Management Accountant - Restricted Income

RSPB; Potton; Remote; GBP 40,000 - 43,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Life assurance scheme

26 days annual leave (pro-rata)

Job summary

RSPB is seeking a qualified management accountant to join the Financial Planning & Reporting team on a 12-month contract. The role focuses on embedding the Overhead Cost Recovery (OCR) methodology and supporting implementation across projects.

This part-time (30 hours/week) role offers flexible work in the UK with occasional travel to the RSPB HQ and other locations. A professional accounting qualification and strong Excel skills are essential to drive cost transparency and reporting.

Qualifications

• Qualified professional accounting designation (ACCA/ACA/CIMA or equivalent).
• Experience in financial analysis and modelling including management accounting.
• Ability to build relationships and influence stakeholders at multiple levels.
• Ability to present financial information clearly to diverse audiences.
• Experience with financial management such as project costing or restricted income management.

Responsibilities

• Lead the embedding of the OCR methodology and set up in the finance system.
• Monitor overhead recovery for test projects and report on funding gaps vs targets.
• Maintain OCR costing tool and develop budgeting/forecasting templates and timetable.
• Deliver training and support for Finance Partners, Project Managers and budget holders.
• Document the BAU operating model including ownership and controls.

Skills

Financial analysis

Excel

Stakeholder influence

Communication of financial information

Charity/financial environments

Education

ACCA/ACA/CIMA or equivalent

Tools

Excel

Job description

Management Accountant - Restricted Income
Location: Flexible in UK - Occasional travel to RSPB HQ (Sandy SG19) and other UK locations may be required
Contract: 12 months
Hours: Part-Time, 30 hours per week
Salary: £40,381.00 - £43,113.00 Per Annum, Pro Rata
Benefits: Pension Scheme, Life Assurance Scheme, 26 days' Annual Leave (pro-rata)

Introduction:

Are you a qualified management accountant looking to make meaningful impact? This is an exciting opportunity to join the RSPB s dynamic Finance team and contribute to one of the UK s most influential conservation charity. With an annual income exceeding £170m and over 1.15 million members, the RSPB combines charitable impact with a substantial commercial operation- offering you both challenge and opportunity.

This role plays a pivotal part in embedding the Overhead Cost Recovery (OCR) internal recharge mechanism into our financial operations. The OCR initiative was commissioned to change and improve the way we cost projects and recover overheads, the goal being to strengthen the organisation's financial sustainability by improving the consistency, transparency, and effectiveness of cost allocation and recovery. The goal is to recover an appropriate contribution to core operations from externally funded projects, in line with funder agreements and the agreed accounting treatment.

While the design and development phase of the methodology has been completed, dedicated capacity is now required to support implementation, testing, stakeholder training, and transition into business as usual) operations.

By supporting this initiative, you will help drive financial sustainability, improve cost transparency, and enable better decision making across the organisation.

About the Role:

As a Management Accountant - Restricted Income, you will be a key member of the Financial Planning & Reporting team. Your responsibilities will include:

• Lead the implementation and embedding of the Overhead Cost Recovery (OCR) methodology, including the completion of set-up in finance system, establishing financial controls to ensure accurate cost allocation and reporting, and development of training materials.
• For a selected set of test projects, manage overhead recovery monitoring and financial reporting, including processing project recharge transactions, maintaining management reporting templates, tracking recovery performance, and providing analysis of funding gaps against target recovery rates.
• Maintain the OCR costing tool and develop practical guidance, templates and an annual timetable for OCR budgeting, forecasting, monitoring, and year-end review.
• Deliver training and support for Finance Business Partners, Project Managers, Fundraisers and budget holders, ensuring a consistent understanding of the methodology and funding implications
• Design and document the sustainable BAU operating model, including process ownership, controls, reporting responsibilities, escalation arrangements, and requirements for future finance systems development.

This role offers the opportunity to influence financial strategy and improve operational efficiency across a complex and diverse organisation.

Essential Criteria

• Professional accounting qualification (e.g. ACCA, ACA, CIMA, or equivalent qualification, experience, or demonstrable expertise).
• Experience of financial analysis and modelling, including management accounting activities where applicable.
• Ability to build effective working relationships and influence stakeholders at different levels, including both finance and non-finance colleagues.
• Ability to communicate financial information clearly and appropriately to a range of audiences.
• Proficiency in Excel or equivalent data analysis and spreadsheet tools.
• Experience of financial management, such as project costing, restricted income management, charity finance, or other relevant financial environments.
• Experience of delivering or supporting change initiatives, implementing financial controls, and developing reporting or management information processes.
• Experience of supporting change adoption through activities such as communication, training, engagement, or implementation support would be beneficial.
• Experience of delivering finance or business change projects that have improved financial control, efficiency, effectiveness, or organisational sustainability.

You do not need to know the RSPB already: we will provide a project briefing and support.

Additional information

• This role is remote, but occasional travel to RSPB HQ and other UK locations may be required.
• This is a 12-months fixed term full-time role for 30 hours per week.
• The RSPB reserves the right to extend or make this role permanent without further advertising dependent on business needs at the end of the contract term.

Closing date: 23:59, Monday 5th October 2026

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position in week commencing 12th October 2026

N.B.

we will be actively recruiting for this role and reserve the right to close this vacancy should sufficient applications be received.

The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.