Financial Controller (Maternity Cover)

About the role

We are looking for an experienced Financial Controller to provide maternity cover for a 12 month period. This is a hands-on role responsible for maintaining the integrity and accuracy of TransitionZero's financial operations during a critical growth phase. Because you will be our sole finance person you manage end-to-end, from the administrative to the strategic. You will oversee day-to-day finance activities, prepare budgets and management reporting, monitor project finances, and ensure compliance with charity and accounting regulations. Specific projects will include implementing new approval workflows, supporting our annual audit, and strengthening internal expense policies. You will report to our COO. This role requires strong technical accounting skills coupled with the communication skills to partner cross-functionally in a fast-paced environment. You will work closely with the executive team to deliver accurate, timely financial information that informs strategic decisions. Financial Control & Reporting (50%) Maintain and update the financial model for management and forecasting purposes , proactively flag risks and opportunities. Oversee day-to-day bookkeeping including invoicing, bank reconciliation, payroll, and payment runs. Prepare annual budgets and provide quarterly updates on income and expenditure against targets. Manage the budget day-to-day and approve expenditure requests. Produce and review monthly management reporting. Monitor project budgets and provide analysis on restricted/unrestricted funding. Grant & Cash Management (20%) Ensure all grant income and expenditure is accurately logged and reconciled. Proactively manage cash flow to prevent shortfalls, and oversee debtor management. Lead on developing budgets and financial reports for grant applications and reports. Audit & Compliance (20%) Lead the annual audit process, liaise with external auditors and prepare schedules and documentation, and address audit findings. Implement robust financial controls, approval hierarchies, and compliance processes. Ensure compliance with charity and company accounting regulations and reporting requirements. Prepare statutory accounts in compliance with charity accounting standards and regulations for the Trustee Report. Manage monthly payroll and correspond with HMRC as necessary; ensure compliance with statutory pay rules (e.g. SMP) and benefits in kind. Manage VAT: prepare and submit quarterly VAT returns to HMRC, review VAT position, and ensure correct proportionate claiming. Process Improvement (10%) Drive initiatives to reduce manual effort through automation and process improvement. Proactively identify opportunities to strengthen finance operations for scale. You take our mission personally. That means fully committing even when the picture is incomplete, delivering value incrementally and urgently, and holding yourself - and others - to a high standard. You don't accept mediocre work, but you also don't faff around: you're biased towards action, and you know the difference between rigour and unnecessary process. You're self-aware, actively giving and receiving feedback to drive continuous improvement. You prioritise high-impact actions, confident in your strengths but also aware of your growth areas. You make decisions despite uncertainty, always keeping the mission front and centre. You're a subject matter expert but like to win as a team. That means collaborating effectively, pivoting quickly when the mission demands it, and staying laser-focused on what actually moves the needle. You thrive under pressure, lean into change, and bring optimism and curiosity to problems that don't have obvious solutions. In this role, you'll bring a pragmatic, low-bureaucracy approach to financial management. You'll implement efficient, scalable processes that enable sustainable growth without unnecessary complexity. With a sharp eye for detail and strong communication skills, you'll translate financial insights into actionable recommendations for the leadership team. Essential Qualified accountant with 4+ years of experience. Proven ownership of the full finance function - comfortable being the sole finance person. Strong experience managing grants-based funding - both restricted and unrestricted - including allocation, monitoring, and reporting: ideally £5m+ annual grant income. Experience preparing and leading an annual audit process. Solid understanding of VAT for charities, including quarterly returns and proportionate claiming Proven track record of delivering accurate, timely financial reporting and forecasting. Highly skilled with accounting software, financial modelling, and data analysis. Proactive communicator skilled at surfacing issues and opportunities early Strong relationship-builder able to translate financial concepts to non-finance audiences Structured and detail-oriented, but also flexible and solution-focused Comfortable working independently and managing projects end-to-end Energised

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