Assistant Finance Business Partner

The Donkey Sanctuary; Sidmouth; Hybrid; GBP 20,000 - 26,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Life assurance

31 days holiday

Wellbeing team

Pilates and Yoga

Healthshield plan

Free parking

Subsidised restaurant and shop

Job summary

The Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth is seeking an Assistant Finance Business Partner to join our finance team. You will produce monthly management accounts for designated cost centres, provide finance partnering to managers, and coach on budgeting and forecasting while supporting the transition to a new finance system.

This part-time, permanent role is hybrid (onsite/home) with 25–35 hours per week, based in Sidmouth.

Qualifications

• Experience in analysing, interpreting and reporting financial data.
• Experience in a management accounting role with CPD track record.
• Experience using a computerised accounting system.
• Advanced knowledge of Excel including formulas and pivot tables.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with ability to adapt for diverse audiences.
• Ability to establish and maintain collaborative stakeholder relationships.

Responsibilities

• Produce monthly management accounts for designated cost centres, including accruals and prepayments, and write variance commentary.
• Provide finance partnering and training on budgeting, forecasting and monthly reporting.
• Assist in transitioning to the new finance system.
• Support budgeting and forecasting processes with cost centre managers and branch contacts.
• Prepare monthly accounting schedules and postings for management reporting.
• Carry out balance sheet reconciliations and other duties as required.

Skills

Financial data analysis

Management accounting

Accounting software

Excel pivot tables

Communication skills

Stakeholder management

Tools

Accounting software

Job description

Assistant Finance Business Partner (2334)

The DonkeySanctuary is an international animal welfare organisation, offering care and protection to donkeys worldwide. Our vision is a world where every donkey has a good quality of life, and our mission is to improve the lives of donkeys every day. We will achieve this by transforming the lives of donkeys in need worldwide by fostering greater understanding, collaboration and support, and by promoting lasting, mutually life-enhancing relationships.

These are exciting times for the charity and for thefinance team as we start to transition to a new finance system. We have an excellent opportunity for a proactive and professional team player with good data knowledge, interpersonal and diplomacy skills, and a strong customer service ethic to join our busy team. As Assistant Finance Business Partner, you will support the provision of robust, meaningful financial information. Responsible for maintaining strong relationships with cost centre managers, you will improve the impact and understanding of financial reporting on charity performance.

About you:

• Able to demonstrate competent experience in the analysis, interpretation and reporting of financial data.
• Experience in a management accounting role, together with a documented CPD track record.
• Experience of working in and development of a computerised accounting system.
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft applications, particularly Excel including the use of formulae and pivot tables.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to flex and adapt communication to suit a wide range of audiences.
• Able to establish, build and maintain successful collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

About the role:

Your principal duties and responsibilities will include -

• The production of monthly management accounts for given areas, including accruals and prepayments, and writing variance commentary for dedicated cost centres.
• Providing a finance partnering service for given areas, imparting advice and support as required to cost centre managers and other stakeholders, including training and coaching on all aspects of budgeting, forecasting and monthly reporting.
• Contributing to the transition from old to new finance system.
• Contributing to the smooth running of budgeting and forecasting processes giving advice and support to cost centre managers and subsidiary/branch contacts, ensuring alignment with financial accounting systems and processes.
• Monthly accounting schedules and postings for TDS to facilitate accurate management reporting.
• Balance sheet reconciliations for relevant monthly accounts.
• Carrying out any other reasonable duty as may be required.

What we offer in return:

Based in Sidmouth, Devon - an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty - this is a part-time, permanent contract, working a minimum of 25 hours per week (with the potential, for the right candidate, up to 35 hours per week) Monday-Friday.

This is a hybrid working position, combining onsite and home working under our guiding principles for such roles. The working pattern will be agreed between the line manager and post-holder, with the requirement for site attendance currently anticipated to be 1-2 days per week.

Life assurance.

31 days holiday (including Bank holidays), rising to 34 with each full year of service.

Wellbeing team.

Recorded Pilates and Yoga classes.

Long service awards.

Healthshield plan - reimbursement of some medical expenses up to the specified limits per membership, including offers, discounts and cashback on shopping, travel and entertainment from participating outlets and access to a 24/7 GP and counselling service.

Free parking.

Subsidised restaurant and shop.

Closing date for completed applications: Sunday 29 November 2026

We reserve the right to close this vacancy before the advertised date and therefore encourage early applications.

The Donkey Sanctuary is a Disability Confident Employer.

The Donkey Sanctuary is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable people (children and adults), and expects all staff and volunteers to undertake this commitment. Applicants will be subject to safer recruitment processes, including an application for a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check where required for the post.

The Donkey Sanctuary also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme and, for relevant posts, may request information from applicants' previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment.

Please note: The Guaranteed interview scheme is only applicable to candidates who consider themselves to have a disability applying for roles based within the United Kingdom.

Other Opportunities at The Donkey Sanctuary, Sidmouth