Finance Officer

Company Description Olympias Music Foundation is an award-winning music charity based in Manchester. For over 11 years, Olympias Music Foundation has been transforming access to music education for children and young people experiencing low income in Manchester. From its roots the organisation has grown into an award-winning charity employing five staff and 20 freelance musicians. We provide exceptional, free music education to 180 children and young people (aged 6-18) for as long as they want to learn through our core programme Learn to Play. We also deliver music lessons to many more through Musical Horizons, our programme at two SEND schools. Role Description For this role, we are seeking a highly-organised individual with prior experience of book-keeping to oversee Olympias' financial processes. The Finance Officer will be responsible for the day-to-day financial administration of the charity, supporting the senior team with accurate financial information and helping to ensure that financial controls and processes are maintained. The successful candidate will be comfortable working independently, managing competing priorities and maintaining a high level of accuracy. You will be supported by external accountants Slade and Cooper, who assist with preparing our annual statutory accounts, independent examination and processing payroll; an external financial consultant; and a trustee with relevant finance experience. Although some on-site working is required (1 day per week from our co-working space at Manchester Museum) the role is hybrid and flexible, and we are happy to accommodate preferred working patterns for the right candidate. The successful candidate will be joining a small but mighty team of six, and work on the frontline of Olympias to bring music to communities and to manifest positive lasting change in the music sector in Manchester. Key Responsibilities Bookkeeping

• Maintain accurate records of the charity's day-to-day financial activity within our financial systems (QuickBooks and Beacon CRM)
• Ensure income and expenditure are recorded and reconciled
• Support effective management of restricted and unrestricted funds
• Support payroll processing and related financial administration
• Process payment runs Management and Statutory Reporting
• Support the charity to meet its statutory reporting requirements (e.g. Annual Accounts)
• Produce clear financial reports for management and Board oversight
• Monitor performance against budget and highlight significant variances or risks Other Reporting
• Provide financial information for fundraising, grant applications and funder reporting
• Liaise with external accountants and other advisers as needed Forecasting & Budgeting
• Maintain forecasts of income, expenditure and cashflow to support financial sustainability
• Identify potential funding gaps, financial pressures and risks
• Support annual budgeting and longer-term financial planning Systems & Processes
• Ensure appropriate financial controls and processes are in place and followed
• Collaborate with the wider team to help develop and improve the charity's financial systems and processes Qualifications Essential We are looking for someone who has:
• A minimum of 2 years experience working in a similar finance role and/or an IAB or AAT qualification.
• Experience preparing management accounts or financial reports.
• Experience using accounting software (e.g., Quickbooks).
• Experience supporting audits or independent examinations.
• Strong attention to detail and a high level of numerical accuracy.
• Excellent organisational and time-management skills.
• The ability to manage deadlines and prioritise competing demands.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• The ability to work independently and as part of a small team.
• An interest in, and commitment to, the charitable and community work of Olympias Music Foundation. Desirable It would be advantageous to have:
• Experience working in a charity or not-for-profit organisation.
• Knowledge of charity finance, including SORP requirements
• A friendly manner and a sense of humour. To apply To apply, please download the candidate pack (via www.olympiasmusic.com/vacancies) and send the following documents to jo@olympiasmusic.com by 5pm on 30th October:
• A supporting statement outlining why you want to work for Olympias Music Foundation and how you think you meet the requirements (no more than 2 pages)
• Your CV (no more than 2 pages)
• Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form and Reference Request Form. Please include the names, email addresses and telephone numbers of two people who can give you a reference. At least one of these should be your current or most recent employer (please note no references will be taken without your prior consent). Find more information: https://www.olympiasmusic.com/vacancies