Senior Finance Officer

CHARITY PEOPLE; London; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Part time

Job summary

A community-focused music charity is seeking a Senior Finance Officer to oversee their financial operations. This part-time role requires experienced candidates who can manage bookkeeping, prepare management accounts, and support long-term financial planning in a collaborative environment. Passion for arts and community engagement is a plus.

Qualifications

• Minimum of three years in a finance or bookkeeping role.
• Proficient in using accounting software, ideally Xero.
• Strong working knowledge of payroll and VAT regulations.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and maintain monthly management accounts.
• Lead the budgeting process and maintain cash flow forecasts.
• Manage monthly payroll submissions.

Skills

Bookkeeping

Financial Management

Payroll

VAT Regulations

Interpersonal Skills

Communication Skills

Education

Experience in a finance or bookkeeping role

Tools

Xero

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Senior Finance Officer
Location: Office-based near Nine Elms, London
Working pattern: Part-time, 2 days per week on-site
Pay: £19.23 per hour plus £2.32 per hour holiday pay (equivalent to £35,000 FTE)
Duration:Temporary role for 8-12 weeks initially
Interview date: Week commencing 23rd June

We are delighted to be partnering with a creative, community-focused music charity to recruit a Senior Finance Officer to support their financial operations.

This is a pivotal role in a small team, responsible for the day-to-day financial management and operational bookkeeping of the charity, as well as contributing to longer-term planning and reporting. Following the recent opening of a second venue, including a performance space, recording studio, and café. \this role plays a vital part in ensuring robust and scalable financial systems across all areas of activity.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare and maintain monthly management accounts for senior leadership and the Board
• Lead the budgeting process and maintain cash flow forecasts
• Oversee and carry out accurate bookkeeping, including:
  • Purchase/sales ledger management
  • Batch and individual payments
  • Bank reconciliations
  • Petty cash and credit card management
  • Processing invoices and receipts
• Manage monthly payroll submissions and liaise with accountants and pension providers
• Prepare and submit VAT returns and Gift Aid claims
• Maintain oversight of income streams including student payments, ticketing, and café revenue
• Support fundraising team with financial reporting for funding applications and reports
• Ensure compliance with financial policies, SORP, HMRC, and charity regulations
• Oversee fixed assets register and manage depreciation schedules
• Liaise with external accountants on year-end accounts for both the charity and its trading subsidiary

What We're Looking For

Qualifications and Experience:

• Qualified by experience, with a minimum of three years in a finance or bookkeeping role
• Previous experience in a charity, arts, or creative environment is desirable
• Experience preparing management accounts and supporting Board-level financial reporting
• Proficient in using accounting software, ideally Xero
• Strong working knowledge of payroll, VAT, and charity finance regulations
• Confident using Microsoft Excel and handling reconciliations, journals, and multi-source income

Knowledge and Skills:

• Clear understanding of financial controls, compliance, and reporting frameworks
• Ability to present financial information to non-financial stakeholders
• Experience overseeing or working alongside bookkeepers or finance assistants
• Familiarity with restricted/unrestricted funding models is desirable

Personal Attributes:

• Organised, detail-oriented, and highly reliable
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Positive, proactive, and solution-focused
• Comfortable working independently within a collaborative team
• Passion for the arts, music, or community engagement work is a bonus

How to Apply

If you're available immediately and interested in this role, please send your CV as soon as possible, as we're reviewing applications on a rolling basis.

Closing date: Monday 23rd June, 9:00 am

Charity People actively promotes equality, diversity and inclusion. We match charity needs with the skills and experience of candidates, irrespective of age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. We do this because we know greater diversity will lead to even greater results for the charities we work with.