Job Title: Finance Officer
Reports to: CEO
Salary: £28,000 to £34,000 per annum
Hours: Full-time 40 hrs a week, 9am – 5.30pm
Bridge for Young People provides a home and support to young people (aged 16-25) who are leaving care or who are homeless. We have three houses in West Berkshire where we provide young people with a stable home, emotional support and practical help as they move into independence.
We are seeking a resilient, organised and self-motivated Finance Officer that has an exceptional eye for detail. The Finance role is varied and includes a broad range of charity, financial and budgeting responsibilities as well as working with the Support Services Manager in supporting young people in their tenancy sustainment.
Principal Responsibilities
Financial Management and Reporting
- Process all financial transactions within QuickBooks and perform reconciliation of all control accounts and bank accounts monthly
- Carry out bank reconciliations and month end procedures as required
- Record and monitor donations and grants, restricted and unrestricted, ensuring they are error-free
- Prepare and process monthly support invoices
- Process payments, following authorisation, via our Faster Payment’s system
- Ensuring bank protocols and records are up to date concerning authorised signatories
- Provide high quality and effective financial reporting, support and assistance to the CEO and Corporate and Community Fundraiser
- Creating and updating budgets and forecasts for overall operations
- Coordinating the Payroll submission and payments in collaboration with payroll company
- Preparation of Housing Benefit Schedules for new properties
- Monitor and review financial systems and procedures and recommend, devise and implement more effective and efficient procedures
- Highlight financial risks to the CEO and suggest/develop possible mitigations
- Advise and adhere to Financial Policy and protocols and authorisation protocols.
Tenancy Management
- Act as the primary contact for young people’s questions and concerns on issues such as rent payments and service charge queries
- Manage housing benefit claims, liaising with young people and West Berkshire Council
- Calculate young people’s rent on receipt of monthly payslips
- Track rent and service charge payments to identify any delays or arrears, liaising with young people and the Support Services Manager as necessary
- Manage arrears. Communicate with young people to remind them of overdue payments using a supportive approach
- Keep the Support Services Manager informed of persistent non-payment by young people, following procedures when necessary.
Technology
- Lead in providing technology recommendations to CEO
- Managing relationship with outsourced IT function
General Responsibilities
- To understand, adhere to and actively implement all the policies and procedures of Bridge for Young People and its services at all times
- To support the CEO in the development of strategies and the financial plans
- To operate and comply with the provisions of the General Data Protection Regulation and relevant Bridge for Young People policies on data protection during the course of undertaking the role
- To undertake training as required
- To assist with other work, events and projects as needed
- To undertake additional tasks reasonably requested by the CEO and the Charity Team
Additional Training Provided
- General on-the-job training. The successful applicant will also be required to undertake training identified and set out in Bridge for Young People’s Training and Development Policy and Procedures.
Personal Specification
Essential
- Financial management/bookkeeping qualification
- Experience of using an accounting package
- Ability to present financial and written information clearly, accurately and to a standard appropriate for external presentation
- Excellent time management and organisational skills to be able to deal with a multitude of tasks and a range of priorities
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to explain financial information to non-finance managers
- Strong Microsoft Office skills
- Eligible to live and work in the UK
- A DBS check will be required
Desirable
- Working knowledge of charity accounting including principles of restricted fund accounting
- Experience of using QuickBooks
- Familiarity with charity accounts
- Experience with providing tenancy sustainment support
- Awareness of technology / managing outsourced IT function
- Understanding of challenges facing care leavers and homeless young people
Why work for Bridge for Young People
- Supporting young people and making a difference
- Opportunity to develop your career as charity grows
- Training opportunities to enhance your skills and knowledge.
- Employer’s pension contribution to NEST scheme
