Interim Finance Manager

Interim Finance Manager | £375-£450 per day | Heritage / Charity Organisation | 6 month contract (potential temp to perm) | 2-3 days in Stratford-upon-Avon office

This Interim Finance Manager is an exciting opportunity to join a high-profile heritage and charity organisation on an initial 6-month contract. This role will suit a technically strong finance professional who can provide high-quality statutory and management financial information, while also leading several important finance projects across the organisation and its trading operations.

The role will be based in Stratford-upon-Avon 2-3 days per week FTE, with flexibility around full-time or part-time hours, ideally 3-5 days per week. The organisation is offering a day rate of £400-£450 per day.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead a review of the organisation's VAT status, working alongside external specialists and managing the project through to completion
  * Support an application for Museum and Galleries Exhibition Tax Relief, coordinating the financial information and wider input required
  * Prepare and support business cases for key strategic projects, including new holiday lets and the potential disposal of investment properties
  * Manage budgeting, forecasting and financial reporting to ensure the organisation remains financially sustainable and aligned with strategic goals
  * Provide clear financial updates, performance insights and proactive financial management reports for senior management, trustees and external auditors
  * Monitor operational costs, analyse variances and identify opportunities to improve efficiency and profitability
  * Support accurate reporting and reconciliation across multiple income streams, including ticket sales, retail, catering and fundraising
  * Provide professional finance advice to budget holders and colleagues across the charity and its trading operations
  * Line manage and support members of the finance team, ensuring strong controls, timely reporting and excellent internal customer service

Person Specification

• Qualified accountant, ideally ACCA, ACA, CIMA, CIPFA or equivalent, although strong qualified-by-experience candidates will also be considered
  * Experience of working in the charity/heritage sector will be very useful, not essential though
  * Strong technical accounting knowledge, with experience of UK accounting standards in a charity setting
  * Experience of managing finance projects, working with external advisers and delivering clear outputs to deadlines
  * Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to explain financial information clearly to non-finance colleagues
  * Experience of managing or developing a small finance team
  * Highly IT literate, with strong Excel skills and experience using finance systems and reporting tools
  * Experience of a retail trading subsidiary, Xledger or finance systems improvement would be desirable
  * Organised, collaborative and proactive, with a practical "can do" approach

This is a fantastic interim opportunity for a Finance Manager who enjoys combining hands-on operational finance with high-value project work. The organisation has a strong purpose, a complex and interesting financial environment, and several important projects that need an experienced finance professional to take ownership quickly. This role has the potential to go permanent following the contract too.

Candidates should be available at short notice. Please apply now!