Financial Controller

Centre for Sustainable Energy; Bristol; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday

Pension scheme 8%/6%

Bike scheme

Life Assurance

Health cash plan

Retail discounts

Training fees paid

Flexible working hours

Job summary

Centre for Sustainable Energy is seeking a Financial Controller to cover maternity leave in a Bristol hybrid role. You will lead the finance team, manage day-to-day accounting, payroll, VAT, and budgeting, and report to Trustees and senior leadership.

The role supports project funding, audits, and financial planning across the organisation. The successful candidate will be ACA/ACCA qualified with 7+ years post-qualification experience, including 5+ years in financial management, and strong

Qualifications

• Fully qualified ACA/ACCA or equivalent
• Post-qualification experience of 7+ years, including 5+ years in financial management
• Understanding of VAT and HMRC regulations for UK charity entities
• Experience leading annual audits and financial reporting to senior management
• Proficient in using Sage and MS Excel for financial analysis and reporting

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day accounting, invoicing, payroll, VAT returns, payments and banking
• Line manage Finance Manager and Finance Assistant
• Coordinate annual budget cycles and mid-year refresh with SLT
• Prepare monthly management accounts and financial indicators
• Lead audit preparation and liaise with external auditors
• Provide financial reporting to project managers and funders
• Support project budgeting and reporting for new proposals

Skills

Sage accounting software

MS Excel

Financial analysis

Leadership

Budgeting

Education

ACA/ACCA or equivalent

Tools

Timesheet software

Job description

Job Title: Financial Controller

Location: Bristol office, hybrid (minimum three days a week onsite)

Salary: £50,285 per annum

Job Type: Fixed term maternity cover, approximately 15 months. Minimum 30 hours a week, up to full time (37.5 hours)

Start Date: ASAP

The Role

This role is to provide cover during the incumbent post-holder's maternity leave. At the time of writing, the anticipated duration for this post is approximately 15 months, subject to discussion.

The Financial Controller leads Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE)'s finance team, directing and overseeing the finance function in compliance with appropriate accounting standards and practices, company and charity law and associated guidance. Provides timely and accurate financial and management information to support strategic decision-making and enable effective management of resources and budgetary control by the Senior Leadership Team and Trustees and by project managers and other budget holders. Works with the Director of Finance and Operations and other members of the Operations Team to provide excellent operational support to underpin successful delivery by the whole organisation of our charitable mission, strategic objectives, and associated programmes and projects.

Specific responsibilities

• Take responsibility for day-to-day accounting, invoicing, payroll, VAT returns, payments and banking, credit control and cash management, including timely monthly management accounts.
• Line manage the Finance Manager and Finance Assistant.
• Co-ordinate the annual budget cycle and mid-year budget refresh alongside the Director of Finance & Operations and SLT.
• Attend monthly SMT meetings to share the previous month's financial results and handle related queries.
• Prepare accurate, accessible reports on organisational, team, staff and project financial indicators to support timely decision-making.
• Maintain the organisation's financial records to appropriate accounting standards and prepare documentation for the annual audit and other statutory reporting.
• Liaise with CSE's auditors to enable an effective and timely annual audit.
• Support project managers to plan and manage project budgets, providing financial data for reporting to clients and funders.
• Provide expertise on financial costing and monitoring approaches for new project funding proposals, reflecting funder requirements.
• Provide finance support to Retrofit West CIC, including financial reporting, statutory obligations and payroll as required.

About you

• Fully qualified ACA, ACCA or equivalent accountant.
• At least seven years' post-qualification experience, including at least five years in a financial management role.
• Working knowledge of accounting standards, VAT and HMRC regulations in England, including requirements applicable to a UK charity with a trading subsidiary.
• Experience of leading the preparation for an annual audit.
• Experience of preparing routine financial and management information reports for senior executives and staff.
• Experience of using timesheet software to track allocation of staff time to different cost centres.
• High level competence with Sage accounting software and MS Excel.
• Able to analyse, structure and sense-check financial data to produce clear, informative reports, with excellent attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with proven management skills.
• Self-motivated and organised, able to work with limited supervision and manage conflicting priorities.

Benefits

• You will be entitled to 25 days' paid holiday (plus statutory holidays)
• Company pension scheme with 8% employer and 6% employee contributions
• Subsidised bike purchase and Tech Scheme
• Life Assurance
• Health Cash plan
• Retail discounts
• Discounted breakdown cover and many more.
• We will pay fees and expenses on relevant training courses.
• We are flexible with working hours and will discuss this openly if you are invited to interview.

This role requires a basic DBS check. If invited to interview, we will ask for evidence of eligibility to work in the UK.

Candidates with experience of; Commercial Controller, Finance Controller, Financial Officer, Accounting Officer, Finance Manager, Finance Officer may also be considered for this role. will also be considered for this role