Financial Controller

We are delighted to be exclusively partnering with East Street Arts to recruit their Financial Controller position. This role offers a competitive salary and hybrid working. East Street Arts are based in the heart of Leeds.

This role is paying up to £40,000 per annum. Candidates who are interested in working part time will also be considered.

It all started in 1993 with two artists who couldn’t find the support and infrastructure they needed to develop their art practice.

From that East Street Arts was born, they have worked to secure better livelihoods for artists, neighbours and address issues of economic and commercial decline in towns and cities.

Since becoming a charity in 1998, they have become leaders in the artist-led sector by empowering artists to be self-determined, take control, incite change and influence decision-makers to improve people’s lives and environments.

Working from the grass roots up, they value talent, ambition and innovation from a position of inclusivity and opportunity.

They work within a broad definition of visual arts that includes traditional disciplines of painting and sculpture, and more specifically public art, socially-engaged practice, crafts and digital (including film, sound and radio). They work to ensure on-going professional support is available for working artists.

Their reach is international, with us developing activities with partners nationally and across Europe, with new relationships currently being developed further afield.

East Street Arts are Leeds based, their office address is St Mary’s Lane, Leeds, LS9 7EH. They offer parking on-site and are walking distance from Leeds Train Station.

Financial Controller:

Purpose of role:

A senior member of staff that has a strategic understanding of developing finance models to support the company through growth, development and significant change.

To lead and manage all aspects of the company’s financial operations, systems and processes in support of its activities and developments.

Areas of responsibility:

Strategic

• Provide financial leadership including scenario planning and forecasting
• Overseeing the company’s capital financial accounts
• Provision of clear and timely management accounts for the directors, trustees and key funders
• Management of annual planning, budgeting and reporting processes and timetable, including annual budget, annual review and preparation of three-year financial projections aligned to achieving strategic objectives
• Ensure the organisation’s approach to risk management is fit for purpose and to lead on the development of robust assurance framework
• Ensure that effective accounting records and financial control systems are maintained and that all financial matters are dealt with in a proper and secure manner
• Ensure that all income due is promptly collected and monies owed are paid in a prompt and efficient manner, specifically manage and control debt
• Develop and manage reserves in alignment with reserve policy

Internal controls

• Line management and support of finance administrator
• Preparation of the annual statutory accounts and management of the audit
• Preparation and submission of relevant Charity Commission, Companies House and HMRC returns
• Review and submission of quarterly VAT returns
• Preparation and submission of Gift Aid and Museum Galleries Exhibitions Tax Relief claims as appropriate
• Liaison with the payroll bureau and payment of monthly salaries
• Review of monthly bank reconciliations and routine financial processes
• Preparation of cash flow forecasts
• Responsibility for effective treasury management
• Responsibility for maintaining and updating the financial system to ensure maximum financial control
• Responsibility for updating and maintaining all financial procedures to ensure maximum efficiency and control
• Lead liaison with banks, auditors, HMRC, loan and grant-making bodies
• Preparation of management reports as appropriate
• Lead role on topical finance projects as appropriate
• Financial advice and training to staff and trustees as required

Financial Controller:

Person specification

The candidate is required to have the following skills and experience:

• Qualified or Part-Qualified in CCAB or CIMA (Qualified by Experience will also be considered)
• Charity financial and management accounting experience is desirable
• Commercial accounting experience, ideally at manager level
• Extensive VAT knowledge and experience
• Extensive knowledge of relevant SORPs
• Experience in producing Charity final accounts and managing an audit
• Good verbal communication skills
• Good report Microsoft Office skills, particularly in Excel
• Familiarity with the use of databases

Additional desirable skills and responsibilities:

• Writing skills
• Managing the Finance & Office Administrator
• Familiarity with the Xero accounting ecosystem
• Experience of Gift Aid claims
• Technical financial systems experience, including report writing
• Payroll experience

Financial Controller:

£35,000 – £40,000

37.5 hour working week

25 days annual leave, plus bank holidays

Pension

Hybrid / flexible working

Free parking

Part time will also be considered

EA First Ltd are acting as an Employment Agency for this permanent vacancy.