Join Our Team

We are seeking a highly skilled, experienced, qualified and compassionate Finance Officer to help us transform the lives of many of Edinburgh’s most vulnerable.

Working alongside our CEO, our Social Enterprise Director, Service Manager and Fundraiser the successful person will monitor and guide as well as provide clear financial reports on our income, our expenses, our sustainability and financial systems and controls, enabling our SMT and Board to make sound financial and strategic decisions with confidence. The details of the Post are below.

To Apply: Please email your CV (4 pages maximum) and a personal statement (1 page Maximum) to [email protected]

CLOSING DATE: Monday 16^th November

On line Interviews will be held the week beginning 23^rd November 2020 if successfully shortlisted

Job Description

Job Title:	Finance Officer (Accountant)
Project/s:	Accounts, Financial Reporting, Finance Administrator
Reporting to:	Chief Executive
Management responsibilities:	In cooperation with CEO, oversee the Finance Administrator
Hours & Salary:	1.5 days (10.5 hours a per week) at £16-17p/h depending on experience (sub contracted – invoiced monthly) FTE £29,120 p.a. pro-rata  [opportunity for successfully candidate to negotiate being salaried – terms may vary/are negotiable]
Location:	Working from Home & be available to attend meetings onsite 86 Candlemaker Row, Edinburgh EH1 2QA

Context:

We are looking for a Finance Officer to have responsibility for overseeing the financial health of our organisation by managing the accounting operations to meet legal requirements and good practice, as well all our responsibilities as a charity.

The Grassmarket Community Project is a medium sized 10-year-old Homeless, Mental Health and Disability charity – a community – that supports over 300 people a year in transition, in recovery or who face deep social exclusion and isolation.

The role of the Finance Officer is critical to our success. This post holders’ skills and experiences will enable us to support and sustain our charity, enable good governance, due diligence, financial and strategic planning. Above all the work of the Finance Officer allows the charity to transform the lives of many of our city’s most vulnerable.

Purpose of the Role:

To provide an efficient and effective finance function for the organisation and to ensure reliable and accurate financial records are maintained and reports are compiled monthly, quarterly and annually to assist the Chief Executive, Senior Management Team and the Board of Directors to plan and execute spending and measure performance against targets and budgets.

The post holder will be required to work from home/office and attend occasional meetings.

In agreement with the Chief Executive, hours can be spread over the week and month anyway the candidate wishes whilst meeting the needs and priorities of the charity.

Main Duties:

The successful candidate should demonstrate an ability to manage accounting activities, including financial and management accounting and reporting. They should also have excellent organisational skills and be able to handle time-sensitive tasks. They should have experience with VAT returns, audits and budget preparations within a charitable or social enterprise setting.

Ultimately, they will be responsible for the production of management accounts and cash flow projections in partnership with our Chief Executive and Treasurer, providing them with the data required to report to our Board and make recommendations based on our financial position on any appropriate courses of action.

Responsibilities:

• Ensuring records of financial transactions are kept accurately and timeously with sufficient checks and controls to satisfy all stakeholders
• Overseeing the month end process and production of management accounts and reports on a regular basis
• Lead role in the budget planning and preparation process, and ongoing updates on projections
• The production and submission of VAT returns and Gift Aid claims
• Overseeing and mentoring the Finance Administrator to ensure all his/her duties have been carried out timeously and accurately, and supported to continuously develop in the role
• Lead role in the preparation of accounts for the annual audit process, providing assistance to the auditors to ensure that the Audited Accounts are completed accurately and within agreed timescales

• Work with Fundraising and assist with preparing reports for funders and where applicable, ensuring compliance with procedures to ensure funding is granted
• Oversee the reconciliation of bank accounts and all other balance sheet accounts and have individual responsibility for the Fixed Assets, VAT and Deferred Incomes accounts
• Preparation of cash flow forecasts and projections
• Support the Finance Administrator with the monthly payroll process, prior to approval by the Chief Executive
• Review and implement financial policies to guarantee operational efficiency
• Any other duties commensurate with the role

Requirements:

• Part Qualified Accountant with experience within a similar environment – essential
• Proven work experience as a Finance Officer/Accountant or similar role – essential
• Solid knowledge of financial and accounting procedures – essential
• Experience using Xero financial software – essential
• Experience using payroll software – essential
• Advanced MS Excel skills – essential
• Experience of using cloud-based systems (such as OneNote, Teams, Zoom, OneDrive) – essential
• Sharp time management, organisational skills and the ability to prioritise – essential
• Strong ethics, with an ability to manage confidential data – essential
• Knowledge of financial regulations within a charity / social enterprise – desirable
• Experience of trust income reporting – desirable
• Experience of supporting direct-reports – coaching and leadership skills – desirable