Finance Officer

Do you want to make a real difference in people’s lives? Do you want to work with like-minded professionals in a great team? 

The Welland Trust, set up for public benefit, is a charity seeking to relieve the needs of care experienced people primarily, but not exclusively through promoting their health, relieving unemployment and by developing their skills and capacity so that they are able to participate more fully in society. It provides housing and mentoring support for care experienced people and associated facilities, amenities, and services for them.

“Care experienced” means adults who have, at some stage, had foster care or residential care experience.

Job Purpose

Reporting to the Head of Finance, you will be accountable for the sale and purchase ledgers for the various legal entities across the group of charities and companies for which the finance department is responsible.

You will match and code invoices, prepare and run BACS payments, reconciling bank statements and working out VAT payments.  You will provide a professional and efficient service to the finance function, monitoring how much is owed at all times and providing accurate financial information to the Finance Director as needed.

Finance Responsibilities may include (but are not limited to):

·        Checking, coding and posting invoices

·        Making payments via online banking.

·        Processing financial support requests to charity beneficiaries

·        Processing monthly credit card statements.

·        Processing staff expenses

·        Setting up of new customer and supplier accounts, and maintaining existing account details

·        Reconciliation of supplier statements

·        Liaising with suppliers and being the first point of contact for all relevant enquiries

·        Raising sales invoices as and when required.

·        Chasing customers for outstanding invoices and working to resolve queries as and when they arise.

·        Monthly bank reconciliations

·        Updating crisis and grant analysis schedules.

Technical competencies required and demonstrable in your application:

·        Sage knowledge would be advantageous for this role

·        Bookkeeping

·        Advanced excel skills and working knowledge of other Microsoft applications

·        Experience working in a financial environment and able to demonstrate an understanding of accounting issues

·        Ability to resolve and reconcile issues with limited supervision by identifying sources of errors, making retrospective corrections, and ensuring that appropriate changes are put in place to prevent reoccurrence

·        A clear thinker with a calm manner who is able to provide logical and practical solutions when faced with various challenges.

·        Excellent communication and organisational skills and be able to manage your workload independently.

·        A positive team player with ‘glass half full’ approach

·        Highly numerate with a high degree of accuracy

·        Strong attention to detail

·        Strong interpersonal skills, particularly in developing relationships with internal customers

·        Prepared to take ownership of tasks and outputs.

In addition, you will:

 ·        Work in line with the Charity’s Vision and Values. 

·        Work to deadlines and respond in a flexible way to changing demands.

·        Maintain strict confidentiality in relation to the work undertaken.

·        Actively engage and participate in team meetings, training courses, supervision sessions and appraisals punctually and well prepared, as appropriate and when required.

·        To be aware of and adhere to policies and procedures which are appropriate to the position.

·        Maintain a positive demeanour that supports a happy working environment and remain flexible and professional at all times.

·        Treat other staff as one expects to be treated oneself.

·        Be a good ambassador for the organisation in any external dealings.

·        Undertake continuing professional Development (CPD) with support from your manager to further enhance your skill base.

·        Undertake any other duties as directed by the Head of Finance

·        To undertake such other duties as may from time to time be required to ensure the effective and efficient operation of the charity.

It is the nature of work of The Welland Trust that tasks and responsibilities may be unpredictable and varied.  All staff are therefore, expected to work in a flexible way when the occasion arises where tasks are not specifically covered in the Job Description and have to be undertaken.