Finance Officer

Sense has a fantastic opportunity for someone to join our Finance team as our Finance Officer. This is a full-time position working 37.5 hours per week, with flexible working arrangements between home and our office in Selly Oak, Birmingham.

Sense provides a range of support services for people with complex disabilities, including residential, supported living, and day services. We are commissioned by over 100 local authorities and clinical commissioning groups across the UK.

The Finance Officer will work as part of the Finance Team to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the organisation's financial information through the precise recording of financial transactions in a timely manner.

The successful candidate will be responsible for collecting payments, daily cash posting, allocation, and input into our computerised accounts system. They will also proactively contact funders early in the cash collection cycle to confirm receipt of invoices and identify any disputes preventing payment.

Key Responsibilities

1. Producing monthly management accounts for trading, ensuring accurate calculation and posting of accruals, prepayments, and adjustments; importing income from other systems; and accurately reporting payroll and invoiced costs to reflect the financial performance.
2. Maintaining and reconciling trading balance sheet accounts regularly.
3. Presenting financial performance to Senior Management monthly, with explanations of main movements and drivers against budgets and forecasts.
4. Conducting monthly review meetings with the Director of the service and Operational managers, supporting budget holders with business, capital, and investment proposals.
5. Challenging operational managers to ensure comprehensive consideration of all concepts before business decisions are made.

Key Skills and Experience

1. Relevant financial qualification such as CCAB, with evidence of ongoing professional development.
2. Proven experience as a Finance Business Partner, especially within retail accounting, EPOS systems, stock accounting, and control.
3. Experience in developing and monitoring annual budgets within a multi-cost centre environment.
4. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for building relationships with stakeholders and external agencies.
5. Ability to influence and collaborate with Senior Management and colleagues across the finance department.
6. Good knowledge of management accounting in a retail environment, including charity retail accounting, VAT implications, and Gift Aid.
7. Experience using computerised finance systems such as Sun.

For a full job description and person specification, please see the link on the left side of the page.

About Sense

Sense supports individuals living with complex disabilities, including those who are deafblind. We aim to help people communicate and experience the world. We believe that no one, regardless of their disabilities, should be isolated or unable to reach their potential. Sense is proud to be a diverse and successful charity.

Working at Sense offers the opportunity to develop skills, knowledge, and careers in a supportive, flexible environment. We provide excellent training, a Group Personal Pension scheme, and a generous annual leave entitlement.