Financial Controller

Centre for Sustainable Energy; Bristol; On-site; GBP 43,000 - 58,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday plus holidays

Company pension 8%/6%

Bike purchase scheme

Life Assurance

Health Cash Plan

Retail discounts

Training fees coverage

Flexible working hours

Job summary

The Centre for Sustainable Energy in Bristol seeks a Financial Controller to cover a maternity leave. You will lead the finance team, oversee accounting, budgeting, and financial reporting in line with charity and company law.

This hybrid role reports to the Director of Finance & Operations and includes line management of Finance Manager and Finance Assistant, with significant interaction across SLT. Key requirements include ACA/ACCA qualification, 7+ years post-qualification experience, and

Qualifications

• Fully qualified ACA/ACCA or equivalent.
• Seven years' post-qualification experience, including leadership in a finance role.
• Experience in UK charity accounting, VAT and HMRC rules.
• Auditing preparation experience and financial reporting.
• Strong analytical and reporting skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day accounting, payroll, VAT returns and banking.
• Line manage the Finance Manager and Finance Assistant.
• Co-ordinate the annual budget cycle and mid-year refresh.
• Present financial results to SLT, Trustees and project managers.
• Ensure statutory reporting and annual audit readiness.

Skills

Leadership

Financial analysis

Audit preparation

Communication

Attention to detail

Education

ACA/ACCA or equivalent

Tools

Sage

MS Excel

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)

The Role:

This role covers the current post-holder's maternity leave for an anticipated 15 months. As Financial Controller you will lead CSE's finance team, directing and overseeing the finance function in compliance with appropriate accounting standards and practices, company and charity law.

You will provide timely, accurate financial and management information to support strategic decision-making and effective budgetary control by our Senior Leadership Team, Trustees, project managers and other budget holders. You will line manage the Finance Manager and Finance Assistant, and be a member of CSE's Senior Management Team.

Reporting to the Director of Finance & Operations, you will work alongside the wider Operations Team to provide operational support that underpins delivery of our charitable mission. This is a fast-paced role and we need someone who can get up to speed with minimal delay.

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.

The closing date for applications is 5pm on Sunday 16 August 2026.

First interviews are expected online on Thursday 3 and Friday 4 September 2026, with final panel interviews at our Bristol office on Thursday 10 and Friday 11 September 2026. The earliest start date is early October 2026.

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