Finance Lead

Overview

As Finance Lead, you will keep finances up-to-date, provide regular reporting to the CEO, Trustees and budget holders, and supervise finance operations in a busy charity. You will partner with the management team across a variety of financial activities, from bookkeeping to grants and donor reporting, ensuring transparent, compliant, and well-controlled finances. This role sits at the heart of our small, collaborative organization, with opportunities to shape financial processes and support impactful projects. You will work remotely, leveraging diverse financial systems to bring clarity and efficiency to a mission-driven environment.

Pay / Benefits

• flexible working pattern
• remote work
• supportive, inclusive environment
• opportunity to contribute to a mission-driven charity

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day financial transactions including invoicing, payments, reconciliations, expenses and international transfers
• Process payroll, PAYE, NI and pension administration with timely submissions
• Handle membership-related payments and respond to financial queries
• Develop and monitor organisation-wide, project and funding budgets; prepare cash-flow and budget-versus-actual reports
• Provide financial information and advice to support decision-making for organisational and project needs
• Maintain records for restricted, unrestricted and designated funds; manage grant-related processes and funder reporting
• Coordinate preparation of information for annual accounts and liaise with external accountants; ensure compliance and governance
• Supervise the Finance Officer; support induction of staff to finance systems; maintain asset registers and controls
• Review and improve financial systems and processes to promote efficiency and transparency; support events financials

Key requirements

• Relevant accounting or finance qualification, or equivalent charity experience
• Minimum 5 years experience in broad finance/accounting role in a UK charity
• Experience with invoicing, payments, reconciliations and payroll
• Experience budgeting, forecasting and management reporting
• Experience managing restricted and unrestricted funds
• Knowledge of accounting principles, controls and reporting
• Knowledge of PAYE, NI, pensions and HMRC requirements
• Good IT and accounting systems skills including Excel and accounting software
• Understanding of payment processors (Stripe, TransferWise, GoCardless, Paypal)
• Independent work capability; problem-solving; strong numerical and analytical skills; attention to detail
• Good organisational and time-management skills; clear communication to non-finance colleagues
• Proficiency with online tools (Google Drive, Slack, video conferencing); high integrity and financial judgement

• problem-solving
• attention to detail
• clear communication
• Excel
• accounting software
• Google Drive

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