The Association for Cultural Enterprises (AfCE) supports over 500 member organisations across the UK and internationally, helping the cultural sector generate earned income through commercial activity. As an Arts Council England-funded organisation, AfCE delivers sector-leading training, benchmarking, data-led insights, events, and advocacy to drive financial resilience in arts, heritage, and culture.
AfCE runs a year-round programme of live training events around the UK and Europe, as well as its signature annual Cultural Enterprises Conference and Trade Show. We have ambitions to grow attendance at these events, as well as growing our membership.
The Association is a charitable organisation, which also has a trading company, Cultural Enterprises (Trading) Limited (CET).
We are looking for a new Finance Manager to join a small, friendly, and ambitious team, to review the day-to-day processes and policies and identify opportunities to improve reporting and make operational efficiencies. The Association is growing, so now is an exciting time to join our team and work with our members across the cultural sector.
Job Summary
The purpose of this role is to provide sound financial management for the Association and CET through:
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Statutory financial reporting in line with Charity SORP/UK GAAP, including annual returns to Companies House and the Charity Commission
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Management accounting, reporting and analysis to funders, management, staff, and Trustees/Directors
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Preparation and maintenance of budgets, forecasts and plans, including cashflows and project budgets
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Supervision and control of day-to-day accounting transactions, including oversight of the finance aspects of the Apprentice role
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Oversight and implementation of robust financial systems, policies, and procedures
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Responsible for financial queries, working with the Apprentice as first point of contact for external contacts
Main Duties
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Supervise day-to-day accounting operations and ensure accurate financial record keeping, including coding, allocations, reconciliations, and tax accounting
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Oversee invoice generation and debt recovery processes
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Process payments and staff expenses for authorisation
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Produce regular management accounts on an accruals basis, providing interpretation and advice to the Executive Team, Finance & Risk Committee, Trustees/Directors, and funders
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Lead on budget preparation and forecasting, including project-specific budgets; monitor and reforecast as needed
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Prepare statutory accounts in compliance with charity SORP and liaise with external auditors and the Treasurer
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Manage contracts with financial services providers, including bookkeepers, auditors, banks, and investment managers
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Attend AfCE and CET Board meetings
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Fulfil company secretarial duties, including:
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Filing confirmation statements and annual accounts for ACE and CET with Companies House and Charity Commission
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Filing changes in Trustees/Directors
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Complete Arts Council England (ACE) returns, including provision of financial information for quarterly payment processes when required
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Negotiate and implement insurance policies including:
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General insurance
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Cyber security
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Life assurance
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Staff sickness policy
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Trustees’ liability
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Conference insurance
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Oversee monthly payroll, including statutory payments to HMRC and pension providers, and liaise with bookkeepers for payroll updates or changes
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Review VAT returns for accuracy before submission to HMRC
Note on External Bookkeepers
External bookkeepers currently provide support limited to payroll and VAT processing.
Person Specification
Personal Qualities
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Self-disciplined, organised, proactive and self-motivating
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Logical and methodical approach to finance and administration
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Trustworthy, honest, reliable and conscientious
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Confident, professional, and personable, able to communicate easily within a small team and with external stakeholders
Professional Competencies
Essential
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Professional accounting qualification such as ACA, ACCA, or CIMA
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Strong knowledge of charity SORP and charity finance regulations, including VAT and Gift Aid
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Experience with Xero or equivalent cloud-based accounting systems
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Strong reporting skills
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Team player with excellent interpersonal skills
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High level of accuracy and attention to detail
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Experience producing management accounts and supporting senior leadership and boards
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Ability to interpret financial data for non-financial colleagues
Desirable
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Experience working in a small charity or business
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Understanding of the cultural or charitable sector
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Experience of remote working
Benefits
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Unlimited holiday policy
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5% employer pension contribution
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Life insurance
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Flexible working arrangements by agreement with the CEO
We are an inclusive, equal opportunity employer and value diversity. All employment is decided on the basis of experience, merit and organisational need.
Please note that interviews for this role will take place online on Thursday 31st July.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Are you looking for a fully remote, purpose-led and meaningful leadership role, one where you will be dismantling the motherhood penalty for thousands?
Our client’s work sits at the intersection of providing information and support, research, raising awareness, and advocating and campaigning for change – always with a bold, unapologetic commitment to justice for mothers and parents.
Their impact over the last 10 years speaks for itself with 20,000 supported through their one-to-one advice line, successfully influenced key changes in UK law, including the Day-one right to request flexible working, and extended redundancy protection for pregnant women and new mums. Over 150 mentions in Parliament, Thousands of pieces of media coverage, including front-page features in The Times, The Guardian, and The Daily Mail and over 400,000 followers across social media, building a powerful digital movement
Culture and Inclusion
As Community and Membership Engagement Manger you will work with a wonderful Head of Communications and Campaigns, within a team values differences, is inclusive and passionate about creating a fairer world for working parents and mums.
The lived experiences we’d love you to have
Our client is not a “box ticker” instead they are a progressive and inclusive employer, one where they value your lived experiences and skills just as much and can see behind any gaps you might have on your CV.
As a Community & Membership Engagement Manager, you will own and manage our clients digital engagement strategy, ensuring members, supporters, and volunteers are engaged, informed, and active. You will oversee PTS’s owned media platforms, including membership channels, private forums, email newsletters, and social engagement spaces.
This role is about more than just community management, it’s about creating an inclusive, welcoming, and representative movement. You’ll engage underrepresented voices, ensure accessibility, and create content that speaks to a diverse range of parents. If you’re passionate about building online movements, crafting compelling content, and ensuring all parents feel heard and valued, we’d love to hear from you.
A core part of this role is diversifying our audience and ensuring our community is truly reflective of all parents, including Black, Asian and minority ethnic women, disabled parents, LGBTQ+ parents, and low-income families. You’ll develop inclusive strategies to expand PTS’s reach and remove barriers to participation, ensuring that those most affected by the motherhood penalty are at the heart of our work.
To be successful in this role, you will have experience and knowledge, demonstrating an ability to:
· Build Community & Digital Engagement, creating a brave and fearless movement
· Drive membership growth & engagement
· Create storytelling & user-generated content (Nothing About Us Without Us)
· Create, lead and manage digital content & online events
· Compile, interupt and use data, performance & continuous improvement
In return for your passion, commitment and hard work, you will receive some of the most competitive benefits across the sector, whilst knowing that every day you are changing the lives of parents, families and the workplace. Your passion for gender equity will be shape the lens through which you storytelling and campaign tirelessly for the good of the millions of women who continue to lose their jobs, get passed over for promotion and face a penalty for being a mum.
Here are just some of the benefits they offer:
· Flexible working is embedded in our culture with employees working different hours, and days of the week.
· 34 days annual leave, including statutory bank holidays. This is pro-rata for part-time staff.
· Paid leave between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
· 2 paid ‘’Wellbeing Days’’. These are days that can be booked off with no notice and no questions asked.
· 5 days paid leave to care for dependents.
days at nursery or school, or for activities such as sports day or school plays.
· Participation in a comprehensive workplace pension scheme with contributions from the organisation of 4%
· Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay.
· Work from home onboarding and office set up
Next steps
We would love you to apply, which is a simple and transparent process, with a screening and interview stage with Scoutess Consultancy (recruitment partner for this role) and a one-stage interview with our client w/c 21st July (interview 24th July). Please note the advert will close on Sunday 13th July at midday, however, you may be contacted earlier if shortlisted.
Please apply via Charity Jobs, sending your CV alongside a covering letter of no more than 500 words detailing your suitability for the role.
Registered Charity
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Charity working to end the motherhood penalty.