Founded in 1922, the West Highland Museum is one of the oldest museums in the Highlands. Based in the heart of Fort William, we care for collections of national and international importance, including Jacobite material, Gaelic cultural collections, archaeology, local history, archives, textiles, and objects connected to the Commandos in Lochaber during the Second World War.
The museum has continued to thrive over the last century, attracting more visitors and increasing its engagement with the local community through learning and outreach programmes. However, the current building is now too small for the growing collection and no longer fit-for-purpose in its current state. There is both the need, and the opportunity, to develop our buildings and secure a stronger and more long-term future.
We have recently embarked on a £7 million redevelopment project to secure the future of the unique collection and create a fully accessible, modern museum. The project will provide us with a fully accessible space that is twice the size of our current museum. It will enable a re-interpretation of the collection displays; proper storage of, and access to, the collection alongside a library and research space; plus a flexible space for learning and engagement activities. And during the capital period we will further develop our nascent plans for an exciting and viable business model going forward, post-development.
Earlier, in 2026, we were successful with our funding bid for £2.7 million to National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF), and we have also raised more than £1.75 million of the remaining target to date.
We are looking for a talented, motivated and proactive Finance Manager to join us at an exciting point in our journey as we transform the Museum through a £7m redevelopment project and secure the future of one of the Highlands’ most important heritage collections. You will be a trusted partner to budget holders and colleagues across the museum.
The Finance Manager will support the whole organisation to strengthen its financial ways of working during a time of change. You will also manage and develop the role of Administrator.
This role offers a unique opportunity to play a central part in strengthening our financial resilience: planning, forecasting and understanding our financial performance, helping us anticipate risks, identify opportunities and make the best possible use of our funds.
The museum is a company limited by guarantee and a registered charity. Additionally, it has a wholly owned Trading subsidiary company
This is a great opportunity to make your mark and share your vision on how we run our finance function.
Key Responsibilities
Budgeting and forecasting:
- Set realistic income targets and financial milestones in partnership with the team and prepare annual budgets for approval by the Board.
- Provide the Executive Committee with regular forecasts of expected changes to budgets as part of the management accounts process throughout the year.
- Support longer term business planning with the development of longer-term financial forecasts in partnership with the team.
Financial management, reporting and control
- Prepare monthly management accounts for internal use and quarterly management accounts for the full Board.
- Ensure that regular VAT claims under S33 are submitted, and with support from the administrator
- Ensure that regular Gift Aid claims are submitted, and with support from the administrator
- Prepare cash-flow reports and financial risk analysis as necessary.
- Prepare annual accounts and backing papers, ready for auditing, and oversee the audit process.
- Prepare, with input from auditors, annual submissions for Museum and Theatre Tax Relief, where applicable.
Project financial management and reporting – capital development and other projects
- Prepare the regular submissions for retrospective funding as required by NLHF, and with support from the administrator.
- Coordinate with the museum’s chair and freelance fundraiser to ensure that expected funding is received and correctly allocated to capital development, if restricted.
- Work with the Executive Committee on a plan to manage the final payment from NLHF, re cashflow.
- Support members of the team apply for other restricted project funding, as required.
- Ensure that all restricted project funds and their spend are tracked successfully and are properly accounted for in the annual financial statements.
Management
- Oversee the financial work of the Administrator and support the development of the role, to include improved processes that better support the recent increase of financial activity and enable book-keeping data to be accurate and up to date.
- Lead on the financial management of the museum’s activities with the whole team, to include improved processes, adherence to approved budgets, the securing of income targets and the collective responsibility for the museum’s financial sustainability.
- Support the Treasurer and advise senior members of the Executive Management Committee/ Board on financial strategy, risk management, and sustainability.
- Oversee compliance with relevant UK legislation and guidance with regard to company and charity finances e.g. SORP, PAYE, VAT S33 claims, Museum and Exhibition Tax Relief
- Contribute to the organisational culture of the museum, supporting the whole team to thrive and flourish in a way that is inclusive and relevant to the communities it serves.
Person Specification
Desirable Skills
- An appropriate level of financial training and Accounting qualifications.
- A strong command of accounting packages (such as Xero, QuickBooks) and intermediate/advanced Excel.
- A minimum of two years of working in a similar charitable environment at a senior financial level.
- Knowledge of charity specific financial guidelines such as SORP, s33 VAT claims, gift aid, tax relief schemes.
- Experience of budgeting and tracking the finances for a charitable organisation that encompasses core activities alongside large-scale projects.
- Ability to analyse financial information and present this in a suitable format dependant on audience.
- Ability to manage your own time, workload, tasks, and work to deadlines.
- Ability to prioritise tasks, where necessary, and communicate the reasons behind your approach clearly.
- Experience of motivating and managing staff and developing their financial skills.
Personal Attributes
- A proactive, approachable mindset, with a passion for enabling others to understand the impacts of financial decision making.
- A love of financial data and how it can communicate.
- Ability to communicate clearly, enthusiastically and positively with people with a range of lived experience.
- A willingness to embrace change.
- A confident and highly organised working approach to planning and delivery.
- An interest in heritage and how museums can provide inspiration, learning and enjoyment for all.
- A passion for place – particularly, the Lochaber region of Scotland.
- A strong commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
What working with us will be like
We have a small staff team, an active board of directors, and regular volunteers who support us keep the museum open. The museum is our hub, though current office space is very small and cannot accommodate all the staff simultaneously. Remote working is also part of our practice. Our approach to working culture is focused on actions and collective needs. Meetings are scheduled to account for both flexible and part-time working as well as caring responsibilities. We commit to listening, learning, implementing actions and collaborating to ensure we are inclusive at every level – from the way in which we work as a team, to the stories represented by our collection, and to the people who experience them. Formal and informal training will be offered – aligned to your specific needs.
How to Apply
If you think you are a good fit for the role, please send us
A covering letter of no more than two sides of A4 explaining why you are a good fit for the role and how you would approach the responsibilities.
A current CV telling us about your work experience to date - this should give us a sense of how your previous experience make you a good fit for this role.
The names and contact details for two referees including one from a current or prior employer - if you do not have a recent employer, please give us a referee who can offer to give an independent assessment of your skills
Responses should be submitted via email to [email protected]
Once we receive your application we will send an email with an Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Monitoring Form. This is separated from your application and will not be used in our assessment - it is so that we can judge how we are doing in our commitment to inclusive recruitment.
Shortlisted candidates will be notified by 4 September. Interviews for shortlisted candidates will be held either face to face or by video-call. Please inform us if you need any additional support for the video-call interview if selected
Privacy
The information you supply on the application form will be kept securely and will remain confidential. We will not retain this or any other personal information beyond the duration of the application process
Pay: £40,000.00 per year
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Fort William PH33 6AJ
