Vat finance officer jobs

The Society of Authors (SoA) is the UK's largest trade union for all types of writers, illustrators and literary translators. We’ve been advising authors and speaking out for the profession since 1884. 

We’re currently looking to welcome a Finance Manager to our team.

The role

The Finance Manager leads on the operational management of the finance function to ensure there are robust financial controls, effective reporting and efficient day-to-day financial operations across the organisation, including our ancillary charities and literary estates. The postholder is expected to foster excellent working relationships across the organisation with all staff, member volunteers, senior colleagues, board members and charity trustees.

Reporting directly to the Chief Operations Officer, the Finance Manager has significant responsibility for:

· Management accounts and reporting

· Budgeting and forecasting

· Cashflow oversight

· Audit and compliance

· Financial controls and process improvement

· Operational financial analysis

Responsibilities

Day-to-day financial management 

• Manage the day-to-day finances for the organisation. Ensuring all aspects of the financial systems are accurate and kept updated including banking and sales and purchase ledgers.
• Manage the finances for our 14 charities. Ensure all aspects of the financial systems are kept updated.
• Undertake monthly reconciliations ensuring all transactions are properly and efficiently recorded.
• Prepare quarterly VAT returns for the organisation including the partial VAT exemption calculation.
• Oversee the management and appropriate allocation of any restricted funds for the charities ensuring that monies are allocated as per donor wishes or grant specifications.
• Prepare any ad hoc budget request and figures for other departments or the management.
• Regularly review and maintain financial policies and procedures.
• Support with funding bids and reports for donors and grant-making bodies.

Budget process management

• Work closely with the Chief Operating Officer on preparing the annual budgets for the organisation and our ancillary charities.
• Prepare quarterly figures for review, explaining any variation from budgeted figures.
• Monitor the actual spend against budgets for all the charities.

· Ensure adequate cash flow to meet the needs of the organisation and our charities in consultation with the Chief Operating Officer and Head of Charities.

• Work closely with all Departmental Heads to ensure they fully understand their budgets and ongoing organisational performance against budget. 

Statutory reporting

• Assist the Chief Operating Officer with the preparation of the organisation’s accounts.
• One of the main points of liaison with the external auditors, ensuring all supporting papers are collated for an efficient and effective annual audit to take place.
• Maintain fixed asset register and inventory of all equipment contracts and agreements.
• Ensure adequate controls are in place to safeguard the financial assets of the organisation.
• Lead on preparing all our charity accounts.
• Assist the COO to ensure the organisation and its ancillary charities are compliant with statutory bodies and external institutions including:

o Companies House

o Certification office

o Charity Commission

o HMRC

o  All banks and payment processors

Financial risk management

• Work with the Chief Operating Officer to ensure that the appropriate processes are in place for the long-term financial viability of the organisation.
• Develop, update and produce long-term cashflow forecasts for both the organisation and our ancillary charities.

· Ensure appropriate financial risk management techniques and controls are in place at strategic and operational levels. 

Governance support to the Finance Sub-Committee and Charity Trustees

• Assist in the preparation of all associated papers and minutes for the Finance Sub- Committee.
• Assist the Chief Operating Officer in preparing papers for Board and Charity Trustees.

 The duties above outline the broad areas of responsibility. The SoA reserves the right to vary these duties to suit the requirements of the business.

 Person specification

Essential

• Minimum part-qualified accountant or qualified by experience with strong financial management experience, with an ability to understand the practical impact of finance decisions and processes across the organisation.

· Strong IT skills including the Microsoft Office suite, in particular Excel, and experience of using databases. 

• Experience of using Sage 50 Cloud Accounts.
• Significant experience and confidence in managing a full range of finance operations in a small or medium sized organisation in the not-for-profit sector.
• Confident presenting financial information to non-financial audiences.
• Demonstrates excellent attention to detail, organisation and communication skills.

· Resilience in working under pressure, ability, and willingness to both give and take constructive feedback. 

· Bring ideas for improvements and is open and honest in all communications where relevant and appropriate. 

• Ability to work with the Chief Operating Officer to develop the formulation of long-term financial plans and strategies for the society and its ancillary charities.

Desirable Skills

· Specialist knowledge of Charities, including Charity SORP guidance and procedures, underpinned by strong theoretical knowledge and practical experience. 

· Experience of working for a trade onion or a membership organisation.

· Tax and charities law, including a good understanding of partially exempt VAT status.

 What we offer

As a progressive and ethical not-for-profit organisation, we offer a range of benefits to support your physical, mental, and financial wellbeing. We are a London Living Wage and a Disability Confident – Committed employer.

Benefits include:

• Competitive salary
• Cycle-to-work scheme.
• Death-in-service benefit (8 x salary)
• Employee assistance programme
• Flexible, hybrid working practices.
• Family-friendly, disability-confident inclusive culture
• Generous annual leave, including all bank holidays.
• Salary exchange pension scheme
• Interest-free annual travel card loan
• *Office closure over Christmas
• Private healthcare

*Colleagues can work over the Christmas period, although the building is closed. For those who wish to take additional time off, colleagues take these days from their annual leave allowance.

As an employer, we nurture a working environment in which staff can grow and develop. We recognise the value of flexibility in the way we work with a positive culture of hybrid working practices.

Inclusion, diversity, and representation are at the core of our values, and we work to tackle structural discrimination and prejudice. Part of this commitment means that we are looking to increase diversity in our organisation at all levels. We strongly encourage applications from a broad range of social, cultural, educational, and underrepresented backgrounds

Financial Controller

£60,000 - £65,000 | Permanent | 4 day working week (Full Time) | London Hybrid

Take ownership of financial control, statutory reporting, and technical accounting while helping shape the future of CIPFA's finance function whilst they are undergoing transformation!

CIPFA is exclusively partnering with Robertson Bell in their search for a Financial Controller to join their finance team in a newly created role. This is an exciting opportunity to take ownership of financial control, statutory reporting, treasury, tax and compliance, while helping drive the ongoing development of a modern, high-performing finance function.

As the professional body for people in public finance, CIPFA is committed to supporting better public services through excellence in financial management and governance. This role will play a key part in ensuring the organisation continues to operate with strong financial stewardship while supporting future growth and organisational priorities.

Why this Financial Controller role stands out:

• A genuine four-day working week – work Monday to Thursday, enjoy Fridays off, and take the full salary home (it is not pro rata!).
• Newly created position with the opportunity to shape the role and influence the future direction of the finance function.
• Strategic exposure – partner with senior leaders on commercial opportunities, international activity, and organisational initiatives.
• Drive improvement and transformation across systems, controls, reporting, and finance processes.
• Clear progression potential – gain exposure well beyond traditional financial control responsibilities, with the potential to develop into a broader finance leadership role over time.

What you'll do – and what you'll gain:

• Play a leading role in statutory reporting, year-end processes, audits, treasury management, and tax compliance.
• Act as the organisation's technical accounting expert, ensuring compliance with charity accounting standards and evolving regulations.
• Support strategic projects by providing insight into financial, tax, treasury, and compliance implications.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen controls, improve reporting, and maximise the value of finance systems.
• Contribute to the ongoing development of a modern, high-performing finance function.

What you'll need:

• Experience preparing charity statutory accounts and managing year-end audits, either in industry or practice.
• Strong knowledge of charity accounting, VAT and SORP FRS102.
• A proactive approach to process improvement and problem-solving.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills and the confidence to challenge constructively.
• A recognised accounting qualification is desirable, although exceptional relevant experience will also be considered.

Location & Working Pattern:

The organisation operates a 32-hour full-time working week, with employees typically working 9:00am - 5:30pm Monday to Thursday (including a 30-minute lunch break) and enjoying Fridays off.

Hybrid working is in place, with 1-2 days per week in the London office.

Ready to make your mark?

This is an excellent opportunity to join an organisation investing in its finance function and creating an environment where technical expertise, innovation, and continuous improvement are genuinely valued.

The deadline for applications is on Sunday 5^th July, but CVs are being reviewed on a rolling basis, so early applications are encouraged to ensure you don’t miss out!

About Us

Cabot Learning Federation is a large and diverse multi-academy trust in the South West of England that runs and supports more than 36 schools, including primary, secondary, specialist, and post-16 education settings. It serves around 18,000 students and employs over 3,000 staff.

CLF is committed to excellence and making a positive impact and our people bring unique perspectives, all driven by a shared moral purpose and a passion for making a positive impact, whether in a teaching, leadership or support role. We’re proud to foster a culture where everyone can thrive, feel valued, and make a meaningful difference to the lives of others.

The Role

CLF are seeking to recruit an experienced and visionary Financial Controller who will provide leadership capacity to the finance team as well as technical expertise.

You will be responsible for the day-to-day operations and transactions of the finance department and will lead on delivering statutory financial information

The FC will support the Finance Director to deliver the vision for finance across the Trust and ensure the output from the finance department will be accurate, timely, current and to a high standard. This role will develop and embed a culture of continuous improvement within the team and ensure the service provided to our academies and other provisions is of the highest quality requiring the establishment of key relationships with both internal and external stakeholders.

The scope of their role and responsibilities has Trust wide impact and the post holder will need to develop an in-depth knowledge of the Federation’s activities and goals. 

About You

To succeed in this role you will:

• Be a qualified accountant or QBE with substantial financial and management accounting experience.
• Have excellent verbal and written communication skills and demonstrable experience of leading and engaging with finance and other corporate functions to develop a mature and rounded service.
• Have an excellent understanding of financial and management accounting processes, financial reporting and audit planning as well as being adept at managing both your own and your team’s priorities.
• Working with the Leadership team particularly the Estates and Facilities team, Operations, IT team and HR team, you will be a strong leader able to communicate well with your peers and teams members and have resilience to adapt quickly to changing priorities and demands from internal and external stakeholders.
• Knowledge of Public Sector accounting, SORP, Charity law and VAT

In return for your hard work and dedication you will enjoy a wide variety of benefits including:

• Access to a generous pension through the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
• Generous annual leave.
• A comprehensive induction and ongoing commitment to wellbeing and career progression, through a range of training, apprenticeships and in-role/wider-trust development opportunities.
• Well-being support through an Employee Assistance Programme.
• Health benefits, including wellness sessions, gym discounts, and flu jabs.
• A range of generous family leave options, including above industry average occupational maternity pay.
• Additional benefits like cycle to work scheme, on-site parking plus many more!

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds.

Closing date 5th July ; Interview date 17th July

We kindly ask recruiters or agencies not to contact us about this role as we're managing this process directly. Due to the volume of agency enquiries, we're unfortunately unable to respond to each one individually.

Location: Reading, Hybrid (at least once per month to Reading Office)

Hours: 21 hours per week

Salary: £30,124 pro rata £17,097.41 for 21 hours per week

Contract Type: Permanent, Part Time

Campaign Closes: 22nd June 2026

Interviews: First stage: 24th/25th June 2026,

                Second stage: 30th June 2026

On occasion, we may close a vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. We therefore encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible, as we will be shortlisting on a rolling basis.

Core Purpose

To deliver high quality, accurate, and responsive financial support that ensures the smooth operation of Make-A-Wish finance function. This role is central to maintaining the integrity of financial data through timely processing of transactions, effective communication with stakeholders, and diligent reconciliation of accounts. By supporting both internal teams and external partners, the role helps uphold financial compliance and operational efficiency, enabling Make-A-Wish to focus on granting life-changing wishes to children with critical illnesses.

Key Responsibilities

Customer and Communication Support

• Monitor the finance mailbox daily, ensuring all emails are reviewed and responded to in a timely, professional, and accurate manner. Provide first-line support for internal and external customer queries, escalating complex or unresolved issues to the appropriate team member or manager.
• Handle incoming calls to the finance team, offering courteous and knowledgeable assistance. Accurately log call details and follow up on outstanding queries to ensure resolution and customer satisfaction.

Sales and Purchase Processing

• Process sales invoices accurately and efficiently in accordance with MAW’s financial procedures, ensuring correct coding, VAT treatment, and timely dispatch to customers.
• Set up new customers and suppliers on the finance system, verifying all required documentation and approvals are in place. Maintain accurate and up-to-date records to support compliance and audit readiness.
• Process purchase ledger invoices (approx. 360 per month), ensuring they are matched to purchase orders, coded correctly, and approved in line with internal controls. Resolve discrepancies promptly to avoid payment delays.
• Create payment runs and upload onto the bank for approval, ensuring approvals are obtained in a timely manner

Reconciliations and Debt Management

• Perform supplier statement reconciliations regularly, identifying and resolving aged or unmatched items. Liaise with suppliers and internal stakeholders to ensure accounts are accurate and up to date.
• Monitor outstanding sales invoices, escalating overdue items to the relevant ‘requestor’ or budget holder. Support the credit control process by providing timely updates and assisting with follow-up actions.
• Conduct income reconciliations on a regular basis, ensuring all income is accurately recorded and discrepancies are investigated and resolved.
• Reconcile balance sheet accounts as assigned, maintaining clear audit trails and supporting documentation for all entries.

Expense and Credit Card Management

• Process monthly credit card statements, ensuring all transactions are supported by receipts, correctly coded, and approved in line with company policy.
• Review and process employee expense claims, checking for accuracy, policy compliance, and appropriate authorisation before submission for payment.

Inventory and Stock Control

• Conduct stock takes at agreed intervals, working with relevant departments to ensure accurate counts and investigate variances. Support the maintenance of accurate stock records in the finance system.

Financial Recording and Reporting

• Post and process journal entries for accruals, prepayments, and other adjustments to ensure the general ledger reflects accurate and complete financial information. Maintain supporting documentation for all entries.

Continuous Improvement

• Identify process improvements and opportunities for automation, making recommendations to line manager and supporting implementation

General and Ad-Hoc Support

• Support with ad-hoc finance tasks as required, including data entry, reporting, and assisting with audits or internal reviews.
• Provide cover for team members during periods of absence, ensuring continuity of service and workload management. Take on additional duties as appropriate to the level of the role and contribute to team objectives.

Essential Criteria

• Proven experience in a finance or accounts role, with a solid understanding of financial processes such as invoicing, reconciliations, and ledger management.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy in data entry and financial reporting.
• GCSE Maths or equivalent, grade 4/5 (C) or above.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to respond professionally to internal and external queries.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team, managing workload effectively and meeting deadlines.
• Proficient in using finance systems, particularly Xero and Microsoft Office applications, especially Excel.
• Demonstrated ability to handle confidential information with integrity and discretion.
• Strong organisational skills and a methodical approach to problem-solving.
• Willingness to learn
• Positive and ‘can do’ attitude

Desirable Criteria

• Experience working within a charity, non-profit, or mission-driven organisation.
• Experience with stock control or inventory management.
• Knowledge of VAT and basic accounting principles.
• AAT qualification or working towards a relevant finance qualification.
• Experience supporting audits or financial reviews.
• Willingness to take on additional responsibilities and support team members during absences.
• Proficiency in finance systems, Lightyear & JOIIN

Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity, based in Farnham, Surrey, is one of the leading charities in the UK empowering children and adults with dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties. We have a strong reputation built upon 50 years of pioneering work in this field. We currently provide direct support to over 1800 individuals with dyslexia each year.

We are looking for someone who will support our short courses administration as well as providing the administration for our shop; which is both on-line and in-person. The role is based full-time in our office in Farnham, and you will work closely with the team based there. A collaborative approach and commitment to Helen Arkell’s values is essential. You will be confident in multi-tasking and dealing with the public, as well as having good communication and digital skills.

Key Responsibilities

Courses

· Prepare for online and face-to-face courses including setting up webpage booking pages, answering enquiries, and preparing resources such as leaflets and handouts

· Process course bookings ensuring accurate records are maintained.

· Create events and host on-line courses via Zoom

· Support course delivery for both on-line and in-person events

· Manage the on-line, and on-demand course recordings access.

· Send out and collate feedback forms and certificates for courses

· Process applications for bursary places on courses

Shop

· Source, order and manage the stock (with the agreement of the Head of Education)

· Ensure that the shop is well presented and serve customers making purchases.

· Process orders received via our website, including packing and dispatching.

· Manage the Shop on our accounting system, Sage. Including updating the ledger daily,  updating the stock information and producing purchase orders.

· Manage the ‘till’ ensuring accurate records are maintained and systems agree.

· Produce the monthly sales report

· Lead regular stock takes.

· Develop innovative sales ideas including advertisements, to increase shop turnover

· Support the shop finance functions such as producing customer invoices and VAT receipts

· Prepare stock for events away from the HADC office

Other

· Support the general administration of the office, including answering the door and the phone and ordering supplies.

· Attendance at charity events (which may be out of office hours) where time-off in lieu will be given

We’d love to hear from you if you would like to join us as we deliver our exceptional services.  

Thank you for your interest in working with us and we look forward to receiving your application.

The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.

As Data Officer, you will support the Head of Finance and Operations across a range of important day-to-day tasks, with a particular focus on income reconciliation, accounting preparation, the maintenance of our Salesforce CRM database, as well as using the CRM to run reports.

You will take responsibility for keeping Save the Rhino's data clean, accurate, and audit-ready — carrying out regular imports, cleaning routines, and backups, and producing reports that help colleagues across fundraising and communications to do their jobs effectively.

Alongside this, you will contribute to key financial processes including Gift Aid claims, VAT returns, and monthly management accounts, developing a solid grounding in charity finance. For the right person, this combination of data and financial responsibilities offers an unusually broad grounding - ideal for someone early in their career who wants to develop skills across both disciplines rather than specialise immediately.

You will be methodical and detail-oriented, comfortable working with data and spreadsheets, and confident following established and documented procedures while flagging issues when you spot them. You will be a collaborative team player, supporting colleagues across the organisation and keen to learn and grow within a small, committed team.

This is a new role for Save the Rhino, and it is one that might appeal to individuals with different experience and backgrounds. We are open to this role being full time (35 hours per week) or part time (28 hours per week). The hours agreed will reflect the experience of the successful applicant — a more experienced candidate may be able to deliver the full scope of the role in fewer hours.

For more information and to apply, download the application pack.

The Woodland Trust is looking for a Funded Projects Officer to aid the success of our project delivery.

The Role:
•    Aid the successful delivery of projects through the development of realistic project budgets that inform internal decision-making and strengthen funding applications.
•    Monitor income and expenditure against approved budgets, highlight risks and implications, and help ensure the Trust remains in a healthy financial position.
•    Maximise grant income through organised grant claims, good funder relations and effective negotiations.
•    Report on restricted income within projects, feeding into budgets, forecasts and year end requirements.
•    Manage complicated funding packages, whilst avoiding double funding, and coordinate claims and reports for multi partner projects.
•    Ensure compliance with funder, Trust and statutory requirements, including VAT, procurement and funded-project guidance.
•    Produce financial and written reports for internal decision-making and for updating funders, project teams, management and senior leaders.
•    This is a hybrid position with a mix of home working, and from our head office in Grantham, Lincolnshire. Head office attendance would be required no more than once a month on average.
•     This is a fixed term contract until March 2027.

The Candidate:
•    A confident communicator able to listen, interpret, challenge, influence and explain complex financial principles to non-experts.
•    Experienced in the development, production and monitoring of project budgets, including analysing implications, risks and assumptions.
•    Skilled in project management, delivery and grant management, ideally across multiple projects at any given time.
•    Able to develop and deliver high quality numerical and written reports, ensuring accuracy and spotting potential risks.
•    An understanding of funder rules, requirements and funding opportunities, maintaining good working relationships with funders.
•    Able to consider the impacts and implications of projects on Trust budgets, resources and funds, contributing to accurate reforecasting.
•    Experience working in a similar role or fundraising-related role in the charity sector would be advantageous. 

Benefits and Wellbeing:
Joining our team means you’ll be a big part of tackling environmental and climate issues. We take good care of our staff, offering support and training opportunities. We also offer:
•    Enhanced Employer Pension
•    Life Assurance
•    Flexible & Hybrid Working Options
•    Generous Annual Leave - 25 Days Plus Bank Holidays (pro rata’d for part-time)
•    Buy and Sell Holiday Scheme
•    Enhanced Parental Pay
•    Employee Assistance Programme

About Us:
The Woodland Trust is the UK’s largest woodland conservation charity.  We want to see a world where trees and woods thrive for people and nature. The Trust engages and inspires people to make their difference tackling the nature and climate crisis helping protect, restore and create our vital woods and trees.

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion:
To achieve our vision of a world where woods and trees thrive for people and nature, we need to better reflect society and the communities we work in. All people, no matter their background, identity, ability, or circumstance, should benefit from trees.  
People of colour and disabled people are currently under-represented across the environment and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we particularly encourage you to apply. 
Please contact us to discuss any additional support or adjustments you may need to complete your application.

Application Advice:
For fairness we keep our candidates’ personal details hidden from the hiring managers, and we 
Make sure that your Personal Statement clearly shows how your skills and knowledge link to the specifications in the job description and you share with us your passion for the role. Even if you don't meet every requirement of the role, we would encourage you to apply. 

Acceptable Use - Artificial Intelligence (AI):
We understand that candidates may choose to use AI tools to support their job applications-for example, to help structure or edit written responses. We welcome the use of AI in this way, particularly where it helps improve accessibility, such as for neurodivergent applicants. However, we ask that any information submitted reflects your own experience, skills and understanding. During interviews, candidates are expected to respond independently without the use of AI tools. 

Apply Now:
If you're ready to make a difference and grow with us, send in your application today. We might close the job opening early if we get a lot of applications, so it's a good idea to apply soon. If we do close the advert early, and you have an application in process, we will email you prior to closing to give you time to complete.

1st stage interviews are to be held via MS Teams on June 23rd & 24th, with 2nd stages on June 25th.