Finance Manager

Finance Manager
Salary: £60,000 - £65,000
Fixed term contract until March 2027
Hybrid working – Central London, 2 days a week in the office

Join one of the UK’s most respected grant-giving foundations as a Finance Manager. Managing a large investment portfolio and distributing more than 600 research grants, this independent trust supports world-class innovation and discovery across the academic landscape.

This is a newly created role offering a rare opportunity to work at the heart of a small, high-calibre team. You’ll bring your technical accounting expertise and systems insight to strengthen the Trust’s financial operations, investment accounting, and management reporting during an exciting period of change.

Reporting to the Director of Finance, you’ll combine hands-on accounting with process improvement and strategic project work — helping to shape the Trust’s future financial systems and reporting capability.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead on the accounting and reporting of a significant investment portfolio, ensuring accurate, timely and compliant outputs
• Support the production of statutory accounts and related disclosures
• Partner with the Director of Finance and Assistant Director of Finance to enhance management reporting through a newly implemented Microsoft Business Central system
• Work with custodians, investment managers and auditors to refine and automate financial processes
• Contribute to financial papers for the Board and the Trustees’ Annual Report
• Play a key role in developing improved internal reporting and governance practices

About You

• You’re a qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent)
• You bring experience in financial or investment accounting, ideally from a charity, investment, or audit background
• You’re comfortable operating at both strategic and hands-on levels — equally confident preparing accounts or redesigning a process
• You have an interest in systems and reporting improvement, ideally with exposure to Microsoft Business Central
• You’re detail-focused, well-organised, and thrive in a small, collaborative environment
• You enjoy variety and are motivated by the chance to contribute to a mission-led organisation supporting education and research

Why Apply?

• Join a lean, high-performing team within one of the UK’s largest independent charitable foundations
• Work directly with senior leaders and gain exposure to a complex investment portfolio
• Shape and improve financial systems, reporting, and processes during a transformative period
• Hybrid working in a collegiate, intellectually stimulating environment
• Possibility of extension or permanence beyond the contract term