Management Accounts Officer

Cafod; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 43,000; Full time

Job summary

CAFOD is seeking a Management Accounts Officer to support financial planning, management accounting, reporting and donor-cycle activities. You will work within the Integrated Finance team, ensuring accurate data and timely reporting to aid decision-making.

The role requires part-qualification or active study in accounting, with strong numeracy, attention to detail and collaboration across finance, programme teams and donors. Hybrid working with 40% time in the London office.

Qualifications

• Part-qualified or actively studying towards a recognised accounting qualification (CIMA, ACCA or ICAEW).
• Experience in finance with management accounting, budgeting or forecasting.

Responsibilities

• Prepare monthly management accounts, reconciliations and variance analysis with clear commentary.
• Support annual budgeting, financial planning updates and forecasts with templates and analysis.
• Maintain CAFOD's financial systems and donor budgets with accurate records and data quality.
• Explain financial information clearly to non-finance colleagues.
• Develop improvements to finance processes, reporting outputs and data quality controls.
• Contribute to safeguarding principles within financial activities.

Skills

Numeracy

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Organisational skills

Problem-solving

Education

Part-qualified accountant

AAT-qualified

Pursuing CIMA/ACCA/ICAEW

Tools

Excel

Infor SunSystems

Job description

Starting salary: £39,772 - £43,109 (including London Weighting)

Contract: Permanent

Location: CAFOD London Office - Hybrid working, with a minimum of 40% of your time in the CAFOD London office (Romero House)

Job Profile

The Management Accounts Officer supports CAFOD's financial planning, management accounting, reporting, financial systems and donor-cycle activities. Working within CAFOD's Integrated Finance team and reporting to the Senior Management Accountant, the post holder provides accurate analysis, coordination and administrative support that helps ensure financial information is timely, reliable and useful for decision-making.

The post holder is responsible for maintaining high-quality management accounting data, reporting schedules and financial system records. They work closely with finance colleagues, budget holders, programme teams and governance stakeholders to support effective stewardship of resources, transparent reporting and continuous improvement in finance processes and controls.

The ideal candidate is a part-qualified or actively studying accountant who is organised, numerate and collaborative, with strong analytical skills and excellent attention to detail. They will be confident using financial systems and Microsoft Excel, able to explain financial information clearly to non-finance colleagues, and committed to CAFOD's mission of promoting human development, social justice and dignity.

Key Responsibilities

The post holder supports the accuracy, timeliness and quality of management accounting information, budgeting support and financial system data across CAFOD. Working with the Senior Management Accountant, budget holders, programme teams and funding colleagues, they help compile, check and present financial information, while identifying practical improvements to finance processes, templates and reporting controls.

Financial planning, budgeting and management accounting

Support the annual budgeting process, financial planning updates and forecasts, including templates, schedules and analysis for budget holders and leadership

Prepare monthly management accounts, reconciliations and variance analysis, providing clear commentary for budget holders and governance reporting

Assist with financial modelling, scenario analysis and trend reporting to support corporate financial planning and decision-making

Financial systems, data quality and donor-cycle support

Maintain CAFOD's financial systems, including Infor SunSystems, ensuring data is accurate, complete and consistently coded, and supporting system testing and development

Maintain accurate institutional income records and monitor expenditure against donor budgets, highlighting variances and supporting timely, compliant donor financial reporting

Uphold financial controls, audit trails and good data governance, including document retention, version control and naming conventions

Cost management, collaboration and continuous improvement

Prepare month-end journals, cost reviews and variance analysis across staffing, travel, overheads and other expenditure lines

Build effective working relationships with finance colleagues, budget holders and programme teams, translating financial information into clear messages for non-finance audiences

Contribute ideas for improving finance processes, reporting outputs, templates and data quality controls

Safeguarding

All CAFOD staff share responsibility to promote and maintain a strong safeguarding culture, including identifying the key actions they should take given their role and responsibilities.

Person Specification

The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

Strong numeracy and analytical skills, with the ability to interpret financial data and identify trends, anomalies and variances.

Excellent attention to detail, with a consistent record of producing accurate, complete and well-presented work.

Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities, meet deadlines and follow tasks through to completion.

Clear written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain financial information to non-finance colleagues.

Good problem-solving skills, with the confidence to investigate issues and propose practical improvements.

Job Specific Competencies

The successful candidate will bring the following technical knowledge and experience:

1. Part-qualified accountant, AAT-qualified, or actively studying towards a recognised professional accounting qualification (CIMA, ACCA or ICAEW), with experience of working in a finance environment covering management accounting, budgeting or forecasting.
2. Sound understanding of core accounting concepts, including accruals, prepayments, journals, cost allocation, reconciliations and variance analysis.
3. Proficient in Microsoft Excel, including formulas, lookups, pivot tables and structured data handling.
4. Confident using financial systems, databases and shared digital workspaces; current experience of Infor SunSystems, particularly its query and analysis tool, or a similar accounting and reporting application is desirable.
5. Understand the importance of financial controls, audit trails, data accuracy and confidentiality, ideally within a charity, international development or donor-funded environment.

CAFOD is a welcoming, supportive workplace committed to a safe, inclusive culture where everyone is respected. CAFOD will make reasonable adjustments at every stage of the recruitment process to ensure candidates with disabilities or individual needs are fully supported.

Safeguarding for Children and Vulnerable Adults

CAFOD recognises the personal dignity and rights of children and vulnerable adults and has a special responsibility and duty of care towards them. CAFOD, its staff and volunteers are committed to creating a safe environment for children, young people and vulnerable adults, and to preventing physical, sexual or emotional abuse.

CAFOD acts at all times in the best interests of children and vulnerable adults, treating those interests as paramount. Any candidate offered a role with CAFOD will be expected to follow CAFOD's Safeguarding Policy, sign CAFOD's Code of Behaviour as part of their employment contract and conduct themselves in accordance with both documents.

All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which may include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. CAFOD also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.

Under this scheme, CAFOD will request information from applicants' previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse or sexual harassment during employment, as well as any incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the applicant confirms their understanding of, and consent to, these recruitment procedures.