Finance Manager

Ibraaz is a leading platform dedicated to art, visual culture, and critical thinking from the Middle East and North Africa. Through a dynamic programme of over 120 events each year — spanning exhibitions, talks, screenings, residencies, and international collaborations — Ibraaz connects artists, scholars, and communities across the globe. We are a small, passionate team where every person makes a visible difference. This is a standout role for a commercially minded finance professional who wants genuine ownership. As the sole finance person in the organisation, you will be the engine behind our financial clarity — building the management accounts that guide strategic decisions, and bringing rigour and creativity to costing and budgeting across a rich and varied events programme. You will work closely with the Finance Trustee who holds strategic oversight of finance, but will look to you to run the day-to-day with confidence and initiative. If you thrive in an environment where your work is seen, valued, and directly linked to mission impact, this is the role for you.

• Maintain and reconcile the general ledger, ensuring all transactions are correctly posted
• Manage month-end close processes, including accruals, prepayments, and journal entries
• Oversee payroll processing and ensure accurate recording of staff costs
• Prepare accurate and timely monthly management accounts, including P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow statements
• Analyse variances against budget and prior periods, producing clear commentary for Leadership
• Ensure detailed cost models for each event is maintained by the programmes teams, capturing all variable costs including venues, production, artist fees, travel, hospitality, and marketing
• Work with programme teams ahead of each event to set realistic budgets and flag risk areas early
• Maintain rolling cash flow forecasts, clearly distinguishing between fixed overheads (premises, salaries, core operations) and variable event costs
• Contribute to annual budgeting
• Identify opportunities to improve financial efficiency without compromising programme quality
• Ensure robust financial controls are in place and adhered to across the organisation
• Manage relationships with external accountants and auditors, preparing year-end accounts and supporting the audit process
• Handle VAT returns and other statutory filings accurately and on time
• Maintain organised financial records and documentation in line with charity and company law You will bring:
• A professional accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA) or significant demonstrable experience in a comparable role
• Strong hands-on experience producing monthly management accounts end-to-end
• Confidence with cost and project accounting — ideally including variable or event-based cost structures
• Excellent Excel skills; experience with accounting software (preferably Xero)
• The ability to work independently, prioritise under pressure, and meet deadlines without close supervision
• Clear, confident communication — able to translate financial data into plain language for non-finance colleagues Bonus points for:
• Experience in a charity, arts organisation, or similar not-for-profit environment
• Familiarity with charity accounting and SORP reporting requirements
• Experience building or improving financial systems and processes from scratch