Job Summary
At the School for Social Entrepreneurs, finance isn't a back-office function — it's how we turn funding into impact. Every pound we manage helps people with entrepreneurial ideas tackle poverty, inequality and climate change in their communities.
Our finance team is small, hands-on and genuinely owns its work end to end.
We're looking for a senior finance business partner to lead budgeting and forecasting for our programmes, spot the risks and opportunities in the numbers, and help colleagues make confident, well-informed decisions.
You'll be a qualified or part-qualified accountant (CIMA, ACCA or ACA) with business partnering experience, sharp analytical skills, and a knack for making complex finance make sense to non-finance colleagues.
This role offers an engaging environment where your expertise will directly impact organisational success through innovative financial strategies and insights. We welcome candidates who are eager to contribute their skills within a forward-thinking organisation committed to excellence in finance management.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Financial Planning
- The Senior Finance Business Partner serves as the primary finance point of contact for teams across SSE, working closely with the Collaboration Manager to provide financial insight, support decision-making, and ensure effective planning, reporting, and performance management.
- Work closely with programme managers to develop and execute financial strategies aligned with the SSE’s objectives
- Provide insights into key financial drivers, risks, and opportunities to drive informed decision making.
Budget & Forecasting
- Lead the budgeting and forecasting processes for programmes, ensuring financial plans are accurate, robust, and aligned with organisational priorities and strategic objectives.
- Partner with Programme Managers, the Collaboration Manager, and budget holders to develop, monitor, and review programme budgets, providing challenge, support, and financial insight to achieve agreed outcomes.
- Monitor programme expenditure and performance against approved budgets and forecasts, identifying variances, risks, and opportunities, and recommending appropriate corrective actions.
- Prepare, update, and upload programme forecasts into Business Central, ensuring financial information is accurate, complete, and submitted in line with reporting deadlines.
Financial Analysis & Reporting
- Conduct detailed financial analysis of programme budgets, forecasts, expenditure, and benefits to identify trends, variances, risks, and opportunities, supporting effective programme delivery, value for money, and benefits realisation.
- Present financial insights, risks, and recommendations to Programme Boards and senior stakeholders, enabling informed decision-making, effective financial governance, and timely corrective action where required.
- Support the Head of Finance in the annual audit process, ensuring the timely preparation of financial information, audit evidence, and responses to internal and external audit queries.
Business Partnering
- Serve as a trusted advisor across all programmes, fostering strong relationships and understanding their unique financial needs.
- Collaborate with various departments to provide financial guidance and support on strategic initiatives.
- Ensuring that all financial reporting / requests for information from SSE’s funders are produced to a high standard and are completed within the relevant timeframes.
- Support project managers in managing their budget; providing support and advice and timely financial information.
- Support colleagues with their understanding of finance.
Performance Monitoring
- Support the Head of Finance to monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and financial metrics to assess business performance.
- Implement proactive measures to address deviations from financial targets
- Fulfil other duties/ deputise for Head of Finance as requested
Other Duties
- Be responsible for the accurate coding of invoices for grants.
- Assist with the formulation and implementation of policies and procedures relating to the finance of the charity.
- Assist with the production of financial plans and other such financial information as deemed required to manage the charity.
Key Relationships
The Senior Finance Business Partners serve as the primary finance point of contact for teams across SSE, working closely with the Collaboration Manager to provide financial insight, support decision-making, and ensure effective planning, reporting, and performance management. The post reports to the Head of Finance and collaborates closely with other Finance colleagues for consolidated reporting and coordinates with transactional processing team members to ensure accuracy of financial data.
Essential
- Qualified or part-qualified accountant (CIMA, ACCA or ACA)
- Experience working as a senior finance business partner (ideally in the charity sector)
- Strong understanding of financial principles, accounting standards, and SORP requirements (including recent SORP 2026 changes).
- Experience of working with electronic finance systems Ability to work independently and take initiative
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with a keen attention to detail
- Excellent numeracy and advanced Microsoft Excel skills
- Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to convey complex financial information to non-finance stakeholders
- Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
- Proven ability to influence decision-making at senior levels of an organisation
- Proficiency in financial modelling and analysis tools
Desirable
- Experience working with Microsoft Dynamics 365 systems and Business Central
- Familiarity with Salesforce CRM or similar platforms
- Previous experience in a charitable organisation and knowledge of charity accounting
- An understanding of SSE and the philosophy underpinning our work and the sector
- An understanding of good financial management and the importance of care and accuracy
- An understanding of financial reporting.
Please note, the FTE for this role is from £51,482 - pro-rated for 21 hours worked per week
Pay: From £30,889.00 per year
Benefits:
- Bereavement leave
- Company pension
- Cycle to work scheme
- Enhanced maternity leave
- Sick pay
- Work from home
Work Location: Remote
