Finance Director

Blender Foundation; Gloucester; Hybrid; GBP 50,000

Job description

Location: Robinswood Hill Country Park, GL4 6SX Hybrid working

Salary: £50,000 per annum + Excellent Benefits including a pension of up to 6%

Contract: Full-time, Permanent 35 hours per week

Benefits: Contributory Pension Scheme, 25 days paid leave per year (rising to 30 days through long service), Christmas shutdown (3 days) + Bank Holidays

We are Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust. We are a charity that work locally to deliver the natural solutions, both small and large, from doorstep to landscape, that grow hope for a wilder future.

Our mission is to reconnect peoples sense of belonging in the natural world and secure natures recovery with the people of Gloucestershire, including our 28,000 members.

We manage reserves, work with landowners to help wildlife thrive alongside food production, deliver landscape-scale projects, and connect thousands of people with nature through learning, engagement and our visitor centres.

Ready to take the next step in your career?

Were looking for an ambitious finance professional ready to step into a senior leadership role. If youre currently a Finance Business Partner, Financial Controller, or in a similar role and eager to broaden your experience, this could be the perfect opportunity to develop into a Senior Finance Management position.

Youll oversee and optimise our finance and resource planning functions, ensuring financial stability and strategic resource allocation. This role is critical in supporting our long-term ambitions and will give you exposure to senior decision-making, governance, and strategic planning.

What Youll Be Doing

1. Leading and developing the Finance & Resource Planning team.
2. Developing and implementing our finance strategy with a long-term approach.
3. Providing strategic financial guidance and ensuring sound resource management.
4. Ensuring compliance with statutory and regulatory financial requirements.
5. Overseeing budget preparation, monthly management accounts and forecasts, managing financial reserves.
6. Supporting the Trustees, CEO, and Senior Management Team with financial forecasting and performance analysis.
7. Overseeing financial aspects of GWTs project portfolio and ensuring robust funding plans.
8. Ensuring timely and accurate grant claim management and compliance with funder requirements.
9. Identifying and maximising green finance opportunities and blended income models.
10. Acting as a Director on the Board of Gloucestershire Wildlife Enterprises.
11. Managing relationships with external service providers including auditors, legal advisors, banks, pension providers, and insurance firms.
12. Overseeing payroll, pensions, PAYE/NI processing, and regulatory financial reporting.

What Were Looking For

1. A Qualified Accountant (CCAB or CIMA) with a Bachelors degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience.
2. Experience working within the charity sector, with good knowledge of charity accounting and understanding of preparing SORP compliant statutory accounts.
3. Strong analytical skills, with the ability to extract key insights from financial data.
4. Experience in budgeting, forecasting, VAT, risk management, and resource allocation.
5. A strategic mindset with experience working in a small-to-medium organisation (£4m+ turnover).
6. Familiarity with fundraising compliance (desirable but not essential).
7. Strong stakeholder management, with the ability to engage senior leadership and non-financial budget holders.

It Would Be Great If You Also Had

1. Project or Programme Management experience or qualifications.
2. Knowledge of grant and trust fundraising.
3. Exposure to X Ledger or similar financial software.

Why Join Us?

This is an incredible opportunity to step into a senior leadership role and shape the financial future of a leading conservation charity. Youll work in a purpose-driven environment, gain strategic leadership experience, and help deliver impactful projects that make a real difference.

We are committed to equal opportunities and value diversity in our workforce. If you have the skills, ambition, and passion to step up into this role, wed love to hear from you.

Apply today and take the next step in your career!

No agencies please.