Senior Finance Officer

Suffolk Wildlife Trust; Ashbocking; Hybrid; GBP 31,000 - 33,000; Full time

Job summary

A nature conservation charity is seeking a Senior Finance Officer to enhance financial operations within a dedicated team. This pivotal role involves managing financial transactions, ensuring accurate records, and supporting crucial financial cycles. Ideal candidates will possess strong numeracy and Excel skills, have prior finance experience, and share the charity's mission. The position offers flexible hours, benefits including a generous pension contribution, and a supportive work environment dedicated to nature's recovery in Suffolk.

Benefits

33-38 days annual leave

9% employer pension contribution

Free private GP access

Employee Assistance Programme

Life insurance from day one

Discounts at retailers

Qualifications

• Experience in a similar finance role is necessary.
• Proficiency in Excel and strong numeracy skills are required.
• Organizational and multi-tasking abilities are essential.

Responsibilities

• Support day-to-day financial operations and maintain accurate records.
• Manage purchase and sales ledgers, bank reconciliations, and payment approvals.
• Support financial cycles including audits and month-end processes.

Skills

Strong numeracy skills

Attention to detail

Excel proficiency

Organizational skills

Proactive attitude

Multi-tasking skills

Education

AAT qualified or equivalent experience

Job description

Senior Finance Officer

Closing date: Monday 5 January 2026

Salary: The starting salary will be between £31,000 and £33,000 per annum, depending on skills, knowledge and experience (FTE).

Contract type: Permanent / Working hours: Flexible.

We are looking for a suitably skilled & highly capable Senior Finance Officer to join our Finance & Resources team at Suffolk Wildlife Trust.

This is a pivotal position within a small, dedicated finance team, where you will support the effectiveness of day‑to‑day financial support and ensure that accurate, timely information is available to management. You’ll be responsible for recording financial data across a range of systems and processes, helping to provide a robust financial foundation for Suffolk Wildlife Trust.

A major focus of the role will be the accurate and efficient processing of all financial transactions. This includes the purchase and sales ledgers, carrying out bank reconciliations, managing credit control and supporting the approval of payment runs.

Your attention to detail and strong numeracy skills will be essential in maintaining the integrity of the Trust’s financial records and ensuring that everything ties up smoothly each month and at year‑end.

Alongside core finance work, you will support the Trust’s trading operations by managing the online shop, overseeing stock for both online and retail outlets and working with EPOS and ECWID systems. You’ll also provide finance support to the Consultancy Team and Café operations, helping these income‑generating activities run smoothly and contribute to the Trust’s wider objectives.

Working closely with the Financial Controller, you will support key financial cycles including year‑end and the annual audit for both the Trust and SWT Trading, as well as month‑end processes, balance sheet reconciliations and management accounts. You’ll also assist with VAT returns, legacies, project reconciliations, restricted fund allocations, budgeting and ad hoc reporting, giving you a broad and varied workload.

The ideal candidate will have strong numeracy and Excel skills, previous experience in a similar finance role and either AAT qualified or qualified by equivalent experience. You’ll be organised, efficient, proactive and comfortable multi‑tasking in a small team, with a willingness to learn and take a hands‑on approach. Above all, you’ll be motivated by Suffolk Wildlife Trust’s mission and keen to use your finance skills to support nature’s recovery in Suffolk.

This is a permanent position working 30 hours per week over four days based at our main office Brooke House in Ashbocking. We operate flexible homeworking arrangements where colleagues spend more time working together than homeworking. Full‑time hours (37.5 over five days) would be considered for the right candidate.

To apply for this opportunity, please submit an application via our website by 9:00am on Monday 05 January 2026. The application process will include uploading a CV and optional cover letter. The interviews are planned for Thursday 15 January 2026 at Brooke House in Ashbocking. Please indicate on the application your availability for interview (between 9:30am and 4:00pm).

Annual leave entitlement starts at 33 days per annum (including Bank Holidays), increasing annually to 38 days plus employees receive an extra day off for their birthday. We offer a 9% employer pension contribution with no employee contribution required, free 24‑hour Employee Assistance Programme, free life insurance from day one of employment, free access to a private GP and discounts at high‑street retailers. Staff can also enjoy a 10% discount in our visitor‑centre cafés, including retail.

Suffolk Wildlife Trust is committed to an inclusive and diverse workplace where everyone is welcome. As a conservation charity, we recognise the importance of diversity in both nature and our workforce of staff and volunteers. We strive to ensure that everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute to our vision of “A Wilder Suffolk where nature is thriving and abundant because everyone is doing more to help”.