Finance Manager

The Finance Manager will join a small and dynamic team that covers Finance, Human Resources, IT and Business Operations. The Finance & Operations team play a critical role by running the day-to-day operations and providing the infrastructure that enables the continued delivery of the Trust’s mission and objectives.

The Sutton Trust is seeking a highly motivated and enthusiastic Finance Manager to join the team and provide crucial support on a range of key finance functions. This is an exciting time to join the team as we are looking to improve process efficiencies and assess the use of technology within the team.

This a varied and hands-on role that requires a strong understanding of charity accounting (particularly funds), excellent problem-solving skills and initiative. You can expect a steep learning curve and fast-paced work in a passionate and supportive environment

Main duties

• Cash management and cashflow forecasting; monitoring and reporting on the Trust’s investment portfolios
• Approval of payment runs in line with approval matrix
• Supporting the Director of Finance & Operations with annual budget setting and leading on quarterly reforecasting cycles
• Building and maintaining relationships with budget holders and members of senior leadership to help them understand budgets and financial statements and support them with their day-to-day budget management and finance needs
• Preparing quarterly management accounts, and other financial modelling as required
• Supporting the Development Team with funding applications, and grant / funder reporting
• Ensuring compliance with funder restrictions and requirements
• Preparing VAT returns, submitting returns to HMRC and providing VAT advice, as required
• Overseeing the Finance Officer’s work and providing cover for leave including sales and purchase ledger, month end, payroll, pension and staff benefit administration as well as the administration of Gift Aid and legacy income.
• Preparing annual accounts and year-end schedules, working closely with the Director of Finance & Operations and external auditors
• Supporting the Director of Finance & Operations to ensure there is an effective system of financial controls
• Line managing, motivating and proactively supporting the Finance Officer in their professional development
• Proactively updating your own knowledge in relation to the role, identifying and undertaking appropriate training
• Keeping up to date with legislation, policies and procedures relevant to the role and the Trust’s work
• Other duties as necessary from time to time

Skills and Experience

We welcome applications from individuals who have experience in:

• A hands-on, generalist finance role with strong experience of a wide variety of finance processes
• Producing monthly or quarterly management accounts and providing suitable narrative as required
• Supporting or leading on aspects of the year-end processes and/ or the annual audit, including producing year-end schedules, accounts and liaising with the auditors
• Setting up and maintaining forecasting templates, including for cashflow purposes
• Improving financial controls and processes, and using technology or automation to improve efficiencies
• Working with and supporting non-finance staff with their day-to-day budget management including the provision of training
• Managing and supporting junior finance staff
• Working in the education or not-for-profit sector (desirable)
• Working with Quickbooks or a similar accounting software (desirable)

Who can demonstrate:

• Strong verbal and written communication skills at all levels
• Strong organisational and problem-solving skills with the ability to multi-task
• Excellent working knowledge of Microsoft Office, particularly Excel
• Confidentiality

And who is:

• A qualified accountant with post qualification experience, or equivalent demonstrable work experience

Competencies

• Sympathetic to the aims of the Trust and its mission to address educational disadvantage
• Ability to work across multiple teams with budget holders of varying finance abilities
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team and independently with a high degree of initiative
• A flexible and adaptable approach to accommodate the varying aspects of the role, able to prioritize tasks and work to deadlines
• Excellent analytical skills and high attention to detail

Other

• Is eligible to work in the UK (see here for information about right to work)*

*Please note that we are unfortunately not a licensed visa sponsor.

Terms of Appointment

• Contract: Full-time, Permanent (part-time considered)
• Salary: £45,000-£50,000
• Office location: The Sutton Trust, 9th Floor, Millbank Tower, 21-24 Millbank, London, SW1P 4QP. Our home working policy gives staff the option to work from home for up to 60% of the time, with approval from their line manager.
• Hours: The standard working hours are 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday and may also be required to attend events / meetings outside of their normal working hours during weekday evenings and occasionally at weekends
• DBS check may be required

Interviews

Applications should reach us by 10am, Monday 28th October, with first round interviews held over Zoom on Wednesday, 6th November, and second round interviews held at our London offices on Wednesday, 13th November.

Safeguarding statement

The Sutton Trust believes that a child, young person or vulnerable adult should never experience abuse of any kind. We all have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young people and to keep them safe. Therefore all posts undergo a safer recruitment process, including but not limited to, disclosure of criminal records where necessary and eligibility to work in the UK. We have procedures in place to promote safeguarding and a safe culture at the Trust.

Contextual recruitment

The Trust is committed to ensuring equality of opportunity and that all applicants receive equal consideration for employment. We strongly encourage individuals from all backgrounds, including those underrepresented at present at the Trust, to apply for this role. As such we particularly welcome applications from people with disabilities, Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic backgrounds, LGBTQ+ and from different socio-economic and educational backgrounds. We are committed to being an inclusive and welcoming place to work and know that greater diversity will lead to even greater results for the young people we support.

We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments for disabled candidates throughout our recruitment process and during employment.

We also operate contextual recruitment at the Sutton Trust. Our application process gives you the option to include information about your background, such as whether you were eligible for free school meals, whether your parents went to university, or whether you attended a state school. For more examples and information on contextual recruitment, please see our website.