Senior Finance Manager - #2193713

Role: Senior Finance Manager

Company: Onwards & Upwards

Reports to:CEO, with additional oversight from the Treasurer

Location: Lewisham

Salary £55,000–£65,000 FTE

About US

Onwards & Upwards is a charity working to break the cycle of reoffending by creating sustainable social enterprises that train and employ men who have been in prison. These will be places that people are proud to work for, provide personal and professional development, operate in high demand sectors, and that showcase the talents and potential of people who have been in prison as employees to both businesses and society at large.

We aim to establish and grow a range of ventures built around this model of training, supporting and employing people who have been in prison in positive environments that are part of a community, with aspirational brands, and with full support for people to grow and move on in their lives.

Onwards & Upwards has so far established two wholly owned trading subsidiaries, XO Bikes and XO Barbers and has two further ventures in development.

The role of the Senior Finance Manager

We are seeking a qualified, commercially minded Senior Finance Manager to take responsibility for the day-to-day accounting, financial reporting and financial management of the charity and its two wholly owned trading subsidiaries. This is a hands-on role in a small but rapidly growing organisation: the postholder will personally undertake transaction processing in Xero as well as manage the accounting cycle, produce reports and provide financial insight to support decision-making.

Working closely with the CEO, Operations Director, Treasurer and venture teams, the Senior Finance Manager will strengthen financial controls, support sustainable growth and coordinate with external accountants, auditors and other professional advisers. The role offers scope to develop broader financial leadership skills as the organisation grows.

Key Responsibilities of the Senior Finance Manager

Financial Accounting and Financial Systems

• Maintain complete and accurate accounting records for the charity and its trading subsidiaries, including entering invoices, receipts, expenses and other transactions into Xero; managing sales and purchase ledgers, payments, cards and bank administration; posting journals; and completing timely bank and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Ensure accounting information from point-of-sale and other operational systems is accurate and properly recorded with systems updated as required.
• Oversee cash management and funding for ventures.

Management Accounting and Financial Reporting

• Prepare timely management accounts and clear financial reports for the CEO, senior leadership, trustees and the Commercial Ventures Board.
• Coordinate and prepare annual budgets, financial models, forecasts and cash-flow projections.
• Provide budget-to-actual analysis, quarterly reforecasting, financial and operational KPIs, commentary on variances and practical recommendations.

Trading subsidiaries and business planning support

• Support the financial management and development of the charity’s commercial ventures with financial modelling, planning and forecasting. This is a critical element of this role as the organisation has ambitious plans to develop new ventures.
• Support budget holders in monitoring performance and planning.
• Liaise with professional advisers on legal agreements as required.

Financial Controls, Compliance and Audit

• Develop, maintain and embed proportionate financial policies, procedures and internal controls across the organisation.
• Coordinate year-end accounting and audit preparation, liaise with auditors and external accountants, preparation of statutory accounts and returns.
• Ensure timely completion or coordination of relevant VAT and tax returns, company secretarial requirements and other financial compliance obligations.
• Work closely with the SLT on risk management including maintaining the risk register.
• Oversee insurance renewals.

Financial Management and Stakeholder Relationships

• Act as the principal day-to-day finance contact for the CEO, Operations Director and the Treasurer, presenting financial information clearly to colleagues without finance backgrounds.
• Work constructively with venture staff, external advisers and other stakeholders, provide appropriate guidance on financial procedures and to improve systems and processes as the organisation grows.

Skills and Experience of the Senior Finance Manager

• Qualified accountant with sound financial accounting and management reporting experience.
• Strong practical Xero skills, including bookkeeping, reconciliations and reporting.
• Experience of budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis and maintaining effective financial controls.
• Strong modelling skills.
• Ability to work across multiple entities, manage a full accounting cycle and meet deadlines with limited administrative support.
• Excellent organisational, communication and problem-solving skills
• A strong collaborative team player with a passionate commitment to the charity’s mission.
• Experience in both charity and commercial environments
• Experience of supporting a growing organisation and improving finance systems and processes.
• The desire to learn and build skills and to have a role that grows with the organisation.
• Happy with a role that combines basic bookkeeping with these higher level skills.
• No requirement for a VISA

How to Apply:

To apply, send an up-to-date CV (2 pages maximum) with a covering letter (1 page maximum) outlining your suitability, relevant qualifications and experience and why this is the role for you

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK and be able to provide two references.

We will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis, with interviews due to take place in December.