, tomorrow we can be there for even more.

The Children's Society is committed to safeguarding and protecting the children and young people that we work with. As such, all posts are subject to a safer recruitment process, including the disclosure of criminal records and vetting checks. We ensure that we have a range of policies and procedures in place which promote safeguarding and safer working practices across our services.

Therefore, candidates applying for work in our CYP Directorate will be required to complete an “Employment history_template” document prior to interview. The fully completed document should be loaded by the candidate at the point of uploading your CV.

The closing date for applications is 11:59pm on Friday 31st October 2025.

Interviews will be held on a date to be confirmed.

For over 850 years, St John’s Foundation has been changing people’s lives, for good. As one of the  UK’s oldest charities, we are proud to serve Bath and the surrounding area.

At the heart of our work is our almshouse community, where we provide housing for older adults in need. Alongside this, we run outreach services that help adults in Bath and North East Somerset to live independently for longer.

We are also working to reduce the Key Stage 2 education attainment gap in our area, which is the widest in the country. We address this by providing specialist support to the children who need it most.

Every aspect of our work is built upon our values of trust, kindness, and courage, and inspired by our purpose: to change lives. For good. It’s a long-term strategy, but we’re unwavering. After all, we’ve been around for 850 years.

The role

St John’s Foundation is looking to recruit a Finance Director.

As Finance Director, you will sit on the Executive team at St John’s, along with our CEO and our Director of Operations and contribute to the strategic direction of the organisation whilst embedding our values and embodying a culture of continuous improvement and accountability.

You will lead our Finance, Technology and Operational Governance functions, guiding a skilled and committed group of colleagues. In Finance, you will oversee a team spanning financial control, business partnering, management accounting and bookkeeping. Alongside this, you will provide strategic direction to our Technology and Operational Governance teams, shaping how they work to ensure the charity remains transparent, accountable and forward-looking.

About you

• Be a qualified accountant with significant strategic and operational senior management experience in a financial role and significant post qualification experience working in the commercial or not for profit sector ideally with some experience within the charity sector.
• Proven ability to shape and deliver financial strategy, ensuring robust governance, sustainability, and value for money across a complex charitable organisation.
• Strong track record in driving digital innovation, technology adoption, and data-led decision making to improve efficiency and insight. Expertise in developing effective governance frameworks, managing organisational risk, and ensuring compliance with charity, company, and data protection regulations also useful but not essential.
• Skilled at engaging Boards, Trustees, and senior teams with clarity and credibility. Have resilience to adapt quickly to changing priorities and demands from internal and external stakeholders.
• Experienced in leading and developing high-performing teams through change, encouraging accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Committed to inclusion, transparency, and integrity—embodying the charity’s mission and values in all aspects of financial and organisational stewardship.

In return for your hard work and dedication, you will enjoy a wide range of benefits including:

• Salary £85,000 - £90,000 pa
• 33 days leave including bank holidays
• Excellent pension and a wide range of additional benefits including private medical insurance, employee assistance programme, life assurance, a cycle to work scheme and a tech scheme

For a candidate pack which contains a job description and full details on how to apply, please contact our retained consultant Nicola Shaw at Morgan Law 

Closing date 2nd November

Interview date 20th November

Head of Financial Planning & Analysis
Maternity Cover (Up to 12 months)
£65,000 - £70,000
To start ASAP
Bristol/Hybrid

Head of Financial Planning & Analysis required for a leading specialist children's health charity on a 12 month fixed term contract basis. The Finance team is undergoing an exciting period of transformation, including the implementation of a new finance system. This is a key role where you will lead the post-implementation phase of the new system and continue delivering high-quality financial performance reporting, forecasting, and business insights.

Detailed duties include;

• Drive financial planning and analysis processes: Oversee the preparation of the charity's budgets, forecasts, and long-term financial plans, ensuring timely and accurate reports for senior leadership and governance committees
• Lead the implementation of improvements: Manage the post-implementation phase of the new finance system and use it to enhance financial reporting, forecasting, and planning
• Manage the month-end process: Ensure timely, clear, and accurate delivery of monthly management accounts, financial reports, and analysis
• Collaborate with stakeholders: Work closely with budget holders, senior leadership, and other departments to ensure financial performance aligns with organisational strategy and objectives
• Provide strategic insights: Make recommendations on improving efficiency and value for money, and support the development of business cases for new initiatives
• Lead and develop a team: Manage and support Finance Business Partners and the Income Management Accountant, providing guidance and development opportunities to ensure high performance
• Improve financial controls and reporting: Develop and embed financial control processes, improve management reporting outputs, and deliver stronger insights to stakeholders
• Support cross-functional projects: Contribute to cross-functional initiatives and ensure the financial implications are well understood

In order to be successful in the role we are looking for;

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent)
• Extensive experience in FP&A within senior finance roles, ideally within the charity or not-for-profit sector
• Ability to lead and develop a high-performing team and manage competing priorities
• Proven track record of managing and delivering budgets, forecasts, and monthly reporting with a strong focus on financial planning and analysis
• Advanced Excel skills, and experience with financial systems (experience with finance system implementation is a plus)
• Able to driving change within the finance function to improve processes and outcomes
• Strong ability to problem-solve and make informed decisions based on data, Emotional intelligence, with excellent negotiation and influencing skills, a proactive mindset and ability to thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment

Job Title: Finance Officer – Accounts Payable

Salary: £28,844 per annum (increasing to £32,047 per annum after 18 months) + £750 per annum Homeworking Allowance

Hours & Contract: 35 Hours per week - Permanent Role

Location: Homebased anywhere in UK 

As a ‘not for profit’ organisation, TACT puts the needs of our children and carers first and look to appoint individuals who are as passionate about fostering as we are. We are a homeworking organisation, and we pride ourselves on our flexible working opportunities, available from day one, an extensive wellbeing programme and our benefits package, all curated to nurture a healthy work life balance for all our employees so they can give an excellent service to our carers and the young people and children we care for.

As a foster care charity, TACT invests all surplus income into services, staff, carers, and child development. This means that we have been able to invest unique projects like TACT Connect, our unique and ground-breaking scheme for TACT care experienced young people and adults,  as well as our expanding Education and Health services. All our activities are built on our commitment to becoming a fully trauma informed organisation, in line with our key values and ethos.

In 2024 TACT became one of the top 5 charities to work for in the UK, placing 5th in the UK Best Companies Work For survey results , and a top 25 mid-sized company to work with across the whole of the UK.   97% of our people feel proud to work with TACT and think that TACT cares about their wellbeing, while 92% of our people would say they “ love working for TACT”.

This is an exciting opportunity to join the TACT Finance team.

If you want to be valued as a professional, be appreciated at work and contribute to better outcomes for the children and young people connected with TACT,apply now.  

Overall Duties of the Finance Officer – Accounts Payable will include:

• Recording all changes to carer payments on the finance system, on the carer’s purchase ledger account.
• Process carer pay in line with established timescales
• Prepare fee invoices to Local Authorities and other customers
• Manage the processing of children’s savings
• Recording of purchase invoices on the system and process BACS payments to suppliers
• Lead on and review aged creditors report
• Prepare monthly bank reconciliations and monitor unreconciled transactions
• Assist with the monitoring of receipts, remittance and outstanding debtors.

 TACT offer an excellent employee benefits package including:

• 31 days paid holiday plus 8 annual bank holidays.
• Progression to salary target rate upon completion of 18 months service.
• 45p per mile for business travel.
• Flexible working arrangements (including compressed hours, flexibility around core hours, volunteer days policy).
• Family friendly policies.
• Homeworking ‘bundle’ including annual allowance, IT equipment and a loan for home office set up.
• Help@Hand Employee Assistance Programme (including CBT counselling, 24/7 remote GP appointments, physiotherapy, mental health support and second opinions on serious diagnosis).
• An hour a week of live, expert led activities through the Annual Employee wellbeing Programme.
• Menopause Policy and free Menopause Clinician Appointments.
• Stakeholder Pension Scheme (salary sacrifice).
• Fantastic learning and development opportunities for all roles.

The Finance Officer – Accounts Payable may be homebased within England, Scotland or Wales but will be required to travel for occasional training and team wellbeing events.

A Standard DBS clearance is required for this role and will be processed by TACT on your behalf.

Closing Date: Monday 27th October 2025

Interview Date: Thursday 6th November 2025 (via Microsoft Teams)

Safeguarding is everyone’s business and TACT believes that only the people with the right skills and values should work in social work.  As part of TACT’s commitment to safeguarding, we properly examine the skills, experience, qualifications, and values of potential staff in relation to our work with vulnerable young children.  We use rigorous and consistent recruitment approaches to help safeguard TACT’s young people.  All our staff are expected to work in line with TACT’s safeguarding policies.

We reserve the right to close a vacancy earlier than advertised if the volume of applications is excessive, you are therefore advised to apply at your earliest convenience.

TACT does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruitment agencies, nor the fees associated with them.

We’re looking for a Finance Manager who combines technical excellence with a sense of purpose. At Oak, our work in finance helps power our mission, ensuring that public funds are used wisely, transparently, and to the greatest impact for teachers and pupils across the UK.

Oak is a fully remote, mission-driven organisation offering high levels of flexibility, autonomy, and purpose. We’re a national not-for-profit working in partnership with teachers to create the highest-quality, sequenced curriculum and lesson resources for pupils across all subjects and age groups.

Our culture has been independently recognised through:

• Flexa verified (93% overall score, including 95% for working hours and 97% for role modelling)

• Escape the City's Top 1% Employers – based on anonymous colleague reviews of culture, development, and impact

• Investors in People Gold - through external accreditation and colleague feedback

�� About the Role

This isn’t a traditional finance role. At Oak, finance isn’t just about managing numbers, it’s about enabling impact. You’ll work at the heart of a mission-driven, fully remote organisation that takes pride in the clarity, fairness, and transparency of its financial management.

You’ll oversee the day-to-day finance operations, ensuring Oak’s financial systems and reporting are accurate, efficient, and aligned with our obligations as an Arm’s Length Body of the Department for Education. You’ll lead the production of insightful management accounts, support audits and statutory reporting, and champion best practice in financial stewardship.

As a trusted deputy to the Head of Finance, you’ll help shape the continuous improvement of our processes, support budget holders across the organisation, and ensure colleagues have the financial insight they need to make sound, impact-focused decisions.

This is a hands-on role with wide influence across the organisation. Ideal for someone who enjoys the detail but also sees the bigger picture. You’ll bring a collaborative mindset, a commitment to high standards, and a belief that excellent financial management enables great work to happen.

�� What You’ll Be Doing

• Manage the day-to-day finance processes, fostering a culture of development and high standards. Ensure regularity, propriety, and effective stewardship, in line with the Nolan Principles of Public Life and the standards outlined in Managing Public Money.

• Lead the continuous improvement of Oak’s finance operations and systems

• Lead the production of monthly management accounts and board reporting packs, ensuring accuracy, clarity, and insight.

• Oversee monthly reconciliations, journal reviews, and payroll checks to ensure accuracy and compliance.

• Ensure timely and accurate financial information is available to support decision-making, audits, and annual reporting.

• Deputise for the Head of Finance and take on other general responsibilities as required.

• As a member of the Oak Team, contribute to the wider success of the organisation and support and role model our culture of inclusion, freedom, responsibility, and continuous improvement.

�� What We’re Looking For

• Accounting qualification (e.g. ACA, ACCA, CIMA) or demonstrable equivalent experience in financial management and reporting.

• Experience managing finance processes, with a track record of ensuring accuracy, compliance, and efficiency.

• Able to communicate effectively in written and verbal formats, and work independently to identify and act on opportunities or solve problems.

• Advanced skills in Excel or Google Sheets, including experience building financial models to support effective decision-making.

• You will be comfortable working at pace, with a range of digital systems (including proprietary ones as required) and you will continuously look at ways that the team can keep getting better. You will be excellent at working as part of a remote team, building relationships and managing your time effectively.

�� Our Benefits

• 25 days annual leave, plus one extra day for each year of service (up to 28)

• Additional Oak closure days over Christmas/New Year

• 11% employer pension contribution (with no minimum employee contribution)

• Fully remote working — we’ll support your home set-up and offer coworking options if preferred

• Twice-yearly in-person offsites to collaborate, connect, and have fun

• A culture that genuinely supports flexibility, autonomy, and trust

�� Inclusion and Belonging

We believe diverse teams build better products. We warmly welcome applicants from all backgrounds, particularly those who are underrepresented in the tech and education sectors.

We use the Applied recruitment platform to help reduce bias in our hiring process. 

�� Key Info

• Location: Remote, but you must be based in the UK with the legal right to work here

• Sponsorship: Unfortunately, we’re unable to offer visa sponsorship at this time

• Closing date: We’ll be reviewing applications as they come in and may close the role early

If this sounds like the kind of role and team where you could do your life’s best work, we’d love to hear from you.

Next steps

You’ll answer some questions related to the requirements of the role and the culture at Oak. After the advert closes, your answers will go through our sift process: all answers will be anonymised, randomised, and then reviewed by a panel of reviewers (real humans).

If you are shortlisted, we’ll invite you to a remote interview on Zoom.

We love giving feedback, so at the end of the application process we'll share how well you performed.

We are aiming to start interviews early November.

We are experiencing really good responses to our job adverts. This may lead us to close the role early, so if you are considering applying then please get your application in early to avoid missing out.

We are an equal opportunities employer.

We are committed to a policy of Equal Employment Opportunity and are determined to ensure that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of gender, age, disability, religion, belief, sexual orientation, marital status, or race, or is disadvantaged by conditions or requirements which cannot be shown to be justifiable.

For over 100 years, we have been the co-operative and trade union supported uniformed youth organisation, pledging to educate for social change and span the world with friends.

We are seeking someone to join our small but dedicated team, supporting the growth of our residential centres and leading our finance function. This role will work closely with our dynamic senior managers, focusing on financial planning, forecasting, and sustainable growth.

A background in charity or small business finance is essential, and experience in the holiday sector, youth hostels or residential centres would be highly desirable. This is an opportunity to help a children’s charity continue to change lives through co-operative education and international friendship.

Why join us?

• Be part of a historic moment as we mark 100 years of co-operative youth-led social action.

• Be within an organisation with a passionate, values-driven community.

• Work in a role that makes a difference to young people’s lives and futures.

Other benefits include: working from home allowance, flexible working, Employee Assistance scheme, all equipment provided, training budget available, Union recognition agreement, dedicated staff representatives, Up to 5% pension contribution, 28 days annual leave + Bank Holiday entitlement (pro rata), staffing policies which go beyond the statutory minimum.

Closing date: 9am Monday 3rd November 2025

Woodcraft Folk is committed to increasing and widening participation in all of its activities and proactively seeks to attract a diverse workforce. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, particularly those underrepresented in leadership roles in the charity sector. Woodcraft Folk contributes to the annual Race Report and is a Disability Confident employer. 

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. 

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.

POST

Finance and Operations Manager

RESPONSIBLE FOR

Overseeing Operations at every level of the organisation, with line management responsibility for some of the team, Project and Workstream Coordinators (approximately 5 direct reports) plus some external consultants and contractors.

SALARY & HOURS OF WORK

Part Time – 4 days a week (30 hours)

Salary: Gross £40,000 pro rata £32,000

Term - Permanent 

Annual Leave Entitlement - 31 days including public and bank holidays Pro Rata

Pension: Workplace pension contributions of 5% per month will be paid by NUM

LOCATION OF THE POST HOLDER 

The post holder will be predominantly remote working but will be required to attend the head office and drop-in in Manchester, drop-in spaces in Glasgow and London, and support staff members nationally. The post involves some travel throughout the UK and some work outside of office hours.  All equipment required for remote working will be provided and costs for travel will be covered.

ROLE SUMMARY

We are looking for a Finance and Operations Manager to support the CEO in the day-to-day running of our charity. The NUM CEO develops the overall vision of the organisation, while the Operations Manager is responsible to carry out the vision. 

To be successful in this role, you should have experience as a manager in a position of public trust, have excellent financial, organisational, and communications skills, as well as being a problem-solver with work experience in high-pressure work environments. The Finance and Operations Manager must be versatile in their understanding of the larger vision and as well as the fine details and tactics needed to achieve NUM's goals.

The successful candidate will work in an agile manner to ensure the charity continues to be proactive and innovative, while also being responsive to the changing landscape within the sector and the international sex worker rights and safety movement. As part of supporting the operations of NUM, the successful candidate will provide resources, information and support to NUM Managers and Coordinators across diverse projects, workstreams and teams, to achieve aspects of the organisation’s mandate of 'ending all forms of violence against sex workers' and eliminating the conditions that lead to poverty and survival sex work.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE 

• At least 3 years' work experience as a Manager, Project or Programme Manager or similar role that requires oversight of a whole system, business, operation or organisation Experience leading remote or hybrid teams is desired. This includes time management skills, with the ability to prioritise tasks, lead team meetings and support members to manage resources, timelines and project budgets, etc. 

• At least two years’ experience in grant writing and fund development, as well as in financial management, with a demonstrated ability to co-develop budgets, cashflow forecasts and financial reporting as well as oversee banking activities and work with accountants and Trustees to ensure NUM’s financial health.

• Knowledge of the charity sector, the day-to-day running of a charity, business or similar organisation, and familiarity with the work of National Ugly Mugs and other sex worker-serving and sex worker-led organisations.

• Excellent leadership and delegation skills and experience. 

• Ability to support and execute on elements of NUM's policies and strategic plan. 

• Experience and training in Safeguarding and the ability to integrate appropriate safeguarding into all aspects of NUM services.

• Exemplary critical thinking and problem-solving skills and experience.

• Excellent IT skills and familiarity with CRM systems, applications and digital platforms and services, particularly Google Workplace, QuickBooks, the Microsoft Office Suite, as well as Slack, Trello, and other project management programs and tools.

• Experience in Human Resource Management and monitoring performance across diverse teams. 

• Exceptional verbal and written communications skills, with the ability to engage in knowledge translation within NUM and with external partners, funders and other stakeholders. 

• A demonstrated ability to be discrete and confidential as part of working on sensitive issues within a diverse staff team, and to be tactful and strategic in challenging social and political climates.

Director of Finance and Operations
The Akshaya Patra Foundation UK
Salary: £60,000-£70,000 per annum
Remote (UK-based) with expensed travel to London
Full-time, permanent

Akshaya Patra is one of the world’s largest school meals charities – nourishing 2.35 million children in India every day and now expanding our impact across the UK.

Our UK after-school programme, Empower Hour, provides hot, nutritious meals and targeted tuition to children growing up in poverty – extending the school day by 60 minutes to give them the fuel, support and enrichment they need to thrive.

What began in one school in 2024 is already serving ten, and – alongside driving continued expansion in India – we are now ready to scale our delivery to reach thousands more children across the UK’s most disadvantaged communities.

To help lead this exciting phase of growth, we are seeking a Director of Finance and Operations – a senior leader who combines strong financial stewardship with operational leadership and is motivated by purpose as much as performance.

You will sit on the Senior Leadership Team, reporting to the CEO, and oversee two core portfolios:

• Programmes – overseeing Watford kitchen operations, Empower Hour delivery and holiday hunger initiatives.
• Finance and Resources – leading financial planning and reporting, systems, compliance, HR development and organisational infrastructure.

This role will suit someone who enjoys both strategic thinking and practical implementation – someone who finds energy in building strong foundations and helping a values-led organisation grow well.

You may have built your career in charity, education, food provision, public services, the private sector or elsewhere – but you will bring:

• Senior-level experience across finance, operations or programme delivery.
• Strong financial acumen and understanding of charity governance and compliance.
• A collaborative leadership style – supporting, challenging and uplifting those you lead.
• Deep alignment with our mission to fight child hunger and educational inequality.

What we offer:

• Flexible and remote working.
• 34 days’ leave (25 days annual leave + Diwali + English bank holidays).
• Employer pension contribution.
• Investment in professional and vocational development.
• A meaningful leadership role in a growing global movement – empowering children in both the UK and India.

How to apply:

• Download the full job description and application details here or on our website.
• Please send your CV and a cover letter to the email address in the applicant pack outlining both your suitability for the role and what attracts you to Akshaya Patra and our mission.
• Closing date: Monday 3 November 2025.

If you believe no child should be held back by hunger – and you have the leadership skills and desire to help grow an organisation that makes that possible – we would love to hear from you.