The opportunity has arisen for a Finance Manager to join our client’s Finance Team. It is a permanent role working with the Edinburgh International Festival in the city centre of Edinburgh. Interviews to take place on the 26/11/2019.

The Role

Key responsibilities of the role include but are not limited to:

Financial Transactions

• Responsible for the day to day running of the operational Finance Department
• Manage the processing of all financial transactions for Edinburgh International Festival and trading subsidiary (The Hub), including purchase and sales invoices, bank transactions, company credit card programme and employee expenses
• Ensure the Finance team process contractual payments for performing artists in a timely manner
• During periods of peak workload there may be a requirement to assist the finance team with the processing of financial transactions

Management Accounting

• Produce monthly management accounts for Edinburgh International Festival and for The Hub within 10 working days of the month end
• Produce weekly P&L for The Hub catering operation
• Ensure that all month-end bank and balance sheet reconciliations are properly carried out and fully documented
• Ensure that strong internal controls are in place and being adhered to and advise the Finance Director of desirable improvements to the control system
• Ensure that intercompany transactions are correctly transferred, with appropriate authorisation and with regard to appropriate transfer pricing of goods and services received

Cash Management

• Ensure that good systems are in place for timely receipt and recording of income due and that these systems are correctly operated for the Festival and for The Hub
• Ensure that credit control procedures are properly managed and applied
• Assist the Head of Events with monitoring of stock
• Assisting the Head of Ticketing with agency sales settlements and reconciliation of client funds

Budgeting

• Assist with the preparation of annual budgets and forecasts for The Hub, working with budget-holders to ensure that budgetary information is as complete and accurate as possible.
• Carry out regular review meetings with Hub budget holders

Payroll

• Ensure that salaries and wages of employees of EIF and of The Hub are paid correctly and on time
• Liaise with the HR & Payroll Manager (who will normally process the payroll) to ensure that information about payments to be made will be available when needed
• Arrange back-up from amongst the Finance Team to cover for the HR & Payroll Manager in respect of payroll processing
• With the HR & Payroll Manager ensure that all legally required records of pay, tax, NI, etc are maintained and that all returns required by HMRC and other authorities are appropriately filed
• Ensure that staff expenses are properly submitted with reasons for valid business expenses and receipts provided, and with line manager authorisation to enable timely payment to staff

Financial & Statutory Accounting

• Assist the Finance Director and Head of Finance in the preparation of draft year-end financial statements for the Society and its subsidiaries for audit
• Assist the Finance Director in producing all supporting documentation for the auditors on time and in a format to maximise the efficiency of the audit and keep costs within budget
• Prepare statutory and regulatory financial returns on time for approval by the Finance Director (e.g. VAT returns, Corporation Tax calculations, Foreign Entertainers Unit applications and returns, charity and statistical returns)

Line Management 

• Manage the members of the Finance Team to ensure all accounting information is produced on time
• Review the performance of staff in the Finance Team, identifying and arranging training and career development, as appropriate
• Operate safely in the workplace, observing Health and Safety Regulations and ensure that the staff of the Finance Team do likewise
• Participate in the training to be undertaken by accounting staff on accounting software to ensure best use of the current and any potential new accounting system
• Implement within the Finance Team, the Society’s practices and defined policies regarding equal opportunities, administrative procedures, internal communications and staff development

General Issues

The post-holder will:

• be expected to work closely with the Finance Director to ensure that the accounting information needs of budget holders, Trustees and public stakeholders are fully met
• be party to sensitive information - thus confidentiality is of paramount importance in this post
• be a bank signatory, subject to Board of Trustee approval
• be required to carry out other duties as requested by the Finance Director
• need to organise their own work schedule and the schedules of the finance staff
• build effective relationships with colleagues and key external contacts
• keep abreast of developments in best accounting practice and changes in legislation and regulations relevant to finance of charities and arts organisations

Candidate Requirements

• Good working knowledge of a recognised accounting software package (Sage preferred)
• Working towards a recognised accountancy qualification
• Experience of preparation of monthly management accounts
• Experience of general office software (e.g. Excel & Word packages)
• Experience of monitoring budgets
• Experience of preparing VAT and other statutory financial returns
• Experience of working in an environment where confidentiality is essential
• Experience of managing staff (2 years or equivalent)

Desirable

• A recognised accountancy qualification
• Experience of preparation of annual financial statements
• Experience of financial management in the context of a charity and a commercial trading subsidiary
• Experience of preparing and monitoring budgets
• Knowledge of foreign currency purchases and transactions
• Experience of stock management and control (food & beverage)

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