Finance Manager (Maternity Cover)

Yorkshire Cancer Research; Harrogate; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

Yorkshire Cancer Research is recruiting a Finance Manager (Maternity Cover) to lead the charity's accounting and reporting functions in Harrogate. You will manage monthly close, statutory accounts, audits, and forecasting, ensuring robust controls and compliance with SORP and FRS 102.

This fixed-term role supports FP&A and treasury activities within a supportive charity environment. The role requires a qualified accountant with strong experience in charity finance, governance, and external audit

Qualifications

• Qualified Accountant (CIMA/ACCA) or equivalent
• Significant experience in preparing management and statutory accounts
• Strong P&L, balance sheet and cash flow analysis and forecasting
• Experience coordinating external audits and audit deliverables

Responsibilities

• Lead the monthly close process and preparation of management accounts
• Maintain balance sheet reconciliations and internal controls
• Prepare statutory accounts and annual report, coordinate external audit
• Support budgeting, forecasting and FP&A activities with timely information
• Ensure compliance with charity accounting standards (SORP, FRS 102) and regulatory requirements
• Provide guidance on accounting treatments and regulatory reporting

Skills

Financial reporting

Audit coordination

Budgeting & forecasting

P&L analysis

Internal controls

Education

Qualified Accountant (CIMA/ACCA)

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

Job title: Finance Manager (Maternity Cover)

Role profile: Finance Manager FTC Role Profile

Directorate:Finance and Corporate Services

Salary: Competitive

Hours:Full time, 37 hours per week

Closing date:09 October 2026

Permanent or Fixed Term:Fixed Term, 12 - 15 month contract

About Us

Yorkshire is one of the regions hardest hit by cancer. Together, we can change this.

Yorkshire Cancer Research is a charity dedicated to funding research so that you and those you love live longer healthier lives, free of cancer.

Thanks to supporters, the charity funds vital cancer research and pioneers innovative new services for people with cancer. These life-giving medical breakthroughs are helping more people survive cancer – in Yorkshire, and beyond.

As an inclusive employer, our aim is to ensure our workforce reflects the rich diversity of our region. We believe a diverse workforce is vital to us taking action to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer more effectively in Yorkshire. We offer equal opportunities regardless of race, religion or belief, age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, marriage and civil partnerships.

We’ve got a strong set of values that inform everything we do, and we’re looking for people who are aligned with these. As a Finance Manager, you will put people in Yorkshire at the heart of everything you do, unite with colleagues and other organisations in this cause, and dare to think big and bold to make positive solutions happen.

To find out more about our values and how important they are to us, please read the role profile linked above.

The Benefits

We offer a wide and generous range of benefits designed to support our employees through every stage of life. To read about these, please see the benefits section of our Careers Page.

The Role

As a Finance Manager, you will be responsible for maintaining the integrity of the charity’s financial accounting, reporting, control environment and statutory compliance.

This role leads the monthly close, management accounts, balance sheet reconciliations and core financial reporting, ensuring reliable information, effective controls and prompt resolution of issues.

This role also leads the preparation of statutory accounts and audit deliverables, supports the implementation of evolving accounting requirements, and ensures compliance with the Charities SORP, FRS 102 and relevant regulatory obligations.

The role will also provide support for financial planning, cashflow budgeting and forecasting, fund accounting, budget holder support and activities, working closely with the continuous improvement of finance systems, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) team and budget holders to ensure financial information remains accurate, timely and relevant.

• Lead the monthly financial close process, ensuring accurate and timely preparation of management accounts and supporting schedules.
• Maintain strong balance sheet reconciliations and internal financial controls, ensuring issues are identified, escalated and resolved promptly.
• Prepare year-end financial statements, supporting schedules and audit working papers.
• Produce ad hoc financial reports and analysis to support operational and strategic decision-making.
• Lead the preparation of the charity's annual statutory accounts and Annual Report in accordance with the Charities SORP, FRS 102 and all relevant regulatory requirements.
• Manage the annual external audit process, coordinating information requests, preparing supporting schedules and acting as the principal contact for external auditors.
• Monitor developments in charity accounting and financial reporting standards, assessing their impact on the charity and supporting implementation of new requirements, including SORP 2026.
• Maintain strong technical accounting knowledge and provide guidance on accounting treatments, disclosures and regulatory reporting requirements.
• Support the annual planning, budgeting and forecasting cycle, working with the FP&A team and budget holders to ensure robust assumptions and accurate financial information.
• Produce cashflow analysis and forecasts, supporting oversight of liquidity, reserves and investment cash requirements.
• Build effective relationships with budget holders, supporting financial awareness, accountability and compliance with financial procedures.
• Monitor compliance with approved financial management and procurement procedures.
• Participate in cross-departmental initiatives, ensuring finance input is practical, timely and influential.
• Oversee efficient transaction processing, including receipts, supplier invoices, payments, online donations, sponsorship income and direct debit donation processing.
• Prepare, submit, and monitor all VAT and Gift Aid claims and receipts.
• Oversee payroll, pensions and staff expenses processes, working with internal colleagues and external providers to ensure accuracy, timeliness and compliance
• Monitor bank balances, cash movements and treasury deposits, ensuring funds are managed in line with the charity’s investment policy and cashflow requirements.
• Develop, implement and periodically review finance policies and procedures, ensuring an effective internal control framework is maintained across the charity.
• Support the prevention and detection of fraud, financial error and non-compliance through effective controls, segregation of duties and regular review.
• Provide clear leadership, task management and development support to direct reports, including regular 1:1s, objective setting, feedback and performance review.

About You

To be considered for this role, you will need:

• To be a Qualified Accountant (CIMA, ACCA) - relevant graduate qualification and equivalent business experience.
• To have significant experience of preparing management and statutory accounts together with maintaining robust financial reporting processes, controls and management information systems.
• To have proven experience and understanding of P&L, Balance Sheet and Cash Flow analysis, reporting and forecasting.
• To have proven significant experience of managing external audit processes, including coordinating audit deliverables and stakeholder engagement.
• To have significant experience of leading the preparation of statutory accounts and annual reports, preferably within a charity or not-for-profit environment.
• To have strong technical knowledge of the Charities SORP, SOFA presentation requirements, FRS 102 and charity regulatory reporting obligations.
• To have experience of assessing and implementing changes to accounting standards and financial reporting requirements, including regulatory and SORP developments.
• To have strong networking and interpersonal skills.
• To be able to exercise diplomacy and build partnerships and consensus, within teams and among other stakeholders.
• To be commercially astute and able to effectively communicate complex financial data and information to managers with non-financial expertise.
• To be able to report and present complex financial information in an accessible and people friendly way to board members and others who do not have expertise in strategic management and accounts.

Application

Before applying, please read the full role profile linked above.

Yorkshire Cancer Research is a responsible and flexible employer. We welcome any discussion for flexible working at the interview/offer stage where we will consider an individual’s circumstances against the needs of the charity.

We positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates from all backgrounds. If we can make any reasonable adjustments to support your application please contact us.