Finance Manager Flexible Three Day Week

Description

Application Closes: Monday, 15 March 2021 (please note that late applications will not be accepted)

Job Location: London (with home working required while lockdown and/or tier restrictions are in place)

Start date: As soon as possible from 1 April 2021

Contract: Permanent

Hours: 0.6 FTE (22.5 hours) we are open to agreeing a flexible working pattern to best suit the successful applicant but it must include at least 2 full days

Salary: £35,000 FTE p.a. (inc. £3,000 London weighting) pro rata (actual salary is £21,000PTE p.a.)

Reporting to: Finance Director

Interviews planned for w/c: Wednesday, 24 March 2021

About The Access Project

The Access Project is an innovative education charity that helps bright young people from disadvantaged backgrounds beat the odds and gain places at top universities. Our volunteers are trained and supported to be effective tutors who work with our students for an hour a week to raise their grades. In addition, a dedicated school-based staff member mentors the students so they have the knowledge and support to make strong university applications. Our results show this approach works.

The Access Project currently works in London, the East and West Midlands and Bradford. We have a growing team (currently c.60 staff) working in schools and regional offices (when lockdown restrictions are not in place).

About the role

The Access Project currently outsources its accounting function. In light of recent and planned future growth, we have decided to bring that function in-house from summer 2021. We are therefore looking to recruit a Finance Manager who will join a small finance team and play a key role in the successful transition from outsourced to in-house provision. You will be in a unique position to shape a new role to best support the charity.

The Finance Manager will report to the Finance Director.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Work with the Finance Director to develop a forward-looking finance function that provides accurate data, reports and analysis that can be used inform decision-making across the organisation.

Data capture and monthly processes

• Assist with the implementation of a new finance system and migration of relevant data
• Oversee the set up and ongoing use of any associated systems for invoice and expense management
• Oversee the month end process and produce monthly management accounts packs
• Ensure the accurate capture and coding of the underlying financial data, overseeing the processing done by the Senior Coordinator
• Post regular and ad-hoc journals, including payroll, prepayments, accruals and apportionment of support costs
• Maintain and monitor the cashflow forecast
• Develop and maintain a finance manual and regularly review the financial systems and controls in place
• Act as a finance business partner to all budget holders
• Provide ongoing training and support non-finance staff to enable them to effectively manage budgets and make informed decisions
• Draft and review organisational policies relating to finance
• Assist with the production of annual budgets and in-year forecasts in collaboration with the Finance Director and budget holders
• Liaise with the partnerships team, providing financial information for funding applications and reporting and tracking spend on restricted funds

Finance business partnering

Other

• Assist with the preparation of the annual statutory accounts and audit pack
• Provide the auditors with any information requested during the annual audit
• Undertake ad-hoc projects and requests when they come up

Requirements

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential characteristics and experience:

• Studying towards a professional accounting qualification (eg. ACA/ACCA/CIMA) or qualified by experience
• At least 2 years of relevant experience, including use of accounting systems
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Able to effectively communicate financial matters to staff without a finance background
• Committed to driving improvement
• Excellent attention to detail
• Intermediate or advanced Excel skills
• Passionate about educational disadvantage and The Access Project’s mission
• Committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people
• Committed to upholding a professional code of ethics
• Working knowledge of the charity SORP

Desirable characteristics and experience:

Please note, as a minimum requirement, applicants will need to:

• have a university degree or significant professional experience;
• have the right to work in the UK.

Benefits

As an equal opportunities employer we welcome applications for all suitably qualified persons. However as Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) individuals are currently under-represented within the organisation, which does not reflect our diverse student body, we would particularly welcome applications from BAME candidates. All appointments will be made on merit.

TAP offers:

• A great working environment!
• 25 days annual leave p.a. (pro rata) plus Bank Holidays and Christmas closure.
• PerkBox Perks – offering nationwide shopping discounts, gym memberships, holidays, freebies, learning and much more.
• Employee Assistance Programme, a 24 hour helpline for staff
• Online Medical assistance – access 24/7 to a qualified GP within minutes, with referrals and prescriptions available same-day.
• Interest-free travelcard loans
• Cyclescheme loans
• Employer’s pensions contributions (3%)
• CPD options
• TAP welcomes requests for flexible working arrangements
• Monthly work-from-home days (when not in lockdown, obviously!

Further information

Safeguarding statement

“The Access Project is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and will expect the all volunteers and staff to share this commitment.”

Essential characteristics

Applicants must be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and will expect the all volunteers and staff to share this commitment.

Disclosure of a Criminal Record

The Rehabilitation of Offenders 1974 (Exceptions) (Amendment) Order 1986 does not apply to posts where there is access to children. This means that applicants for employment which involves working with children and young people must disclose any criminal record.

References

All appointments are subject to verification of employment and suitability of the candidate for the post applied for. We reserve the right to approach any previous employer for a reference and to verify their identity, but will request your permission before doing so. If you have experience of working with children please include this as one of your references.

Previous employment

Ensure that you put in full dates, names addresses and your job title. Be careful not to leave any unexplained gaps. Details of part time and relevant voluntary work should also be entered.

Education, Qualifications and Training

Ensure you give all the information requested, including dates, establishment where you studied and make clear the level of any examinations e.g. GCSE, GCE ‘O’ Level or ‘A’ Level or equivalents etc. and the grades you obtained. Also include here any skills training you have had. You will be required to produce original documentary evidence of any qualifications relevant to the job, and these will be detailed on the person specification.

Proof of qualification is required before the appointment is confirmed.

Contact information

Please direct any queries to our email via: info@theaccessproject.org.uk

For further information about The Access Project, please see our website via: www.theaccessproject.org.uk or contact The Access Project on 020 4513 5999.

Please ensure that you complete all of the application form questions to enable us to shortlist your application for an interview, otherwise it will be disqualified automatically. Resumes and CVs will not be considered.

TAP is an accredited Living Wage Employer. This is independently calculated each year based on living costs and accredited employers choose to go further by paying all their staff, including subcontracted staff, a real Living Wage which we as a charity adhere to.