Sense has an exciting opportunity for an Assistant Finance Business Partner to join our brilliant finance team. This is a permanent, full time position working on a hybrid basis between home and our offices in Selly Oak, Birmingham.
About the Sense Finance Team
To assist in ensuring the financial good health and appropriate financial management of the parts of Sense supported by the Finance Team.
The Finance business partner function is a strategic function working closely with business units to help them make informed business decisions. The function provide insights and analysis that help the organisation understand their financial situations, identify opportunities and risks, and make sound decisions about allocating funds.
Key Responsibilities
Assist the Finance Business Partner to provide a high-quality partnering service to operational teams, enabling them to make financial decisions about the current and future services.
Assist in the preparation of regular, timely and accurate financial management information including budgets, forecast, cost centre reports, analysis and commentaries and ensure that non-financial managers can interpret the data to understand the financial implications and consequences of their decisions.
Monitor and evaluate financial information systems used operationally and within the finance team suggesting improvement where needed.
Maintaining the prime accounting records including cashbook and the general ledger.
Complete reconciliations of information on the finance system (Infor SunSystems) to information on income held on the Engagement CRM system and information from banks, credit card companies and our agents.
Assist with the preparation of Gift Aid claims and the submission in liaison with the Finance Business Partner and the Engagement Team.
Assist in the preparation of accurate monthly management accounts to the required timetable, including the preparation of accruals and prepayment journals as appropriate.
Assist with identifying and investigating monthly variances, liaising with financial staff and non-finance managers as appropriate.
Offer professional judgement on financial matters and advising on ways to improve business performance.
Support the Finance Business Partner with the annual budget setting process in collaboration with budget holders and the group consolidation team, with attention to donor funded projects and programmes.
Assist with the production of budget against actual reports, for statutory and other donors and ad-hoc reports as required
Ensure income and expenditure is coded in the correct way, making any adjustments arising during the process.
Assist with the preparation of information for the audit of annual statutory accounts for Sense and the annual audit process.
Assist colleagues in preparing funding bids especially in fundraising.
Preparation of Sense Branch Income and Expenditure Statements for the Finance Business Partner on a quarterly basis.
Ensure that accounting controls are implemented, maintained and reconciled on a regular basis, including intercompany control accounts.
Provide training to finance and non-finance staff on financial procedures.
Take responsibility for own development including keeping up to date with changes in accounting practices, maintaining a sound knowledge of charity fund accounting.
To succeed in this role, you will have:
Relevant financial qualification such as AAT and working towards a professional qualification CCAB/CIMA is desirable.
Proven experience in a Finance environment.
Experience of assisting with developing and monitoring an annual budget within a multi-cost centre environment.
Experience of using computerised finance systems such as Infor SunSystems.
Up to date knowledge of accounting standards.
Experience of manipulating large data sets in Microsoft Excel.
Experience of building effective working relationships with internal colleagues and external agencies, so that objectives are met consistently, and change is introduced successfully.
Able to organise your own workload with an appreciation of short and long-term deadlines.
Experience of reviewing current ways of working, revising or developing procedures in order to deliver organisational benefits.
Experience of working in a large complex organisation.
Knowledge and understanding of Data Protection issues.
A demonstrable commitment to the principles and practices of equal opportunities.
A positive approach to providing high quality services for people with complex needs and related disabilities.
Good communication and interpersonal skills to develop relationships with key stakeholders, so that objectives are met consistently.
Good knowledge of management accounting, with an understanding of charity accounting requirements.
Excellent IT skills including intermediate Excel skills with ability to use a broad range of functions, such as pivot tables and VLOOKUP’s.
An ability and willingness to travel across Sense premises in the UK as required.
About Sense
For everyone living with complex disabilities. For everyone who is deafblind. Sense is here to help people communicate and experience the world. We believe that no one, no matter how complex their disabilities, should be isolated, left out, or unable to fulfil their potential. Sense are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer.
To apply
Please use the link below to complete your application. Managers will use your application to shortlist candidates for interview; in relation to the Personal Specification. Therefore, it is very important you complete this section thoroughly. We would recommend that you read the job description and person specification before applying.
If you require any further assistance, please contact the Recruitment Team on 0121 415 6735 or recruitment@sense.org.uk
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident .