Finance Manager

Advocacy is a powerful force for change. It allows individuals to have their voices heard and respected when decisions are being made about their health and social care. It raises awareness of people’s rights and entitlements and empowers people to advocate for themselves.

The Advocacy People is seeking a proactive, professional Finance Manager to join our Central Services team. You’ll play a key role in supporting our mission to put people at the heart of everything we do.

Why Join Us?

• Be part of a values-led, inclusive charity making a real difference to the people we work with.
• Flexible, home-based working with occasional travel and supportive colleagues.
• Opportunities for professional development and growth.
• A culture that values staff wellbeing, innovation, and amplifying voices.

About the Role

We are looking to recruit a permanent Finance Manager to join our busy finance team, working 30-37 hours per week, over a minimum of 4 days.

As Finance Manager, you will:-

• Provide day-to-day operational leadership of the finance team, including supervision, workload coordination, ongoing staff development and continuous improvement of processes and procedures.
• Act as the main link between the Finance Director and the Finance Team, translating strategic direction into clear, effective delivery.
• Lead month-end processes including the preparation of accurate and timely management accounts, maintaining strong balance sheet control and exercising sound judgement on complex financial issues.
• Oversee income, credit control, cashflow, short-term forecasting and the administration of the finance system, ensuring data integrity, high-quality management information and appropriate escalation of risks or pressures.
• Support audit preparation and liaise with external auditors as required.
• Work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders to support financial understanding, compliance and the effective resolution of issues.
• Act as the first point of escalation for operational finance issues, escalating to the Finance Director as appropriate.

About You

We need you to bring:

• AAT Level 4 Qualification or significant equivalent finance experience in a similar role, with responsibility for management accounts, reconciliations and income monitoring.
• Experience coordinating month-end processes and working across multiple income streams, contracts or funding arrangements.
• A methodical, organised approach to prioritising work and managing competing deadlines.
• Strong analytical skills and sound professional judgement, with the ability to explain financial information clearly to non-finance colleagues, identify financial and organisational risk and escalate issues appropriately.
• Experience supervising, supporting and developing others within a finance setting, with a collaborative leadership style and a commitment to continuous improvement.
• Confidence using financial systems and Microsoft Excel at an intermediate to advanced level.
• A clear commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and to the values of The Advocacy People.

The following attributes are also desirable:-

• Experience working in the voluntary or charitable sector, including knowledge of SORP accounting, year-end accounts and liaison with auditors.
• Experience working with local authority contracts or complex funding environments.
• Part-qualified or fully qualified accountant (CIMA, ACCA, ACA)

As this role is home based with occasional travel you will need to have access to use of public transport or own car. If using a car, you must have Class 1 or 2 Business Use on your car Insurance. Flexibility with working hours, a good mobile signal and broadband service are essential.

What happens next

If you’d like to know more, the full job description and information about how to apply can be found on our website.

Anyone joining our team is subject to The Advocacy People’s Safer Recruitment pre-appointment checks.  Applicants invited to interview will need to bring evidence (photographic where possible) of their right to work in the UK and new employee start dates will only be confirmed once other mandatory checks, including the appropriate DBS clearance and 2 satisfactory references, one of which will need to be from your most recent or current employer, have been received.