Interim Finance Manager

Job Summary

Salary: circa £43,000 per annum

The Interim Finance Manager is a key member of the Finance team so we are looking for a hardworking and supportive team player who has a passion for our mission and for figures to join us on a fixed-term contract until the end of May 2026. The Finance Manager joins War Child at an exciting time, as we are growing and will therefore be expected to work on projects to ensure that the right changes are made line with the growth of our organisation.

The Interim Finance Manager is expected to support the Senior Finance Manager and Finance & IT Director in the continued development and implementation of War Child’s overriding financial management and reporting framework and financial policies. You will be supporting the Senior Finance Manager to ensure the completeness and accuracy of financial information in UK

The Interim Finance Manager will also play a pivotal role in supporting with projects such as updating our month end processes and management accounts reporting and supporting with changes to our payments process. We’re looking for someone to start as soon as possible.

If you share our values and believe that children’s lives should not be torn apart by war, we want to hear from you.

Your Role

This role is central to the smooth operation of War Child’s day to day UK financial processing and reporting during a period of exceptional growth. You will be expected to support the Senior Finance Manager and Finance & IT Director in the continued development and implementation of War Child’s overriding financial management and reporting framework and financial policies.

Your Responsibilities

• Finance adviser to War Child employees, providing timely, accurate and solution-focused advice on financial queries, proactively identifying common issues and implementing guidance or training to address these
• Accountable for the preparation and posting of monthly journals in accordance with the month end timetable ensuring accuracy, completeness and alignment with financial policies with minimal supervision
• Assist the Senior Finance Manager in the timely preparation of high-quality monthly management accounts proactively identifying and investigating variances with minimal supervision and contributing to continuous improvement of reporting processes.
• Oversee the management accounts for the central support functions and serve as the primary business partner for these directorates developing strong relationships with budget holders and providing insightful financial analysis and guidance to support effective decision making.
• Monthly income processing and reconciliation and working in partnership with the data team to proactively resolve any reconciliation issues and improve reconciliation processes and controls
• Support the Senior Finance Manager to improve the organisational approach to coding and maintain alignment between the data team and the finance team
• Maintain records on restricted funding to ensure we are able to effectively track our restricted funding expenditure
• Coordinating the balance sheet reconciliation process and oversee the reconciliations for the areas you are responsible for using initiative to problem solve and find solutions as needed (fixed assets, Income control accounts, creditors, salary control accounts, intercompany etc.)
• Lead on monthly Bank reconciliations, ensuring they are completed accurately and any discrepancies are swiftly investigated and resolved.
• Management and maintenance of Fixed Asset register, ensuring all capitalisation, depreciation, and disposals are processed accurately and in line with policy.
• Processing BACS payments to suppliers, staff members for expenses claims and overseas countries for our operations and ensuring payments made are in line with our policies
• Compile VAT returns for the Senior Finance manager to review and sign off
• Performing other tasks delegated by the Senior Finance Manager and Finance and IT Director including process improvement initiatives
• Provide support to the Finance Assistant as required.
• Contribute to creating a culture committed to the safeguarding of children and adults and compliant to War Child’s Safeguarding and PSEAH (Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Abuse & Harassment) Policies.  
• We are committed to building an inclusive and equitable workplace. All staff are expected to actively contribute to this by embedding principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging into their day-to-day work, decision-making, and interactions with colleagues, partners, and supporters.

During your contract you will be involved in some specific projects

• Updating the fixed asset register and the relevant accounting procedures.
• Optimising month end processes to reduce processing time.
• Supporting the Director of Finance and IT and Finance Assistant to update the payments processes.
• Lead audit contact for submitting files on the audit portal and coordinating queries
• Updating the War Child finance manual and developing and delivering training to War Child employees.

You Are

• Significant relevant experience in finance roles and able to evidence management accounting and reconciliation experience.
• AAT qualified or part-qualified accountant
• Experienced in a similar finance role, ideally within an international development charity or similar not-for-profit.
• Familiar with a range of computerised accounts packages (Unit 4 /Agresso would be an advantage)
• A highly experienced and competent user of MS Excel and other MS Office packages.
• Committed to ensuring financial management best practice.
• Strong interpersonal and communications skills including the ability to work with individuals from different cultures.
• Proactive, willing and able to take the initiative on a regular basis.
• Problem solving approach and able to contribute towards a culture of continuous improvement.
• Good organisational skills with the ability to plan ahead, to work well under pressure and manage priorities to meet deadlines in a changing and challenging environment whilst making effective decisions.
• Flexible and willing to support others at times when particular organisational priorities take precedence.
• Ability to collaborate and form effective partnerships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Commitment to War Child’s aims, values and mission
• Knowledge or VAT rules and how this impact charities operating in the UK (desirable).
• Understanding of Charities SORP (desirable)

About Us

Our Values

• Bold: We use our passion and creativity to deliver high quality evidence-based work designed to maximise our beneficial impact for children in conflict.
• Accountable to children: Children can rely on us to respond to their voices and to treat them with respect and dignity.
• Anti-racism: Anti-racism is not merely a belief. It includes actions that we mainstream throughout our work to change and challenge policies and behaviours that perpetuate racism.
• Transparent: We expect to be held to account by our supporters and participants and we respond with openness and honesty.
• Supportive of each other: We support each other to achieve ambitious goals and be the best we can be. We are honest and open, sharing our successes & confronting our challenges.

Our Benefits

• Flexible working - we recognise the considerable benefits that flexible working can bring and are happy to discuss any possible flexible working options with our employees from hiring. For most roles, the following types of flexibility are usually possible: flexible hours, occasional working from home and compressed hours.
• Annual leave – 28 days per year (full-time) rising to 33 days with service, plus bank holidays
• Pension - all eligible employees automatically enrolled into a Group Personal Pension Plan with a 5% employer contribution, with minimum employee contribution on a salary sacrifice basis. This increases to 6% after one year's service. 
• Family leave – we offer enhanced Maternity, Partner/Co-Parent/Paternity Leave, Adoption & Shared Parental Leave
• Health & wellbeing - employees may take advantage of a healthcare cash plan and a range of wellbeing initiatives and training. In addition, all employees have access to free, confidential one-to-one wellbeing consultations with trained counsellors.
• Learning & development - dedicated to the investment in learning and continuing professional development for all our employees
• Workplace Nursery Benefit – employees make tax and NI savings on nursery costs for children up to the age of 5
• Flexible public holidays - up to two standard UK public holidays can be exchanged for those that have cultural or religious significance. 
  
• Cancer Cover: Voluntary contributions can be made through payroll allowing employees to claim back on a range of cancer treatments.
• GP 24/7 Helpline: A GP helpline is be available to all UK employees providing access to a qualified GP, 24/7 via a telephone or webcam consultation, and offers diagnosis, advice and reassurance on a range of medical matters, as well as authorisation of private electronic prescriptions.
• Welcome Bag for new starters: A War Child Tote bag, War Child T-shirt and some other practical things to welcome new colleagues to War Child.
• Discounts on War Child Merchandise: 25% discount on full price War Child merchandise, available to all employees, sold through Shop for Good. 
• Range of flexible benefits such a Cycle to Work scheme and season ticket loans.

Flexible Working

We positively support flexible working arrangements. These currently include: office working, homeworking, part-time hours, compressed hours, flexi-time, flexi-place (hybrid working) and job shares. We would be happy to discuss individual flexible working requests during the interview process.

How to Apply

• To apply, simply submit an application through our Current Vacancies page and attach a copy of your CV.
• On occasion, we might close a vacancy early due to a high number of applications being received. Interested candidates are encouraged to submit their application as early as possible.
• If you have any questions about reasonable adjustments before or during your application, we welcome the opportunity to talk about what we can do to fairly adapt our process for you. Please share what you’re comfortable with to help us put the right support in place, by emailing careers@warchild.org.uk. Anything you tell us will be kept completely confidential by our HR team.
• We are unable to provide sponsorship for this post. In order to apply, you must be able to demonstrate your eligibility to work in the country where this role is based.

Safeguarding

Our work with children and at-risk adults to ensure their safety is our top priority. We are committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults in all aspects of our work. We maintain a zero-tolerance policy for any behavior or practices that put children and/or vulnerable adults at risk of abuse or harm.

Successful applicants will be required to comply with and sign our Safeguarding Policy, Code of Conduct, and PSEAH Policy. You can find the Safeguarding and Integrity policies here:
https://warchild.sharepoint.com/sites/Integrity

Diversity and Inclusion

We value diversity and inclusion and are committed to ensuring that all our people and job applicants are treated fairly, irrespective of where, what or whom they were born, or of other characteristics. We want to offer a safe and inclusive workplace where all our people, especially those who are currently marginalised or underrepresented, can be themselves at work. You can read our Diversity and Inclusion policy on our website, and if you have any questions about our commitment to diversity and inclusion do get in touch: https://www.warchild.org.uk/our-work/policies-and-reports/diversity-and-inclusion

Pre-employment Checks

Employment with War Child will be subject to the following checks prior to your start date:

• a satisfactory police record check to include a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and/or an International/National Criminal Record Check
• a clear vetting and Due Diligence check
• receipt of two professional satisfactory references