Vat finance officer jobs

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

Head of Finance | DFN Project SEARCH

Remote, with travel to London on average once a month plus occasional site visits | £51,500 – £61,500 | 9-day fortnight (after probation), flexible working welcome

DFN Project SEARCH is a national charity supporting young adults with a learning disability, autism, or both, into real, paid, lasting work. Last year alone, 431 young people started jobs through our programme. We work with around 200 employers, colleges and local authorities across the UK, and we've supported over 2,900 people since we started. We're good at what we do, and we want to do a lot more of it. Our aim is to support 10,000 interns by 2030.

We've grown rapidly, which is exciting, and this role has been newly created to make sure all the finance processes are set up so that we can continue to grow and scale properly. So, this isn't a steady-state job where you inherit clean processes and just keep them ticking. You'll be helping to build the structure as the charity grows around it.

That means we need someone who can lead and do. You'll own the finance function end to end: month-end, management accounts, statutory reporting, cash flow, controls. You'll also shape how all of it should work as we continue to grow. One day you're posting journals and reconciling the balance sheet; the next you're helping a budget holder who's never read a P&L understand their numbers, or modelling what reaching 10,000 interns actually means financially. You'll report to the Finance Director and line manage our Finance Administrator.

What your time will look like:

- Running the finance function day to day and ensuring everything is accurate, compliant and efficient, which means journals, reconciliations, month-end close, the monthly rhythm

- Producing management accounts and board-level reporting that people can act on, with clear commentary

- Working with the Finance Director on budgeting, statutory accounts, audit and VAT

- Strengthening cash flow forecasting, treasury, reserves and credit control

- Owning the controls framework, financial policies and procedures, and getting more out of Xero so we have real-time insight, not using out-of-date assumptions to make business critical decisions

- Managing restricted, designated and unrestricted funds, and reporting to funders properly and on time

- Supporting fundraising and bid colleagues with budgets for grant applications and tenders

- Overseeing payroll and pensions with our provider

- Helping non-finance colleagues across the charity get more confident in their own financial understanding

What we need from you:

- A qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA or equivalent)

- Solid charity finance experience. You'll know Charity SORP, restricted funds and grant reporting, and you're across the changes coming to SORP

- Someone happy with their hands on the controls: month-end, reconciliations, statutory accounts and board reporting

- Strong on Xero (or quick to get there) and advanced Excel

- The ability to explain numbers clearly to people who don't think in numbers

- Experience setting up or developing financial instructions, controls and processes in a charity

You don't need to tick every single box. If you've been part of a finance team that's been through this kind of change and you're ready to step up and lead it yourself, we'd still really like to hear from you.

But honestly, the most important element is you, and how you bring people along with you through a period of change. You'll be comfortable bringing structure and calm to an organisation that's still growing into its processes. We need someone who can be calm and measured when the numbers feel busy, who can be a steady anchor point for the team when a lot is changing, and who knows when to help and when to teach someone how to help themselves. You'll be relentless about making things better, but able to bring people with you rather than drag them. If you want to lead a change rather than just be part of one, this is for you!

The practical stuff: This is a remote and flexible role, and we mean it, but it isn't a "never-leave-the-house" role. The leadership team comes together regularly, on average once a month, plus occasional travel to sites and the odd away day. Travel is always planned in advance and we cover the costs. If you can reach London comfortably and you value time with the people you work with, you'll get the best of both.

- 25 days' annual leave, plus your birthday off and bank holidays on top, with the option to buy back additional leave

- 9-day fortnight after successful completion of probation: 37.5 hours worked across nine days, with the tenth day off

- Flexible working genuinely considered: job share, part-time (minimum 4 days), compressed hours

- Pension: 6% employer contribution

- Employee Assistance Programme and NHS top-up wellbeing support

Please note we are unable to offer visa sponsorship, so you'll need the existing right to work in the UK.

It won't be a surprise that we're a Disability Confident employer. We share interview questions in advance, and if you need any adjustments to the process, or a different format for any stage, please just tell us.

If you're a charity finance person who wants their work to really mean something, and who fancies building something rather than just maintaining it, we'd love to hear from you.

Dates to note:

- Closing date: 16th June

- First interviews (remote): 24th–25th June

- Final interviews (London): 30th June

Dignity in Dying and Compassion in Dying are partnering with Robertson Bell to recruit a Head of Finance on a permanent basis.

This is an exciting opportunity to join two sister organisations working at the centre of an important and evolving area of public policy and individual choice. Operating with a shared vision and strong collaborative culture, both organisations are committed to supporting people through high-quality information and support services, advocacy and campaigns.

Reporting to the Deputy CEO, the Head of Finance will play a key role in supporting the organisations’ ongoing work by providing integrity and efficiency across financial processes, systems, controls and reporting. This role offers the opportunity to join a collaborative and values-led organisation with a supportive leadership team, flexible hybrid working and the chance to contribute meaningfully within a small but highly impactful environment.

The role:

• Provide integrity and efficiency in the financial processes, systems, controls and reporting across both organisations.
• Prepare statutory annual accounts in accordance with Charity and Company law.
• Work with the Senior Management Team (SMT) to prepare, present and implement annual budgets.
• Monitor and manage financial performance including production of quarterly management accounts, finance reports and ongoing cash flow forecasts.
• Reconcile major balance sheet accounts and revenue reporting between systems.
• Oversee transactional input of income and expenditure transactions, and all payroll procedures.
• Support the Finance and Audit Sub Committees, preparing relevant papers and attending meetings.
• Work closely with auditors and maintain relationships with professional advisors, insurance brokers and bankers.
• Ensure compliance with all statutory reporting and filing requirements, including the Charity Commission and Companies House.
• Provide support and advice to the SMT on financial and relevant matters as they arise.
• Monitor and manage organisational funds on cash deposit platforms.
• Manage partial VAT exemption and VAT reporting requirements.
• Develop and implement financial systems and procedures to ensure best practice and adherence to applicable accounting standards.
• Identify opportunities to improve reporting, operational efficiency and financial processes.
• Line manage and support the development of the Finance Officer.

The organisations:

Dignity in Dying and Compassion in Dying share the aim of improve dying in the UK by putting people in charge of decisions about the end of their life. Dignity in Dying campaigns to change the law to allow the option of assisted dying for terminally ill, mentally competent adults in the UK. It is a not-for-profit membership organisation. Compassion in Dying is a registered charity which provides information and support to people to be in control of their end-of-life decisions, alongside gathering evidence to improve culture and policy.

Operating within a collaborative and supportive culture, this role offers the opportunity to work alongside committed and passionate colleagues within a flat organisational structure. The successful candidate will join a team that values initiative, accountability and strong working relationships, while offering the autonomy to take ownership of the finance function and contribute to future improvements.

Essential criteria:

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).
• Experience in a managerial finance role, ideally within a charity or not for profit organisation.
• Strong understanding of charity accounting and Charity SORP.
• Experience preparing management accounts, budgets, forecasts and statutory accounts.
• Strong understanding of financial controls, governance and compliance requirements.
• Experience supporting audit processes and working with external auditors.
• Knowledge of VAT reporting and partial VAT exemption.
• Ability to explain financial concepts to non-financial colleagues and managers.
• Self-starter with the ability to manage responsibility within a small team environment.
• Strong relationship-building skills with the ability to quickly establish credibility internally and externally.

If you are a qualified finance professional looking to join a collaborative and mission-led organisation where you can contribute both strategically and operationally, we would love to hear from you. Apply before the 7^th June to be considered!

This role is based in London with hybrid working and an expectation of a minimum of two days per week in the office at Oxford Street.

What you’ll be doing: 

• Managing the organisation’s financial responsibilities, working to tight deadlines, and a varied workload across different areas of responsibility, particularly in relation to financial reporting. As well as ensuring that financial processes are accurate, up to date and compliant with statutory requirements

• Taking a proactive approach to maintaining efficient office systems and operations, ensuring that orders are processed and providing support for the general up-keep of the office equipment 

• Contributing to project delivery by supporting the team with a range of ongoing administrative and organisational tasks, which requires flexibility and able to manage a varied workload across different areas of responsibility.

What we’re looking for: 

• We are looking for someone with a strong level of experience in managing the financial operations of a small organisation, ensuring that systems and processes are both robust and efficient. This includes experience of financial forecasting, reconciliations and, where appropriate, introducing or improving financial systems. 

• The postholder must be able to communicate financial information clearly to a range of stakeholders with differing levels of financial understanding, both verbally and through written reports or presentations relating to the organisation’s finances and funded projects. 

• Strong organisational and administrative skills are essential. The role requires the ability to manage different aspects of project support, general administration and office management, while keeping the wider team informed of progress on outstanding tasks. 

If this role is of interest, please refer to the full job description and person specification for further details. 

A fantastic opportunity has arisen for a Financial Controller with a Japanese cultural institution, on a full-time (35 hours per week), FTC (to March 2029) basis. As Financial Controller you will be responsible for leading the financial control, compliance and reporting framework across all the organisation’s entities.

The role ensures robust financial management, effective governance and regulatory compliance, while providing high-quality financial information, insight and support to enable informed decision-making and long-term organisational sustainability.

Please note, there is hybrid working in place with this organisation with a minimum of 1 day per week required in their central London office.

As Financial Controller, you will:
- Lead the financial control environment across all legal entities, ensuring accurate accounting records, appropriate controls and compliance with statutory, regulatory and organisational requirements

- Lead the year-end close process and preparation of statutory accounts for all entities under the direction of Finance Director

- Oversee cash flow management, treasury operations, banking relationships and working capital controls

- Oversee VAT compliance across all entities, including review of returns and supporting documentation

- Ensure effective financial oversight of procurement, purchase order controls, and delegated authority arrangements

- Lead, develop and support the Finance Accountant, Accounts Executive and Accounts Assistant

The successful applicant will:
- Have significant demonstrable experience in finance, in a similar role, ideally within a multi-entity organisation, including knowledge of charity or not-for-profit accounting
- Be ACA, ACCA, CIMA (or equivalent) fully qualified
- Have experience preparing statutory accounts and managing external audits
- Have experience managing VAT, tax and regulatory reporting requirements
- Have excellent communication skills, both written and verbal

If this sounds like you and you're keen to hear more, please do get in touch ASAP!

Please note, only successful applicants will be contacted with further information.

As leading charity recruitment specialists and a certified B Corp™, Harris Hill is committed to high and ever-improving standards of equitable and inclusive recruitment. We actively welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality and other protected characteristics.

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.