Head of Finance
| Posting date: | 21 July 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £50,000 to £55,000 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 20 August 2025 |
| Location: | OX1 1BP |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 2 days per week |
| Company: | Modern Art Oxford |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: |
Summary
ROLE
The Head of Finance is a member of the Senior Management Team (SMT) of Modern Art Oxford and is responsible for managing and reporting on the finances of the charity, acting as Company Secretary. The role is supported by the Senior Finance Officer and Finance Assistant.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Finance:
● To work closely with the Director on the preparation of the business plan and to take a leading role within SMT on monitoring and reporting to ensure its successful delivery.
● To lead on budgeting processes including three- to five-year plans, detailed annual budgets, cash flow forecasts and in-year re-forecasts.
● To be responsible for reporting on the overall financial position of the organisation, including the statutory accounts, management accounts and reports to budget-holders, ensuring that budgets are adhered to, that cash flow is managed, that effective cost control mechanisms are in place, that revenue is maximised
and that there is timely and accurate financial reporting to SMT and the Board of Trustees.
● To ensure that best practice, statutory and organisational requirements are met in the operation of financial controls, the management of funds, charity accounting, Endowments Funds and investments, and taxation.
● To ensure the safety and security of the organisation’s financial assets.
● To prepare and submit the annual Museums & Galleries Exhibition Tax Relief (MGETR) submission, Gift Aid and all other tax rebates.
● To liaise with the external auditors for the annual audit of the statutory accounts and management of the pensions and other professional financial services as required, being the main contact in the organisation for the bank, auditors and pension providers.
● To liaise with pension trustees and other employers of the PSATSA closed defined benefit scheme, including triennial revaluations and negotiation of affordable repayments, reporting to the Trustees and Director.
● To work in close partnership with the Director and the capital project management team, to manage and report on the financial aspects of any future capital projects, reporting to the Director and the Capital Sub-Committee of the Board of Trustees, and managing all related financial administration.
● To be responsible for arranging Modern Art Oxford’s insurance.
Governance, Compliance & Trustee Reporting:
● To attend Board meetings as required and support the Director in providing background briefing andfinancial material to enable the Board to make considered decisions about all matters of finance and finance policy.
● To manage, attend and prepare reports for the Finance & Property sub-committee.
● To coordinate the production of the Annual Trustees Report for the statutory accounts and ensure compliance with Companies House and Charity Commission requirements, including maintaining Trustees and Directors’ records and details.
Other:
● To contribute to the overall strategic direction of the organisation as a member of the Senior Management Team, and actively participate in new developments including audience development, capital planning, communications, partnerships, reporting and fundraising.
● To complete as required annual reports, including the annual submission for exhibition tax relief and other key reporting, including Arts Council England and Oxford City Council submissions and project-funding reports.
● To carry out any other duties, reasonably requested by the Director.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential:
● Significant experience in financial roles at a senior level, managing all aspects of running a financial function and dealing with a range of activities, ideally in a small to medium-sized charity.
● Used to preparing budgets, management accounts and cashflow forecasts alongside cost control management.
● A good understanding of VAT regulations, the VAT return process and charity taxation.
● A good working knowledge of payroll and end of year audit processes.
● Experience of business planning for a medium-sized charity.
● A flexible approach to working in a busy environment requiring excellent multi-tasking and time-management skills.
● Experience of using a CRM Database.
● An understanding of IT and digital infrastructure.
● Strong planning and organisational skills.
● Experience of managing small teams.
● The highest level of commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
● Excellent interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence.
● Good team worker.
● Excellent writing and communications skills.
● An ability to prioritise a complex range of tasks in a fast-paced working environment.
● A confidential and empathetic person of integrity.
Desirable:
● Qualified accountant (ACA, CIMA, ACCA) and/or appropriate business, financial or postgraduate qualifications.
● An interest in and experience of working in the charity sector, ideally the arts.
● Experience in the not-for-profit sector and charity accounting practices including preparation of the annual Charity Commission return, partial exemption VAT processes, Gift Aid and MGETR.
● Experience of BreatheHR and Xero platforms.
● Experience of working with a board of voluntary trustees, a wide range of funders and public sector organisations.
● Good line management and coaching skills.
● Experience of managing the financial aspects of capital projects.
● Experience of fundraising, marketing, retail and e-commerce.
The Head of Finance is a member of the Senior Management Team (SMT) of Modern Art Oxford and is responsible for managing and reporting on the finances of the charity, acting as Company Secretary. The role is supported by the Senior Finance Officer and Finance Assistant.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Finance:
● To work closely with the Director on the preparation of the business plan and to take a leading role within SMT on monitoring and reporting to ensure its successful delivery.
● To lead on budgeting processes including three- to five-year plans, detailed annual budgets, cash flow forecasts and in-year re-forecasts.
● To be responsible for reporting on the overall financial position of the organisation, including the statutory accounts, management accounts and reports to budget-holders, ensuring that budgets are adhered to, that cash flow is managed, that effective cost control mechanisms are in place, that revenue is maximised
and that there is timely and accurate financial reporting to SMT and the Board of Trustees.
● To ensure that best practice, statutory and organisational requirements are met in the operation of financial controls, the management of funds, charity accounting, Endowments Funds and investments, and taxation.
● To ensure the safety and security of the organisation’s financial assets.
● To prepare and submit the annual Museums & Galleries Exhibition Tax Relief (MGETR) submission, Gift Aid and all other tax rebates.
● To liaise with the external auditors for the annual audit of the statutory accounts and management of the pensions and other professional financial services as required, being the main contact in the organisation for the bank, auditors and pension providers.
● To liaise with pension trustees and other employers of the PSATSA closed defined benefit scheme, including triennial revaluations and negotiation of affordable repayments, reporting to the Trustees and Director.
● To work in close partnership with the Director and the capital project management team, to manage and report on the financial aspects of any future capital projects, reporting to the Director and the Capital Sub-Committee of the Board of Trustees, and managing all related financial administration.
● To be responsible for arranging Modern Art Oxford’s insurance.
Governance, Compliance & Trustee Reporting:
● To attend Board meetings as required and support the Director in providing background briefing andfinancial material to enable the Board to make considered decisions about all matters of finance and finance policy.
● To manage, attend and prepare reports for the Finance & Property sub-committee.
● To coordinate the production of the Annual Trustees Report for the statutory accounts and ensure compliance with Companies House and Charity Commission requirements, including maintaining Trustees and Directors’ records and details.
Other:
● To contribute to the overall strategic direction of the organisation as a member of the Senior Management Team, and actively participate in new developments including audience development, capital planning, communications, partnerships, reporting and fundraising.
● To complete as required annual reports, including the annual submission for exhibition tax relief and other key reporting, including Arts Council England and Oxford City Council submissions and project-funding reports.
● To carry out any other duties, reasonably requested by the Director.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential:
● Significant experience in financial roles at a senior level, managing all aspects of running a financial function and dealing with a range of activities, ideally in a small to medium-sized charity.
● Used to preparing budgets, management accounts and cashflow forecasts alongside cost control management.
● A good understanding of VAT regulations, the VAT return process and charity taxation.
● A good working knowledge of payroll and end of year audit processes.
● Experience of business planning for a medium-sized charity.
● A flexible approach to working in a busy environment requiring excellent multi-tasking and time-management skills.
● Experience of using a CRM Database.
● An understanding of IT and digital infrastructure.
● Strong planning and organisational skills.
● Experience of managing small teams.
● The highest level of commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
● Excellent interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence.
● Good team worker.
● Excellent writing and communications skills.
● An ability to prioritise a complex range of tasks in a fast-paced working environment.
● A confidential and empathetic person of integrity.
Desirable:
● Qualified accountant (ACA, CIMA, ACCA) and/or appropriate business, financial or postgraduate qualifications.
● An interest in and experience of working in the charity sector, ideally the arts.
● Experience in the not-for-profit sector and charity accounting practices including preparation of the annual Charity Commission return, partial exemption VAT processes, Gift Aid and MGETR.
● Experience of BreatheHR and Xero platforms.
● Experience of working with a board of voluntary trustees, a wide range of funders and public sector organisations.
● Good line management and coaching skills.
● Experience of managing the financial aspects of capital projects.
● Experience of fundraising, marketing, retail and e-commerce.