Finance Business Partner

Shelterbox Trust; Truro; Hybrid; GBP 36,000 - 49,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible hours

Hybrid/remote UK work

Job summary

ShelterBox is seeking a Finance professional to support programme-level accounting, donor reporting, budgeting, forecasting and donor compliance. This fixed-term role reports to the International Programmes Finance Manager and involves collaboration across a small finance team.

Location is Truro, Cornwall (hybrid) or remote (UK only) with travel to Truro HQ a minimum of twice per year; it is a full-time 18-month contract with a salary of £42,613 per annum.

Qualifications

• Experience supporting financial processes related to donor reporting and project accounting across diverse projects.
• Knowledge of inventory accounting is a plus and awareness of project accounting systems helpful.
• Ability to partner with senior management and drive informed decision-making.

Responsibilities

• Provide financial insights and guidance to programme managers.
• Assist with monthly project portfolio reporting and forecasting.
• Ensure donor reporting compliance and timely financial reporting.
• Support development and maintenance of project budgeting templates and tools.
• Collaborate to improve finance systems supporting programme needs.

Skills

Donor reporting

Project accounting

Inventory accounting

Finance systems

Tools

Finance software

Job description

Whichever job you take on at ShelterBox, you will be working towards a world where no family goes without shelter after disaster.

Our team are the foundations of ShelterBox. They create a framework in which we are able to transform lives.

You would be joining ShelterBox at an exciting time of growth, helping us to continue to maximise both our reach and the impact of our work. Our team is full of positive, people focused individuals with a real passion for our cause.

Do you have the skills, personality and ambition to help us write our next chapter?

Grade: 3

Salary: £42,613 per annum

Hours: Full Time, 37.5 hours per week (Flexible hours considered)

Position type: Fixed term for 18 months

Responsible to: International Programmes Finance Manager

Direct reports: None

Location: Truro, Cornwall (hybrid) or remote (UK only) with travel to Truro HQ a minimum of twice per year.

This role may occasionally be required to deploy as part of a ShelterBox project delivery team, working alongside our programme partners. These deployments are unlikely to exceed 2 weeks in duration.

ROLE PURPOSE

To support programme-level financial accounting, grant stewardship, reporting and oversight-ensuring accurate reconciliations, cost recovery, budgeting, forecasting, donor reporting, and risk management, while acting as a proactive business partner to drive informed decision-making and value for money. This role will also support the Financial Reporting & Systems Manager in delivering accurate internal reporting and ensuring finance systems meet organisational needs.

WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

The successful candidate must have experience of supporting financial process related to donor reporting and project accounting across a diverse portfolio of projects and possess the confidence and collaborative skills to work effectively with senior management.

The successful candidate must be able to combine technical expertise with strong business partnering skills to support decisions that improve organisation efficiency, protect organisational sustainability, and build confidence in colleagues across the organisation.

The candidate must also have experience of project accounting and charitable donor reporting. Knowledge and experience of inventory accounting would be highly regarded, as would exposure to the management or implementation of a project accounting finance system.

MAIN ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Strengthening financial knowledge and confidence with budget holders through coaching, training programmes and partnership-based support.
• Working collaboratively across the Finance team to design intuitive reports and analysis that meet the needs of colleagues across the organisation.
• Contributing to stronger processes and tools, providing clarity around performance, and acting as a trusted advisor to both finance and non-finance colleagues.
• Support the shaping of financial information guidelines for programme delivery, which informs board-level decisions, and supports organisational strategy.
• Collaborating with the Financial Reporting & Systems Manager to improve reporting tools and ensure finance systems support programme and organisational requirements.

Programme Finance Partnership & Advisory

• Support programme managers by providing financial insight and challenge to improve decision-making.
• Assist with monthly project portfolio reporting and forecasting, ensuring accuracy and actionable analysis.
• Interpret donor requirements and help ensure compliance across assigned projects and grants.
• Advise programme teams on best practice donor reporting and project accounting protocols.

Budgeting, Reporting & Compliance

• Assist in development and maintenance of reports and systems that enable effective financial management of projects.
• Support donor financial reporting, ensuring timeliness, accuracy, and compliance.
• Contribute to the development and usage of project budgeting templates; provide guidance to programme teams.
• Collaborate with finance systems and other colleagues to ensure systems meet programme finance needs, especially for project accounting and donor reporting.
• Support Fundraising department on income projection and integration in project funding gap.
• Assist the Financial Reporting & Systems Manager with preparation and review of departmental budgets, forecasts, and input relevant information for the monthly management accounts.
• Support administration and optimisation of finance systems to meet reporting needs.

Grant & Partner Management

• Assist programme teams with partner due diligence assessments related to project delivery.
• Attend programme coordination meetings providing adequate intelligence on project financial status.
• Support financial management of partner grants, including payment facilitation and compliance checks.
• Review partner financial reports and ensure alignment with donor requirements.

Controls & Oversight

• Monitor project-level financial performance, highlighting risks and variances.
• Monthly reconciliation of funding forecast, ensuring that income received are recognised when due.
• Maintain accurate records and documentation for audits and donor compliance.
• Review departmental budgets with relevant budget holders.

Other responsibilities

• Participate in cross-functional projects as required.
• Any other duties as required which are deemed appropriate to the level and grade of the post

NOTE

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications.

ShelterBox is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer whereby we do not engage in practices that discriminate against any person employed or seeking employment based on race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, protected status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law.

At ShelterBox we are committed to safeguarding and protection of children and vulnerable people in our work. We will do everything possible to ensure that only those who are suitable to work with children and vulnerable people are recruited to work with us.

Successful applicants will also be required to apply for and hold a valid DBS check.