Finance Manager

Assistance Dogs; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working options

Pension scheme

Discounted travel to work schemes

Employee wellbeing programme including

Free eye tests

Personal and professional growth

Job summary

Assistance Dogs in Manchester offers a Finance Manager role with hybrid working. The role supports financial compliance, reporting and planning, reporting to the COO, and backing decision-making across the organisation.

The position welcomes flexible arrangements including part-time work from 21 hours per week, with at least 2 days in the Manchester office. Salary is £50,455 pro rata.

Qualifications

• Qualified finance professional (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA or equivalent).
• Proven experience in leading delivery of management reporting, budgeting, forecasting and financial analysis to support organisational decision-making.
• Strong governance and financial control mindset with proficiency in developing and improving financial systems, policies and processes.
• Effective business partnering and stakeholder management with senior budget holders and Leadership Team.
• Sound knowledge of statutory financial reporting, external audit processes and tax compliance requirements.

Responsibilities

• Manage monthly management accounts and provide strategic commentary for executives.
• Lead annual budget process and forecasting cycles with timelines and formats.
• Develop financial models to support budgeting, forecasting, pricing and scenario planning.
• Prepare financial papers for Board, Audit and Risk Committee and Leadership Team.
• Line manage the Financial Controller and oversee external bookkeeping relationships.
• Drive robust financial controls, reconciliations and tax compliance.
• Partner with senior budget holders to challenge assumptions and inform decisions.

Skills

Management reporting

Budgeting

Forecasting

Financial analysis

Stakeholder management

Business partnering

Financial controls

Tax compliance

Governance

Communication

Education

ACA/ACCA/CIMA/CIPFA or equivalent

Job description

Finance Manager

We are delighted to share this new and exciting opportunity for a Finance Manager to join the organisation in this full-time role offering hybrid and flexible working.

We welcome applications from candidates seeking part-time arrangements from 21 hours per week or more, please let us know your preferred working hours in your application.

Position: Finance Manager

Location: Manchester/Hybrid (at least 2 days per week in the Manchester office)

Salary: £50,455 pro rata

Hours: Full time, 35 hours per week, part-time also considered

Contract: Permanent

Close Date: Midnight, Sunday 18 October 2026

Interviews: Thursday 29 October in Manchester.

About the Role

As Finance Manager, you will own the delivery of financial compliance, reporting and planning for the organisation. Reporting to the COO, you will provide leadership within the finance function, ensuring the accurate and timely production of management accounts, budgets and forecasts. You will focus on technical review, strategic financial analysis, Board reporting and business partnering with senior stakeholders, supporting effective organisational decision-making.

As an organisation we are led by our unwavering values of solidarity, self-responsibility, equity, and honesty, therefore if you share these core values, we would be delighted to receive your application.

Key responsibilities include:

Management Reporting, Budgeting and Forecasting

• Review and quality-assure monthly management accounts.
• Provide strategic commentary and analysis for the COO and CEO.
• Lead the annual budget process and reforecasting cycle, setting timelines, assumptions and formats; direct the Financial Controller in the preparation of supporting schedules and present final outputs.
• Develop financial models to support budgeting, forecasting, pricing and scenario planning, providing recommendations to the COO and Leadership Team.

Board & Subcommittee Reporting and Governance

• Prepare financial performance, planning and reporting papers for the Board, Audit and Risk Committee, and Leadership Team.
• Work with the COO to develop, review and maintain financial policies and procedures.

Line Management and Finance Delivery

• Line manage the Financial Controller.
• Manage the relationship with external bookkeeping support.
• Act as the escalation point for complex finance queries.

Financial Control and Systems

• Design and maintain robust financial controls, processes and reconciliations.
• Drive the ongoing development and effective use of Xero to improve efficiency, reporting and quality.
• Ensure tax compliance across VAT, payroll and corporation tax returns.

Statutory Accounts

• Prepare annual statutory accounts (the financial section of the Annual Report).
• Review year-end working papers and analysis, responding to technical and judgement-based audit queries.

Business Partnering

• Act as finance business partner to senior budget holders and Leadership Team members.
• Set standards and frameworks for business partnering delivered by the Financial Controller.
• Meet regularly with senior budget holders to review financial performance, challenge assumptions and support decision-making.
• Lead complex financial analysis and provide advice to support departmental and project decisions.
• Provide financial input into organisational strategy, pricing and business development.

About You

To be successful in this role, you will bring:

• Qualified finance professional (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA or equivalent)
• Proven experience in leading the delivery of high-quality management reporting, budgeting, forecasting and financial analysis to support organisational decision-making
• Strong governance and financial control mindset, and proficiency in developing, maintaining and improving financial systems, policies and processes
• Effective business partnering and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build credible relationships and provide professional financial advice to senior budget holders and the Leadership Team
• Sound knowledge of statutory financial reporting, external audit processes and tax compliance requirements
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to present complex financial information clearly and confidently to a range of audiences
• Exceptional organisational skills, demonstrating strong attention to detail while effectively managing competing priorities and meeting deadlines

About the Organisation

As the voice of the UK’s co-operative movement, the organisation empowers and supports co-operative enterprises with specialised knowledge and expertise, to grow the co-operative economy and create a fairer society. From football clubs and farms to convenience stores and pubs, there are more than 7,000 co-operatives in the UK, each owned and controlled by their members and based on a set of shared principles and values. As an organisation it is led by unwavering values of solidarity, self-responsibility, equity, and honesty, therefore if you share these core values, we would be delighted to receive your application.

Benefits

As an organisation that is owned and controlled by its members, that put people at the forefront of all that it does,

benefits include

• flexible working options
• pension scheme
• discounted travel to work schemes
• employee wellbeing assistance programme including free eye tests
• personal and professional growth and development, including coaching and Trade Union

Other roles you may have experience in could include Finance, Finance Manager, Finance Officer, Finance Lead, Finance Coordinator, Deputy Finance Manager, Accountant, Business Accountant, Senior Accountant.