Senior Manager: Finance

The Senior Manager: Finance is a key member of the Senior Management Team (SMT), responsible for ensuring that Brainwave remains financially sound, strategically informed and compliant with all charity-finance requirements. The role plays a central part in strengthening the charity’s financial systems, processes and reporting, supporting organisational growth and helping to deliver the best possible outcomes for children and families.

As Brainwave continues to modernise its financial infrastructure, embrace digital tools and explore future opportunities, the post-holder will help shape the evolution of the charity’s financial systems and practices. As the organisation develops, the role may expand, with any increase in responsibilities or hours agreed mutually and based on the individual’s experience, background and capacity to take on a broader remit.

Key Areas of Leadership:

• Financial management and reporting
• Budgeting, forecasting and financial planning
• Financial controls, systems and processes
• Charity accounting, compliance and audit
• Financial risk management and strategic insight

The post-holder will work closely with the CEO, Treasurer, Trustees and wider team to support sustainable organisational performance and contribute proactively to the charity’s future development.

Finance Leadership:

• Produce accurate, timely and relevant financial reporting, including monthly management accounts, departmental reports, dashboards, forecasts and cash-flow projections.
• Lead the annual budgeting process and rolling forecasts, with a view to developing 3–5-year projections.
• Maintain and improve financial systems, internal controls and processes to ensure efficiency, transparency and compliance.
• Lead the review, development or implementation of financial systems, including exploring new accountancy packages and digital solutions that support automation, improved reporting and more effective workflows.
• Identify opportunities to enhance financial processes through technology, including appropriate use of AI to support modelling, reporting or operational efficiency.
• Oversee year-end processes, audit preparation and statutory accounts production in liaison with external auditors.
• Work closely with the newly appointed audit firm to develop an effective and collaborative working relationship.
• Ensure compliance with Charity Commission requirements, charity finance legislation, SORP, Companies Act requirements, VAT, corporation tax, payroll, pensions and all HMRC obligations.
• Provide clear, strategic financial advice to the CEO, SMT, Treasurer and Board regarding performance, risks, sustainability and opportunity.
• Monitor banking, reserves, investments, restricted funds and cashflow, offering recommendations where required.
• Contribute detailed financial analysis and costings for bids, tenders and fundraising proposals.

For more information please click here: http://www.brainwave.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Recruitment-Pack-Senior-Manager-Finance.pdf