Description
Wiltshire Music Centre is looking for a Head of Finance to drive financial strategy, ensure robust financial management, and provide clear insight to support decision-making across all areas of activity of our music and education venue. This role sits on our Senior Leadership Team.
Key Responsibilities
1. Financial Management & Reporting
- Lead preparation of management accounts, cash flow forecasts, and variance analysis
- Produce quarterly finance reports and manage month end processes and reports
- Oversee preparation of the annual statutory accounts and audit
- Maintain a clear reserves policy and monitor cash flow
- Administer finances raised through fundraising campaigns, donations, sponsorship and grants, and claim back Gift Aid from HMRC
- Prepare and process VAT returns, handling partial exemption when applicable
- Be the first point of contact for any HMRC query
2. Budgeting & Strategy
- Coordinate the annual budgeting process across departments
- Provide financial modelling and analysis for strategic planning and fundraising bids
- Support the Executive Director and trustees in scenario planning and long-term forecasting
- Advise on risk management and internal controls
3. Operations & Systems
- Oversee day-to-day finance operations (invoicing, payments, payroll, expenses, reconciliations)
- Maintain accurate event and project accounts, reconciling Box Office data to financial systems
- Ensure efficient provision and use of merchant services and card payment solutions
- Manage and improve financial systems e.g. Sage
- Work closely with Executive Director to track restricted and unrestricted funds
4. Governance & Compliance
- Ensure compliance with the Charities Act, Companies Act, and funder requirements
- Prepare data and documents as required for reporting to key funders
- Prepare finance reports and dashboards for board meetings
- Liaise with external accountants, auditors, and the Charity Commission
- Support the Treasurer and Finance & Resource Committee and attend board meetings as required
5. Organisational strategy and growth
- Work collaboratively to identify strategic opportunities for growth
Ideal Candidate Profile
Essential
- Professional qualification (or part-qualified) such as ACA / ACCA / CIMA / CIPFA, or equivalent
- Strong financial and accounting experience within a Finance Department covering all relevant functions
- Excellent budgeting, forecasting, and analytical skills.
- Knowledge of Charity SORP and statutory charitable reporting and accounts preparation.
- Technical knowledge of tax matters (VAT and PAYE).
- Experience of managing VAT and gift aid for a charity.
- Experience with Sage or another cloud-based accounting platform.
- High attention to detail and ability to communicate financial information clearly to non-financial colleagues
Desirable
- Experience with arts, education, or cultural sector charities.
- Experience working with fundraising and grant-making bodies, including an understanding of restricted funds, grant management and project reporting
- Experience of box office systems
Key Deliverables
- Accurate and timely monthly management accounts and Board reports.
- Month end processes timely and fulsome.
- Annual budget, forecasts, and audited statutory accounts.
- Effective cash flow and investment management.
- Clear, concise financial insight to support strategic decisions.
- Strong financial controls, policies, and risk management processes.
- A financially informed, confident leadership team.
To apply, email your CV with a two page cover letter outlining why your skills and experience align with the role to [email protected]. For an informal chat about the role, contact Sarah Robertson Executive Director on [email protected]