Management Accountant

CAT is seeking a Management Accountant to work closely with Director of Finance and Operations and Co-CEO to monitor, maintain and take forward the development of CAT’s finance systems and controls.

About CAT

The Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) is an internationally renowned environmental charity, a world-leading eco centre, and one of the foremost providers of postgraduate environmental education in the UK, based near Machynlleth in Mid Wales.

CAT provides inspiration, education and training in solutions to the climate and biodiversity emergency.

Key activities include a visitor centre where groups can see solutions in action, residential short courses, vocational training and postgraduate degrees in a wide range of sustainability-related topics, with online courses and events offered alongside in-person learning.

Job Details:

Reference: MAOF250114
Area of responsibility: Finance, Statutory accounts and Audit, & Management Information
Responsible to: Director of Finance & Operations (DOFO) and/or Co-CEO
Responsible for: Finance Manager & Team, including shared responsibility for Student Finance
Contract type: Permanent
Location: Flexible with regular visits to the CAT eco centre near Machynlleth
Hours: Full-time: 37.5 hours per week
Working Days: Usually Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Occasional weekend and evening working.
Closing date for applications: 9am 13 February 2025
Interviews to be held: 21 February 2025 (on site)
Expected start date: As soon as possible

Salary and employee benefits:

£35,898 p.a.

CAT offers a generous annual leave allowance of 25 days p.a., plus bank holidays (usually 7-10 days), plus additional allowance at Christmas (usually 3 days), plus 1 extra day for every year worked (up to 5 days).

CAT also offers an attractive package of employee benefits, including:

A free cooked lunch and free hot drinks from the café whenever working from the CAT eco centre
40% discount on retail goods purchased from CAT
Opportunities for CPD training, qualifications & professional memberships to be funded by CAT
Opportunity to take 2 CAT short courses per year free-of-charge
The opportunity to purchase additional holiday days
A ‘Cycle to Work’ scheme (planned)
5% pension contribution
Generous maternity and paternity entitlement and Death In Service benefit
2 hours per month for general health & wellbeing & 2 hours per month for Welsh language tuition.

Overview of the Role

The role is a key part of the finance team at CAT as the organisation grows and looks to plan for the future. It reports to the Director of Finance & Operations and/or Co-CEO with line management responsibilities for the Finance Manager and finance team.

Key areas of the role will include: working with the DOFO in the development of management information and reporting; production of monthly reports for the senior management team (SMT); production of reports for the Board of Trustees; forecasting and budgeting; setting targets; expanding the use and efficiency of our accounts software, including integration with other systems, preparation and submission of quarterly VAT returns and supervision of the production of our monthly payroll.

The role includes line management responsibilities for the finance team and shared line management responsibilities for the student finance team.

The role reports to the Director of Finance & Operations and/or the CEO, and will involve working closely with them to monitor, maintain and take forward the development of CAT’s finance systems and controls.

In addition, the role includes working with the finance team to produce the annual statutory accounts, preparing for our annual audit, and liaising with the auditors over their work, ensuring that all reporting deadlines (internal & external) are met.

This role is ideally suited to someone who would like to use their accountancy skills and experience as part of a dedicated team working together on solutions to the climate and biodiversity emergency.

The ideal candidate will have 2-3 years’ post-qualification experience in a similar role in a charity or other not-for-profit organisation and have strong IT, oral and written communication skills.

Main Responsibilities

Area 1: Management Information

Line management of the finance team
Monitoring of bookkeeping and accounting systems to ensure the timely and accurate production of information
Production of monthly management reports
Assisting with production of KPIs
Assisting with the production and interpretation of variance reports
Assisting with the interpretation of financial and management information including identifying key trends
Assisting with the development and enhancement of management reports
Assisting the DOFO with the production of reports for the Board of Trustees

Area 2: Systems & Controls

Ensuring that accounting systems and controls are operating efficiently and adhered to
Assisting with the development and enhancement of accounting systems and controls
Assisting with the enforcement and ongoing development of our finance regulations

Area 3: Payroll

Ensuring that the monthly payroll is prepared accurately and on time
Ensuring that PAYE/NI returns and payments are made correctly and on time

Area 4: VAT

Preparation of the quarterly VAT returns
Ensuring the accurate and timely submission of VAT returns
Ensuring that timely payments of any VAT due to HMRC
Dealing with ad hoc queries around VAT compliance at CAT

Area 5: Forecasting

Assisting the DOFO with the periodic production and updating of financial forecasts
Assisting the DOFO with the production of commentaries on the forecasts

Area 6: Budgeting & Target Setting

Production of annual budgets for the organisation and individual departments, liaising with departmental managers to ensure budgets are realistic and understood
Monitoring of budgets during the year
Reporting on variances
Reviewing the proposed use of our accounts software for recording and reporting on budgets
Setting departmental targets
Monitoring and reporting on actual figures against targets

Area 7: Student Finance

Assisting in managing and controlling the aspects of the Student Finance Team roles that directly relate to CAT’s finances & accounting
Liaising with the Student Support Team and the wider Graduate School, in relation to finance matters

Area 8: Other Responsibilities

Ad hoc assignments relating to financial matters
Dealing with taxation matters that may arise to ensure that CAT remains compliant with all statutory requirements
Assisting with any compliance visits such as HMRC, VAT and PAYE inspections.
Assisting the DOFO in relation to CAT’s banking arrangements.
Attending meetings across CAT to discuss finance matters and assist with planning
Other duties that might reasonably be requested relating to, but not necessarily limited to, financial and accounting matters.

To learn more about the role download the full job description:

Applications should be forwarded to vacancy@cat.org.uk by the deadline stating the job title in the Subject line.

Any queries should be addressed to vacancy@cat.org.uk

Applications are required, CVs will not be accepted.

Job description: Management Accountant

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