Data and supporter services officer jobs

Finance Manager

ABOUT US – THE GESTALT CENTRE

We are the Gestalt Centre, an established therapy not-for-profit organisation, supporting the mental and psychological well-being of individuals, groups, and organisations. We are a dynamic charity that runs, accommodates, and supports a number of counselling, psychotherapy, personal and professional development courses, and a range of therapeutic practices that enhance mental and psychological wellbeing.

As Gestalt Centre, our relationship with people who work for the centre starts from a place of trust. We see our structure as an organisational shape that we use to organise ourselves. What matters for us is how we all work together. We prioritise collaboration and ‘horizontal’ consultative decision making with individual and collective responsibility and accountability.

OUR VISION is a world were meaningful and fulfilling relationships lead to wellbeing and positive change in people’s lives.

OUR PURPOSE is to promote the mental and psychological well-being of individuals, groups and organisations through Gestalt education, training, and practice.

Gestalt is a life-changing approach to life, counselling, and psychotherapy. It enables people to develop meaningful relationships, navigate change and lead fulfilling lives by creatively utilising their own resources, skills, and strengths.

OUR VALUES

• Awareness and personal responsibility.
• Diversity, equality, inclusion and anti-discrimination.
• Kindness and respect for each other and the space we cohabit.
• Collaboration and community: every person matters and so does the collective.

Ready to make a difference? Join us!

We are seeking to appoint a highly motivated and experienced Finance Manager with strong background in charity finance to join our Executive team. A key role working closely with the CEO, the Executive team and Trustees.

✔ join a highly committed, experienced and collaborative team in a dynamic organisation, with strong collaborative and human-centric practice, growing and changing in innovative ways

✔ deliver a diverse role with opportunities to grow as a professional

✔ join the Gestalt Centre, a beacon of excellence in the therapy world

✔ support people develop emotional and psychological wellbeing and create a world where meaningful relationships lead to wellbeing and positive change in people’s lives

✔ flexible working and hybrid with home working and convenient office location when you’re in the office.

ABOUT THE ROLE

FINANCE MANAGER JOB DESCRIPTION

Role Purpose

The Finance Manager will proactively plan, manage and oversee the financial strategy, operations, and compliance of our dynamic and growing organisation. The role contributes directly to the organisation’s strategic planning and has hands-on oversight of financial transactions, operations, compliance and reporting.  

As the Finance Manager, you will be a member of the Executive leadership team working closely with the CEO on matters of financial strategy and business development - contributing to strategic decisions and providing financial guidance.You’d also be supported by the Finance Manager Assistant and the Bookkeeper.

Main Objectives

• Provide leadership, in-depth knowledge and financial expertise to support the organisation’s strategy, business development and operations. 
• Manage the day-to-day financial operations including payroll, payments, controls and cash flow to ensure sound financial management and accuracy around all financial routines and procedures. Also ensure compliance and accurate reporting.
• Lead on and manage financial planning, budgeting, and forecasting - working closely with the CEO.
• Lead on enhancing procedural efficiencies and streamlining in finance operations.
• Prepare statutory and management accounts. Manage the annual financial audit and implement recommendations.
• Provide and manage sound financial reporting and conduct financial analysis and financial modelling for business development.
• Work with and manage the Finance Manager Assistant and Bookkeeper.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

The role works closely with the CEO and is assisted by the Assistant Finance Manager and the Bookkeeper.

Financial Planning

• Lead on financial planning, budgeting and forecasting.
• Conduct financial analysis to support decision-making, highlighting key trends, opportunities and risks. Also scenario planning and financial modelling for growth and sustainability.
• Provide sound financial advice to the CEO, Executive and Trustees also assisting with business planning and strategy and business development.

Financial Management

• Lead on and manage the annual financial audit, including preparation, responding to auditors queries and implementation of recommendations, effectively and in a timely manner. Also filling with the Charity Commission and Companies House.
• Lead on the day-to-day management of financial operations to ensure sound financial management and accuracy of all financial routines and procedures.
• Monitor performance of actuals in relation to budget, income generation targets, approved expenditure and in relation to forecast. Note, analyse and comment on variations and propose adjustments.  
• Prepare quarterly management accounts and reports for decision-making and planning.
•  Advise on and manage investments and cashflow.

Governance: Policies, procedures and financial controls

• Ensure compliance with all requirements and standards in respect to Insurance, Companies House, Charities Commission and HMRC.
• Proactively lead on process improvements as we grow. Includes writing, reviewing and updating finance procedures and policies, in collaboration with the CEO and Executive colleagues.
• Ensure governance documents are up to date. Including Trustees appointment and resignation records, conflict-of-interest forms, and relevant submissions to Companies House.
• Monitoring and mitigating financial risks while maintaining robust internal controls. Also manage credit control and ensure that payments are received on time.
• Ensure financial procedures, policies and reporting systems are updated as required and maintained thereafter.

Accounting

• Supervise and review accounting tasks and records processed by the bookkeeper and the Finance Manager.
• Ensure timely, up to date and accurate accounting practice including journal entries, accruals, phasing and reconciliation.
• Ensure accuracy of income and expenses allocation and coding, including deferred income and monthly reconciliations.
• Review and update coding structures and nominal coding, clearing accounts and reconciliations in collaboration with the CEO and finance colleagues.

Payments and Payroll

• Manage effectively payroll, tax and pension submissions, banking and associated procedures.   
• Ensure all payments are made, received and acknowledged in an accurate, compliant and timely manner.
• Maintain up to date records of financial calculations regarding payments and fees for tutors, assessors and other stakeholders.

Contracts Management

• Ensure that operational, building, insurance and supplier contracts are up to date and renew them as required. Includes utility bills, IT and telephone.
• Prepare and issue employee contracts (working with the CEO/HR).

Support service delivery

• Calculate and prepare courses fees and other financial information for reviews and to support decision-making
• Liaise with students to offer and manage payment plans
• Ensure financial queries by colleagues, collaborators, students and practitioners are dealt with effectively and in a timely manner.
• Support the integration of financial and operational systems.

People Management

• Supervise, manage and support the Finance Manager and Bookkeeper, ensuring and supporting high performance and wellbeing.
• Recruitment, induction and professional development of the finance team. Also ensuring team members understand and adhere to organisational policies and procedures.

ABOUT YOU

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Qualifications and experience  

• Qualified or part-qualified (final stage), for example ACA, ACMA, CIPFA, CIMA.
• Minimum 3 years relevant financial management experience working with a charity/not for profit.
• Good experience of sound accounting and financial management in the charity/not for profit sector. Good knowledge of charity accounting and the Charity SORP.
• Sound knowledge and experience of leading and managing the audit process.
• Thorough practical up-to-date understanding of management accounting principles and techniques.
• In-depth knowledge and experience with payroll and pension processes and management systems for accounting functions, including QuickBooks.
• Sound knowledge and experience providing monthly management accounts, year-end statutory accounts and financial reporting.
• Extensive experience of contributing to the strategic, organisational and financial planning processes and leading on budgeting and forecasting.
• Extensive experience in balancing competing complexities of a busy role and prioritising effectively, forward planning and working to tight deadlines.
• Sound experience working effectively with confidentiality and GDPR in mind and in line with organisational policies and practice.
• Good experience with organisational realities, challenges and opportunities in the charity sector.
• Experience of working well within a multidisciplinary team (desirable).
• Experience facilitating or leading change and growth (desirable).

Qualities

• Awareness of self and others alongside a learning and growth mindset
• Leadership and management with kindness, integrity and collaboration
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills including ability to communicate financial concepts and information in accurate, simple and clear ways and work collaboratively across teams and at a senior level
• Proactive dynamic leadership and project management skills and ability to apply big picture thinking. 
• Excellent numeracy skills with attention to detail, sound analytical and problem-solving skills. 
• Ability to be flexible and adaptable in a dynamic organisation.
• Ability to receive and provide feedback, learn and grow as a professional
• Creativity, resourcefulness and an open mind to be able to see opportunities, embrace challenges and facilitate resolution of any issues.
• Ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines.
• Passion and commitment to the Gestalt Centre values, work and direction
• Commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion and anti-discrimination.
• Excellent IT skills, including advanced Microsoft Excel skills and accounting software systems
• Competency using MS Office, email, online platforms and learning management systems