Grants accountant jobs in Birmingham

We are looking for someone who is a qualified or part-qualified accountant (including qualified by experience) to take responsibiity for the full day-to-day running of the finance function, ensuring accurate financial records, strong controls and timely reporting.

You will have experience in a hands-on finance role and in producing management accounts and charity statutory returns. You'll have a strong accounting knowledge and good excel and accounting systems capability. Ideally, you'll have experience in small organisations in the charity or social impact sector and of business partnering.

Very importantly, you'll be collaborative and team oriented, able to manage competing priorities effectively and be adaptable and comfortable working in a fast paced and entrepreneurial environment.

You'll work closely with our part-time Finance Director to:

• deliver all core financial operations
• produce high quality management information
• maintain compliance with charity regulations
• support financial planning and decision making
• manage and analyse the financial performance of the charity's trading arm

Key responsibilities:

• day to day financial management 
• management accounts and reporting
• support of budgeting and forecasting processes
• financial control and compliance
• year end audit preparation and liaison
• compliance with fund and grant accounting requirements
• payroll 
• HMRC compliance including gift aid returns
• trading financial management and analysis
• system and process improvements
• stakeholder suport
• support to Finance Director

Head of Finance

Location: Fully remote with flexible working arrangements. You must be able to travel 1-2 times per month for a team day in Bristol, Reading, or London, for which expenses will be covered.

Salary: £46,350 - £49,440 depending on experience

Contract: Part-time (0.8 FTE, 4 days per week), Permanent. We are flexible with how these hours are worked - working pattern to be discussed with the successful candidate.

Closing date: Monday 13 July

Interview date: Week commencing 27 July 

Start Date: ASAP - this is a new role

Reporting to: Operations Director
Direct Reports: Finance Officer
 

Role Purpose

The Head of Finance plays a key role in supporting Good Faith's financial health, sustainability and growth. Working closely with the Operations Director and colleagues across the organisation, they provide the financial insight, systems and support that help teams make informed decisions, deliver impactful work and plan confidently for the future.

The role combines hands-on financial management with the ongoing development of financial systems, tools and processes to support Good Faith's growth and evolving needs.

Working in partnership with the Operations Director, Senior Leadership Team, thematic project delivery ("track") leadership teams and project leads, the Head of Operations helps promote sound financial stewardship, clear reporting and responsible use of resources.

The role also provides financial management support to Good Faith Foundation, working alongside its trustees and Charity Development Lead.

The Head of Finance line manages the Finance Officer, supporting their development and helping to ensure the smooth day-to-day running of the finance function.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Management and Reporting

• Support the effective management of Good Faith's finances, helping to ensure accurate reporting, strong financial stewardship and long-term sustainability.

• Prepare monthly management accounts, including profit and loss, balance sheet and cashflow reporting.

• Provide clear, timely financial reporting and insight to support decision-making by the Operations Director, Senior Leadership Team and Board.

• Help colleagues understand organisational financial performance, identifying trends, opportunities and areas requiring attention.

• Work closely with the Operations Director to develop and improve financial systems, controls, policies and processes that support effective decision-making and organisational growth.

• Coordinate month-end and year-end reporting processes.

• Build positive working relationships with external accountants, banks and other professional advisers.

• Maintain compliance with relevant accounting standards, tax regulations and statutory requirements.

Budgeting, Forecasting and Planning

• Coordinate the annual budgeting process, working collaboratively with SLT and Directors across the organisation.

• Maintain GF’s financial forecast and support scenario planning to inform decision-making and future priorities.

• Monitor organisational, track and project budgets against performance and support teams to understand and respond to variances.

• Provide financial insight and recommendations that help colleagues balance ambition with sustainability.

• Support business planning and provide analysis to inform significant organisational investment and spending decisions.

Project Finance

• Work alongside track leadership teams and project leads to develop, manage and monitor project and track budgets.

• Produce project and track-level financial reporting and analysis, including profitability reporting.

• Help project teams understand financial information and use it confidently in decision-making.

• Provide practical financial support and guidance to help achieve GF’s organisational objectives while making the best use of available resources.

Warm Welcome Campaign

• Work closely with the Warm Welcome Head of Operations and Leadership Team, providing financial support on budgeting, reporting and forecasting.

• Ensure expenditure is accurately recorded, appropriately authorised and aligned with financial policies.

• Produce regular financial dashboards and reporting, highlighting budget variances, emerging risks and opportunities for improved efficiency.

• Provide insight and recommendations that support effective decision-making and responsible resource management.

Cashflow, Reserves and Financial Sustainability

• Monitor and report on cashflow, reserves and wider financial performance, helping SLT plan for the future.

• Manage and process supplier and payroll payments, ensuring appropriate controls and approvals are in place and payments are made accurately and on time.

• Work with the Finance Officer to monitor debtor and creditor performance, supporting the timely collection of income and effective management of liabilities.

• Provide financial insight and scenario planning that supports sustainable growth, informed decision-making and long-term resilience.

Support to Good Faith Foundation

• Provide financial management support to the Good Faith Foundation.

• Oversee the preparation of quarterly management accounts by external accountants, alongside budgets and financial reports as required.

• Support trustees and the Charity Development Lead with financial information, insight and analysis.

• Help maintain appropriate financial controls, governance and compliance arrangements.

Team Management

• Line manage, support and develop the Finance Officer, creating opportunities for learning and professional growth.

• Review and oversee bookkeeping, reconciliations and transactional finance processes.

• Help foster a collaborative, supportive and efficient finance function that supports colleagues across GF.

• Contribute to a positive team culture that reflects Good Faith's values.

Governance and Compliance

• Help ensure GF maintains high standards of governance, accountability and financial compliance.

• Support statutory record-keeping and coordinate company secretarial filings and documentation.

• Coordinate the preparation and submission of VAT returns, annual accounts, corporation tax returns and other regulatory filings, working with external accountants as required.

• Act as a trusted point of contact for external accountants, auditors, legal advisers and other professional advisers.

• Coordinate annual insurance renewals and maintain records of key organisational licences, registrations and financial policies.

• As needed, support audits, compliance reviews and risk management activities, helping to ensure appropriate documentation, controls and procedures are maintained.

Person Specification

Essential Experience

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent) with at least 2-3 years' working experience

• Experience managing finance functions within an SME, consultancy, social enterprise, charity or purpose-led organisation.

• Experience preparing management accounts, budgets and forecasts.

• Good understanding of UK financial reporting, tax and compliance requirements.

• Experience managing cashflow and financial planning.

• Proficiency in accounting software (Xero) and Microsoft Excel/Google Workspace.

Essential Skills

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Ability to communicate financial information clearly and confidently to non-finance colleagues.

• Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines effectively.

• Strong relationship-building skills and the ability to work collaboratively with a wide range of people.

• The ability to balance financial sustainability with organisational ambition and social impact.

Desirable

• Experience in consultancy, professional services, social enterprise or charitable sectors.

• Experience managing the finances of grant-funded projects

• Experience supporting boards, trustees or senior leadership teams.

• Knowledge of charity finance and governance requirements.

• Experience supporting and developing colleagues through line management.

Personal Attributes

• Collaborative and relationship-focused, with a genuine desire to support others.

• Inclusive in approach and committed to building positive working relationships

• Proactive and solutions-oriented, with the confidence to improve systems and ways of working.

• Trustworthy, accountable and able to exercise sound judgement.

• Comfortable working in a dynamic and evolving organisation.

• Able to balance ambition with pragmatism, helping the organisation make the most of its resources.

• Committed to Good Faith's mission, values and the positive impact of our work.

Key Relationships

• Operations Director

• Senior Leadership Team

• Project Leads

• Thematic project delivery leadership teams

• Finance Officer

• Good Faith Foundation Charity Development Lead and Trustees

• External accountants and professional advisers

• Clients, funders and other partners as required

Please review the attached JD for full information on how to apply. 

Last year, 124,000 young people approached their council for help because they were homeless or at risk of homelessness. The figure has risen year-on-year for eight consecutive years, highlighting the scale of a challenge that continues to affect young people across the UK. Yet we believe the resources, expertise and influence already exist within the built environment sector to help tackle youth homelessness. That is where LandAid comes in.

We bring together the UK property industry, harnessing its capital, assets, skills and networks to help end youth homelessness. We do this by awarding grants to frontline charities, providing financial support, brokering free professional advice and expertise, and creating opportunities for our partners to make a meaningful difference to the lives of young people.

The Chief Financial and Operating Officer plays a critical role in helping us achieve our ambitions. A key member of the Leadership Team, you will ensure we have the financial insight, operational effectiveness and governance frameworks needed to deliver our strategy successfully. A key priority will be to provide high-quality management information, analysis and forecasting that supports confident decision-making across the organisation.

You will also help us continue to strengthen our internal operations, driving continuous improvement and ensuring our systems, processes and technology support a more efficient, evidence-led organisation. Working closely with our Board committees, you will oversee financial stewardship, risk management and governance, helping to ensure LandAid remains resilient and well positioned for future growth and impact. Beyond finance, you will oversee our outsourced HR and IT functions, ensuring we receive high-quality and cost-effective support and have robust systems and policies in place, while also helping us continue our commitment to being an excellent place to work.

We are looking for a qualified accountant who brings senior finance leadership experience, either at executive director level within an organisation of similar scale or at deputy director level within a larger organisation. Experience within the charity sector would be valuable, as would knowledge of the built environment, capital investment or social investment. Most importantly, we are looking for someone who combines technical expertise with a collaborative leadership style; someone colleagues trust, learn from and enjoy working with.

Diversity in all its forms matters to us, and we especially welcome applications from qualified women, people who are from black and minority communities, who are LGBTQ+, who live with a disability, and/or haven’t been privately educated.

Our people are our greatest asset and you would be joining an exceptional team united by a shared commitment to ending youth homelessness. If that mission resonates with you, we would love to hear from you.

To download a full copy of the candidate brief and learn more about the role, please click the ‘Apply’ button, where you will be redirected to the website of our recruitment partner, Tall Roots. 

Applications should include a CV and cover letter (no more than two pages), explaining your motivation for applying for the role, along with how you meet the Knowledge & Experience section of the Person Specification.