- Professional
- Ufficio in Hanley
Closing date Thursday 25th September 2025 - However, we reserve the right to close this advertisement at any time if we receive suitable applications for the role.
Interviews 29th and 30th September
To manage Acorn’s finance operations, ensuring accurate reporting, robust compliance and effective financial controls. The Finance Manager will oversee payroll, management accounts, cashflow and budget monitoring, while acting as the main link with external accountants and auditors.
Interviews 29th and 30th September
To manage Acorn’s finance operations, ensuring accurate reporting, robust compliance and effective financial controls. The Finance Manager will oversee payroll, management accounts, cashflow and budget monitoring, while acting as the main link with external accountants and auditors.
The role includes line management of finance staff, ensuring efficient day-to-day transactions and continuous improvement of finance systems, including automation and digitisation of processes.
Key Responsibilities and Key Performance Indicators
Finance Leadership (Primary Focus)
- Oversee the full finance cycle including payroll, management accounts, cashflow forecasting and budget monitoring.
- Ensure monthly and year-end reconciliations, journals and statutory returns are accurate and timely.
- Manage the Finance Assistant, ensuring day-to-day transactions, payments, and reconciliations are completed effectively.
- Lead preparation of management accounts and financial reports for the COO and EMT, highlighting risks, trends and opportunities for month and year end.
- Support the COO with budgeting, forecasting and financial models for new tenders and contracts.
- Liaise with external accountants and auditors, ensuring the organisation remains compliant and audit-ready.
- Monitor expenditure closely, driving value for money and ensuring costs align with budgets.
- Ensure compliance with HMRC requirements (PAYE, VAT, P11D, company returns).
- Lead on automating and digitising finance processes wherever possible, improving efficiency, accuracy and reporting capability.
Leadership & Coordination
- Line-manage Finance staff, ensuring clarity of objectives, regular 1-2-1s, and performance development.
- Provide accurate and timely Finance data to the COO and EMT to support effective decision making.
- Promote continuous improvement across finance systems, policies and reporting.
Key Performance Indicators
- Accuracy and timeliness of payroll, financial reporting and submissions.
- Compliance with HMRC and statutory requirements.
- Strong cashflow management and budgetary control.
- Effective audit preparation and minimal adjustments required.
- Improved efficiency through automation and system enhancements
Skills, Knowledge & Expertise
Criteria
Qualifications and specific training
Qualifications and specific training
- AAT Level 4 or equivalent (essential)
- Strong IT literacy including Microsoft Office, Excel, and financial systems (Sage or equivalent). (essential)
- Working towards or achieved a professional accounting qualification, such as CIMA or ACCA (or be willing to work towards) (desirable)
- Management or leadership qualification desirable. (desirable)
Experience
- Leadership experience across Finance (essential)
- Proven track record of delivering financial stability, accurate reporting and robust compliance. (essential)
- Experience within education, employability, or skills sectors (desirable)
Knowledge
- Strong financial acumen and commercial awareness, with the ability to analyse complex data. (essential)
- Ability to balance detail with strategic perspective, providing clarity to the EMT. (essential)
- Ability to identify opportunities to automate and digitise finance processes, improving efficiency and accuracy. (essential)
- Setting up new administrative systems and processes (desirable)
- Learning and Skills based IT systems (desirable)
Skills
- The ability to check information accurately, identify trends in financial information (essential)
- The ability to work flexibly within a team. (essential)
- Proactive, innovative and forward-thinking, with the ability to identify opportunities for improvement and growth. (essential)
- High integrity, resilience and discretion when handling sensitive or confidential matters. (essential)
- Exceptional leadership, communication and influencing skills. (essential)
- Skilled in presenting complex information clearly to both financial and non-financial stakeholders. (essential)
We welcome applications from all suitably-qualified candidates, irrespective of gender, disability, marital or parental status, ethnic or social origin, religion, belief, or sexual orientation. In addition, during the various stages of recruitment, reasonable adjustments can be taken to ensure equal opportunities for candidates with disabilities or special needs.
As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy
As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy
Please get in contact with [email protected] to discuss alternative options you may require, or alternative application methods
