Finance Manager

We have a fantastic opportunity for a Finance & HR Manager to join our team. The role will report into the organisation's Finance Director and take on ownership for the day to financial management of the organisation. It's an exciting opportunity within an Ofsted Outstanding organisation which has a clear mission to make a real difference in the life prospects of vulnerable children.

Position: Finance Manager

Location: Wallington, London Borough of Sutton. Scope for hybrid role but will need to be in the office 4 days per week minimum.

Salary: GBP48,000 – GBP60,000; pro–rata and depending on experience,

Hours: Full or Part–time – working 30 to 37.5 hours per week

Closing Date: Monday 26th October 2026

About Ascent Children's Services

Ascent Children's Services operates 2 business units both with the same high quality ethos and excellent relationships with Local Authorities and Ofsted:

• Ascent Fostering Agency which supports 40 therapeutic foster families and children in their care in South London
• Ascent Family Homes which operates two residential children's home: one for boys and one for girls.

A Value Based Organisation

We are committed to making Ascent a great place to work and we are underpinned by a strong value based culture. This value based approach is reflected by an Investors in People PLATINUM award.

The Role

Ascent is recruiting an experienced and highly personable finance professional to underpin the ongoing growth of the organisation. We are looking for someone with excellent finance and IT skills, a high level of attention to detail, strong communication and a passion to support the work that we do.

Some of your key responsibilities will include:

• Maintaining and reconciling our accounting records which are held in Xero.
• Preparing and presenting monthly management accounts for the senior team. This includes preparing income statements with variance analysis, balance sheet and cash flow forecasts.
• Management of the payrolls for approximately 70 staff in the organisation including pensions and HMRC contributions and Private Medical Insurance. This involves ensuring accurate information is captured and there are processes in place to capture shift patterns, overtime, absence, maternity etc. You will also manage the relationship with our payroll bureau ensuring it is effective and closely monitored.
• Cash flow management including overseeing credit control with Local Authorities.
• Monthly balance sheet and bank reconciliations.
• Supporting the Business Unit Directors (Fostering and Residential) with cost control and payroll management.
• Acting as first line contact in managing our billing for utilities, telephone, insurance bills, rates etc.
• Fixed asset register management.
• Year end accounts and corporation tax filings. Working with the Finance Director and our external accountants to provide final management accounts and support reconciliation to any final statutory accounts.
• Acting as the key point of contact for HR (which is outsourced). This includes:
• Preparing contracts and correspondence and issuing to colleagues to ensure new colleagues are onboarded appropriately and changes or variations to contracts are documented and communicated.
• working with the Business Unit Directors to ensure holiday and absence management is in place and key documents are held on file.
• Liaising with Citation regarding employment law queries, handbook updates, and contract amendments.
• Administering apprentice programme for those workers on training schemes

• Co–ordinating annual budgeting and 6 monthly reforecasting for the organisation. This involves working with the Finance Director and senior team and co–ordinating the budget/reforecast at line level for monthly reporting.
• Adhoc analysis and reports are prepared for senior management including reporting of KPIs related outcomes for children and placement stability, carer training and compliance.
• Line management of a part qualified Assistant Accountant who will support your role

About You:

• You will have a relevant accounting background and/or qualification with an excellent understanding of, and experience of, financial management.
• You will have experience of managing all aspects of finance including payroll and management accounting.
• You will have a good working understanding of the basic requirements of HR.

Other essential skills/experience include:

• Organised with a high level of attention to detail.
• Experience working with cloud based financial recording software such as Xero
• Track record of overseeing finance and managing budgets
• Forward thinker who is adept with systems and keen to utilise accounting technologies where we can such as Pleo expense management or Rotacloud integrating time sheet software.
• An excellent communicator with strong interpersonal skills
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Excel

The successful candidate will be required to undergo an enhanced DBS check

Other roles you may have experience of could include; Charity Finance Manager, Head of Finance, Finance Team Leader, Finance Analyst, Senior Finance Manager, Interim Finance Manager, Financial Accounting Manager, Finance Manger etc.

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