Finance and Operations Manager

Position: Finance & Operations Manager 

• Working hours & Location:  2.5 days per week (20 hours) including both in-person hours in Norwich (Monday and Wednesday) and home working- we do offer some flexbility with the hours in office.
• Responsible for: Working with the Charity Director to ensure all financial and operational services are professional managed and organised.
• Type of Contract: Permanent role. The post is available for start in August 2026.
• Holiday entitlement: Paid annual leave (includes Bank holiday entitlement) is 14 days a year (28 days FTE)
• Special considerations: Appointment will be subject to satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check and to receiving suitable job references. Applicants must be eligible to live and work in the UK.

At English+, our mission is to empower people for whom English is not a first language, to build strong community connections, integrate into local life, and access opportunities within the UK job market. We provide inclusive services to individuals of all faiths and none, without prejudice or discrimination.

Each year, we support several hundred students through our free, weekly English classes, welcoming learners from over 40 nationalities. Our work is made possible by a dedicated team of volunteers, whose commitment is essential to delivering our services. In partnership with local churches, we provide a safe and supportive environment to learn English and understand local culture, alongside a wide range of activities that build confidence, strengthen community connections, and promote health, well-being, and integration.

The ‘+’ represents the additional support we offer to help students successfully navigate life in the UK, much of which is delivered in collaboration with a strong network of other service providers across Norfolk. As a small, local charity, we are agile and responsive- able to quickly adapt our lessons, courses, and services to meet the evolving needs of those we serve.

As Finance and Operations Manager, you will play a central role in our organisation- contributing to strategic decision-making while enabling frontline staff to deliver high-quality services. You will help ensure English+ remains financially secure, maintains strong donor relationships, and continues to be a leading community-based ESOL provider in Norfolk.

What you will be working on:

• Working closely with the Charity Director and Trustees, you will develop and manage the charity’s financial strategy, including setting annual budgets and producing quarterly management accounts with clear spend-versus-budget reporting. You will liaise with external accountants to prepare year-end accounts and take responsibility for day-to-day financial operations, including payroll and maximising Gift Aid income.
• In partnership with the Charity Director, you will help secure the organisation’s financial sustainability by preparing funding bids, monitoring programme finances, and ensuring accurate financial reconciliation.
• You will also support the Charity Director and Trustees with staff recruitment, drafting contracts and job descriptions, and overseeing leave and timesheet processes.
• Working with the Charity Director and Support Manager, you will help ensure that policies and procedures are robust, up to date, and aligned with operational needs, contributing to policy development, updates, and risk assessments.
• In addition, you will manage and report on key data relating to students, volunteers, and donors, producing management information and contributing to both the Charity Commission Annual Report and the English+ annual report.
• As part of a collaborative team, you will also help plan and deliver events such as the Summer Programme and seasonal activities. Given the nature of a small organisation, there may occasionally be opportunities to support wider activities, including assisting with classes where needed.

This role is for you if you have:

• Excellent financial, administrative, and organisational skills, and are a self-motivated, highly organised team player who can manage your workload independently with minimal supervision.
• The ability to be flexible and adaptable, maintaining a caring yet professional approach, thinking creatively under pressure, and responding calmly to unexpected changes.
• Strong IT skills and a clear, concise writing style, with the ability to produce high-quality funding applications, reports, policies, and staff documentation.
• Strong interpersonal skills, a genuine commitment to equality, and the ability to engage empathetically with people from diverse backgrounds.
• A positive, proactive attitude, a creative mindset, and strong problem-solving abilities, with enthusiasm for working collaboratively in a small, fast-paced, and evolving charity.
• A clear commitment to the mission of English+ and a willingness to actively support and promote the organisation’s faith-based ethos.