Role Purpose

This is an exciting opportunity to join a small, but dynamic team at Access – The Foundations for Social Investment. With a refreshed strategy and extended life we are looking for someone to help deliver the organisation’s day-to-day finance and operations function.

The Assistant Management Accountant will play an important role in ensuring the accuracy and integrity of Access's financial records, supporting monthly management accounts, budgeting and forecasting processes, and helping to continuously improve systems and processes. The role will work closely with colleagues across the organisation and provide support to the Senior Finance and Operations Manager and Director of Finance and Operations.

About Access

We want to see a social investment ecosystem that works for all charities and social enterprises. Through our programmes and our advocacy work, we ensure that charities and social enterprises can access the finance they need to sustain or grow their impact.

We target those most in need of patient and flexible investment through:

·       Funding enterprise development and blended finance programmes in England.

·       Sharing knowledge and data and translating it into practical insight that others can use.

·       Mobilising others who share our goal of making capital work for communities.

Since 2015 Access has been tasked with distributing over £250m from the Dormant Assets scheme, Government and The National Lottery Community Fund. As a wholesaler we work with several dozen partners to deliver programmes around England, including social investment funds, social enterprise support organisations, network organisations, and grant management bodies. We expect to make grants of over £30m this year. We are a relatively small but collaborative and dedicated team of 15.

Main responsibilities include:

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (guide c.85%)

·       Keeping the accounting system up to date ready for review by the Senior Finance and Operations Manager, including but not limited to:

-       Recording of credit card transactions, including ensuring receipts are filed and signed off

-       Weekly bank uploads into our accounting system (Twinfield)

-       Posting of monthly and quarterly journals (e.g. accrued bank interest and investment movements)

-       Recording of all transactions with correct coding and accurate description

-       Bank reconciliations for all bank accounts

-       Reconciliation of all balance sheet accounts

-       Reconciliation of Programme Drawdowns between Twinfield and Salesforce

·       Assisting the Senior Finance and Operations Manager with preparation of:

-          Monthly management accounts including SOFA and Balance Sheet

-          Forecasts and annual budgets

-          Ad-hoc financial reports, analysis and reporting as and when required

-          Year-end audit including collation of documents are responding to queries

·       Supporting treasury management by:

-          Maintaining cashflow records and assisting with forecasting future cash requirements

-          Assisting with the monitoring deposit maturity dates and preparing treasury reports

-          Assisting with the administration of relationships with banking and investment partners

·       Managing the accounts payable and receivable functions by :

-          Managing the Finance inbox to deal with any queries on invoices and payments

-          Preparing weekly payments, liaising with the wider team, ensuring that all authorisations are in place prior to payment

-          Updating drawdown payments on our CRM (Salesforce)

-          Generating sales invoices

·       Maintaining organised financial files to support monthly reporting and the year-end audit

·       Work with the Finance team to ensure that appropriate financial controls are in place and are being followed in order to comply with financial regulations and internal policies

·       Carry out such other duties as may reasonably be required from time to time, consistent with the nature, level and responsibilities of the role

OPERATIONS, PEOPLE AND GOVERNANCE (guide c.15%) – scope dependent on number of hours worked

·       Support the Senior Finance and Operations Manager with the delivery of the finance and operations team’s objectives

·       Support the implementation of new systems and processes to improve operational workflows, with a dedication to continuous improvement

·        Understand the programmatic work via the building of strong relationships across Access to be able to provide support to other areas of the business.

·        Support the Senior Leadership Team with ad hoc administration, coordination and organisational tasks as required

·        Support the Senior Finance and Operations Manager in assisting with the preparation of Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee (ARCC), Endowment Investment Committee (EIC) and Board papers and minute taking as and when needed

PERSON SPECIFICATION

The key skills, experience and personal attributes we are looking for include:

Essential

·       AAT Level 4 qualified (or equivalent), or actively studying towards a professional accounting qualification such as ACA, ACCA or CIMA

·       An understanding of financial and accounting principles within the not-for-profit sector

·       Ability to understand the broader business context and how finance supports strategic goals

·       Exceptional attention to detail and taking pride in your work

·       Strong IT skills including MS Office Suite and accounting packages

·       Strong inter-personal skills to communicate clearly and effectively at all levels (both internally and externally)

·       To encourage a culture of continual improvement within finance and operations and undertake improvement projects as and when needed

Desirable

·       Knowledge of social finance and the ecosystem

·       Experience of having worked in a grant making organisation

·       Experience of using a CRM

Please note that no prior knowledge of social finance or experience of having used Twinfield (our accounting system) is required to apply for this role. It would be advantageous but is not essential.

We are committed to being an inclusive organisation and actively promote equality of opportunity for all. We believe in the value of a diverse workforce and encourage applications from individuals with a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Selection for roles is based solely on individual merit, talent, skills, and potential.

As a charity, we are dedicated to reflecting the communities and individuals we aim to support. We particularly welcome applications from candidates who share lived experiences or come from backgrounds that align with those we serve. Diversity strengthens our ability to make a meaningful impact, and we encourage all who feel passionate about our mission to apply.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND BENEFITS

Terms & conditions

·       This role attracts a salary of £38,316 FTE per annum

·       Probationary period six months

·       Notice period two months (on completion of probationary period)

Benefits

·       28 days annual leave per annum, 3 days office closure between Christmas and New Year, in addition to bank holidays (pro-rata for part-time employees)

·       Contributory pension (employer contribution of 8% dependent on 4% contribution from employee via salary sacrifice)

·       Group income protection scheme and group life assurance

·       Personal mobile phone usage and working from home allowances

·       Health cash plan

·       Enhanced occupational maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave policies

·       Cycle to work and travel loans available

·       Flexible working policy with core hours between 10-15:00

Other benefits

·       Bright, modern office in central London location

·       Sponsorship of professional membership fees where relevant to the employee’s specific role at Access

·       Opportunity to allocate five working days per annum to volunteering

·       Opportunity to take a three month unpaid sabbatical after five years of service

·       Up to five days of study leave (pro rata), where the studies are relevant to the individual’s role at Access and in line with individual’s development goals

·       Opportunity to attend conferences and events within the social investment ecosystem.

The role is based in Access’s offices in central London (Old Street) with some dedicated time together as a team each week (currently Tuesdays). Outside of this shared time, Access anticipates a significant degree of day-to-day flexibility in terms of where team members will work, depending on both personal preference and the needs of their role.