About Us
Evoke Care Group operates therapeutic children's residential homes together with associated recruitment, property and investment businesses.
The Group currently includes multiple companies operating across care, recruitment, property and charitable activities.
We are seeking an experienced, dependable and highly organised Group Finance & Accounts Manager to take ownership of the day-to-day finance administration across the Group.
This is a practical, hands-on role for someone who enjoys keeping finances organised, ensuring invoices are raised correctly, monitoring cashflow, collecting outstanding debt, managing payroll processes and making sure financial information is accurate and available when needed.
The role would suit an experienced finance professional looking for a stable long-term position rather than a corporate career ladder.
Working Arrangement
This role is primarily office-based from our Croydon Head Office.
You will work closely with the Managing Director, Head Office team, operational managers, HR, payroll providers, suppliers, local authority finance departments and external accountants.
Whilst some flexibility may be available after probation, applicants should expect office-based working as the normal arrangement.
Applicants seeking fully remote positions are unlikely to find this role suitable.
The Role
You will become the central point of contact for the Group's day-to-day financial administration.
External accountants will continue to prepare statutory accounts, corporation tax returns and compliance filings. Your role is to ensure the financial information they receive is accurate, complete and up to date.
You will own the day-to-day financial administration of the Group and help provide visibility of cashflow, outstanding debt, payroll liabilities, supplier payments and overall financial performance.
You will be expected to take ownership of finance tasks, follow up issues without being chased and ensure financial matters are progressed promptly and accurately.
Key ResponsibilitiesBilling & Invoicing
- Raise and monitor local authority invoices.
- Ensure placement fees, uplifts, additional staffing charges and one-off charges are invoiced correctly.
- Investigate and resolve invoice queries.
- Maintain accurate billing records.
- Ensure all income due to the Group is identified, invoiced and tracked.
Debtor Management & Credit Control
- Monitor outstanding debts across all Group companies.
- Chase overdue invoices by email and telephone.
- Liaise directly with local authority finance teams.
- Escalate aged debt concerns promptly.
- Maintain debtor reports and collection records.
- Support recovery of historic outstanding balances.
- Ensure management has clear visibility of debt recovery activity.
Cashflow & Financial Reporting
- Maintain weekly cashflow reports.
- Monitor expected income and upcoming liabilities.
- Highlight cashflow risks and concerns.
- Produce monthly finance reports for senior management.
- Maintain accurate forecasts of expected receipts and payments.
- Ensure financial information is available when required.
Payroll, Pensions & HMRC
- Take full responsibility for the payroll process from data collection through to submission and payment.
- Ensure all salary changes, overtime, deductions, holiday pay, sickness pay and statutory payments are processed accurately.
- Prepare, check and approve payroll information before submission to payroll providers.
- Act as the primary point of contact for payroll queries.
- Take responsibility for pension administration, submissions and contribution payments.
- Monitor PAYE, National Insurance, pension and statutory liabilities.
- Ensure all payroll-related payments are made accurately and on time.
- Investigate and resolve payroll discrepancies.
- Maintain payroll records and supporting documentation.
- Liaise with HR regarding starters, leavers, contractual changes and employee records.
- Ensure compliance with HMRC requirements and payroll legislation.
- Report any payroll, pension or HMRC risks immediately to senior management.
Accounts Administration
- Review and maintain bank reconciliations.
- Monitor supplier invoices and payment schedules.
- Prepare payment run summaries and payment schedules.
- Maintain organised financial records across all companies.
- Assist with month-end reporting.
- Maintain finance trackers and schedules.
- Ensure documentation is accurate and readily available.
Accountant Liaison
- Act as the main day-to-day contact for external accountants.
- Provide information required for year-end accounts and tax returns.
- Ensure financial records are maintained accurately throughout the year.
- Follow up outstanding actions and queries.
- Coordinate requests across the Group.
Process Improvement
- Identify inefficiencies, errors and risks.
- Improve financial processes and reporting.
- Help strengthen financial controls across the Group.
- Reduce reliance on manual systems where practical.
- Support continuous improvement initiatives.
Essential Experience
- Previous experience in a finance, accounts, bookkeeping, payroll or management accounts role.
- Experience managing invoicing, debtors and reconciliations.
- Payroll administration experience.
- Experience working with pensions and HMRC obligations.
- Strong understanding of bookkeeping principles.
- Experience using Xero
- Excellent Excel skills.
- Strong organisational and administrative skills.
- Ability to work independently and take ownership.
- Good written and verbal communication skills.
Desirable Experience
- Care sector experience.
- Children's residential care experience.
- Local authority invoicing experience.
- Multi-company finance experience.
- Property company accounting experience.
- Recruitment company accounting experience.
- AAT qualified or qualified by experience.
- Experience dealing with external accountants.
We Are Looking For Someone Who
- Takes pride in accuracy.
- Is organised and methodical.
- Is comfortable chasing overdue payments.
- Notices problems before they become expensive.
- Can communicate confidently with suppliers, local authorities and accountants.
- Is dependable and enjoys being the person who keeps things running smoothly.
- Is proactive rather than reactive.
- Takes ownership of problems and follows them through to completion.
- Wants a stable, long-term position within a growing organisation.
What Success Looks Like
Within six months you will have:
- Improved visibility of cashflow across the Group.
- Improved collection of outstanding debts.
- Reduced billing errors and delays.
- Improved payroll accuracy and controls.
- Improved financial reporting.
- Strengthened finance processes.
- Better organisation of financial records.
- Become the trusted day-to-day owner of the Group's finances.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: £30,000.00-£38,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Additional leave
- Flexitime
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Croydon CR0 1LE: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Application question(s):
- How will you be travelling to work e.g. car, bus, train?
- Are you eligible to work 40 hours without visa sponsorship?
- Are you currently working, if so, what is your notice period?
- What is your location/postcode?
- The role is fully office-based. Would you be happy working from the office on a full-time basis?
Education:
Work Location: In person
