Finance Manager (Or Accountant)

Vacancy

Finance Manager (or Accountant)

0.4fte (15h per week)

Title: Finance Manager

Accountable To: CEO

Responsible For: Finance Officer

Department: Finance and Resources

Location: Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham

Hours: 15h per week (flexible working arrangements may be considered)

Salary: Around £27,000 pro rata

Contract: Two years with possibility of extension

Due to internal redeployment we are looking for a Finance Manager to support our operations, ensure we adhere to best practice in financial management and comply with relevant company law and charity regulations. The post holder will work with the Head of Business Development, Head of Communications, CEO and Treasurer to reach breakeven point for and growth of the society.

Responsibilities

The post holder will be responsible for performing the following duties:

·  Line management of the Finance Officer

·  Providing senior level financial management support and general SMT support

·  Preparing annual statutory accounts

·  Preparing regular management accounts for SMT and the Board of Trustees, including cash flow and budget forecasts, activity/trends and wages

·  Introduction (Oct/Nov) and training of staff (Dec) in using the new financial software package Quickbooks (implemented 1 Jan 2016)

·  Introduction of automatic enrolment

·  Preparation and submission of Gift Aid claims to HMRC

And overseeing the following duties:

·  Ensuring purchasing and sales invoicing and payments are entered and processed correctly in ledgers in a timely manner

·  Ensuring control accounts are reconciled monthly (current bank account reconciliation, reconciliation of other control accounts)

·  Payroll

·  Ensuring the necessary payments are made to HMRC including VAT returns and taxes

The role requires the post holder to be meticulous and capable of dealing with a varied and demanding workload. Knowledge of Quickbooks and Sage Payroll would be an advantage but training will be provided if necessary. We will be moving the accounts from Access Dimensions to Quickbooks in the autumn of 2015, and several operational processes with financial implications (membership, trademark) are also changing.

In order to work effectively in a changing environment, initiative and flexibility are required from the post holder. Any other tasks that may be requested will be at the same level of responsibility and terms and conditions of employment.

The applicant will not bring in and consume animal products in the office, and ideally adheres to a vegan diet and lifestyle for the duration of employment with The Vegan Society.

About The Vegan Society

The Vegan Society, the world’s first, is an educational charity that promotes and supports the vegan lifestyle. It was formed in 1944, by a group of vegetarians who recognised the ethical compromises of eating eggs and dairy products. We are the first point of contact for people thinking about going vegan, new vegans and those seeking information, including caterers, print and broadcast media, health professionals, teachers and government.

Our Vision and Mission

The Vegan Society’s vision is a world in which humans do not exploit other animals. Our mission is to make veganism an easily adopted and widely recognised approach to reducing animal and human suffering and environmental damage by means of meaningful, peaceful and factual dialogue with individuals, organisations and companies.

Between 2015 and 2025 The Vegan Society aims to significantly expand campaigns, advocacy, policy, education and trademark work. The Vegan Society supports and educates individuals, policy and decision makers, caterers, manufacturers, health care professionals and the media.

What we offer

·  A supportive team

·  A solution-focused atmosphere and dedicated working environment

·  Flexible working arrangements considered

·  Employee Assistance Programme and health cash-back scheme

·  Cycle-to-work scheme

·  Childcare vouchers scheme

·  Animal companion compassionate leave

·  25 Days leave, 3 days between Christmas & New Year + 8 Bank Holidays (pro rata)

·  Office location in the sought after Jewellery Quarter of Birmingham

The Vegan Society is committed to equality in policy and practice.

The application deadline is 09:00 GMT Wednesday 26 August 2015. Please send completed application forms to . Interviews will take place in Birmingham or London on 8 or 9 September.
Job Description Finance Manager

General financial and resources management

·  Line manager of the Finance Officer

·  Providing general oversight of the Society’s operations in relation to budgets and business plans.

·  Ensuring balance sheet control accounts and the bank are reconciled (Oversee & Perform)

·  Producing bi-monthly management accounts for CEO and Council, including sales reports and profit & loss statements and providing explanations for large variances

·  Creating and presenting forecasts and budgets in liaison with the CEO and Heads of Department, communicating these to staff and trustees as required and integrating the budgets into the nominal ledger

·  Preparing annual report and statutory accounts for audit, in conjunction with auditors, Treasurer and CEO

·  Maintaining Fixed Asset register

·  Where necessary, preparing contracts and liaising with legal, IT and other professional advisors to ensure compliance with Charity and Company Law, and to ensure effective running of the society

·  Developing awareness of current/potential impacts on financial matters in the Third Sector

·  Reviewing and updating financial policies, procedures and documents

Payroll (Oversee)

·  Ensuring the monthly payroll is processed and ensuring the necessary payments and returns are made to HMRC within the timescales required

·  Ensure the year end on payroll is completed and the necessary returns issued to staff and HMRC

Debtors and creditors (Oversee)

·  Ensuring creditor and debtor reports at month end are reconciled with the nominal ledger

·  Ensuring creditors are paid accurately and within their credit terms

·  Ensuring income for debts has been allocated correctly, and liaising with the Business Development department regarding outstanding invoices

VAT and Gift Aid (Perform)

·  Preparing the annual VAT return

·  Dealing with all VAT matters, such as input and output VAT, EC sales, and checking that the sales department has correctly applied VAT

·  Ensuring Gift Aid claims to HMRC are correctly prepared

Banking and investments (Perform)

·  Ensuring that bank accounts are maintained at an appropriate level and requesting inter-account transfers where necessary

·  Advising on ethical banking and investments and ensuring adequate administration of trustee signatories on all accounts

·  Liaising with financial, legal and other advisors, including auditors, banks, investment managers, and insurance brokers

·  Liaising with the CEO regarding any other relevant tasks that may be required in line with business priorities.

Person Specification Finance Manager

Criteria: E = essential; D = desirable

Knowledge & experience

1.  Qualified or part-qualified accountant (E)

2.  Proven track record of accurate bookkeeping and managing control accounts (E)

3.  Experience with producing management and statutory accounts (E)

4.  Experience with payroll administration (E)

5.  Experience with tax administration and relief (VAT, PAYE year-end, Gift Aid etc.) (E)

6.  Experience of working in a small team and managing staff (E)

7.  Strong organisational, budgeting and financial management skills (E)

8.  Understanding of financial administration and governance in NGOs or small charitable, membership-based organisations (D)

9.  Experience with fundraising (D)

10.  Experience in writing and developing contracts with external organisations (D)

11.  Strong negotiating skills (D)

Skills & abilities

1.  Highly organised with attention to detail (E)

2.  Good IT skills with use of databases and programmes, (detailed knowledge of SAGE and Excel are critical, experience of Access Dimensions and Quickbooks is desirable) (E)

3.  Proven ability to communicate complex financial issues clearly and succinctly verbally and in writing (E)

4.  Ability to establish good working relationships with colleagues, the Senior Management Team and Trustees (E)

5.  Ability to manage multiple priorities and work to deadlines (E)

6.  Work successfully to targets, delivering objectives and desired outcomes (E)

Personal qualities

1.  Ability to deal with sensitive information in a confidential manner (E)

2.  Demonstrates loyalty, honesty and integrity (E)

3.  An understanding of The Vegan Society’s values and objectives (E); ideally adheres to a vegan diet for the duration of employment with The Vegan Society (D)

4.  Willingness to attend training and development courses when required (E)

5.  Positive and confident disposition, resourceful and solution-focused (E)

6.  Assertive and articulate (E)

7.  Approachable and adaptable, team player, highly developed interpersonal skills (E)

8.  Flexible to travel within the UK with advance agreement (D)

The Vegan Society welcomes diversity amongst its members, officers and trustees and associated persons and is committed to equal opportunities and anti-discrimination practice in all areas of its work, including its governing Council.

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