Finance Manager Recruitment Pack

About Surrey Lifelong Learning Partnership

Surrey Lifelong Learning Partnership exists to ensure that those in Surrey and beyond who have missed out on learning in the past, have opportunities to learn and to improve their wellbeing, gain meaningful employment and reach their full potential.

• We host employment and skills hubs in Leatherhead and Epsom
• We have youth hubs operating in Guildford, Leatherhead, Epsom and Redhill
• We have digital buddies to offer support to digitally excluded individuals across Surrey.
• Our ETHOS programme supports people at risk of homelessness into education and employment
• Our bike project combines learning, volunteering and environmental sustainability by refurbishing donated bikes

Established on 2001 we are a registered charity (1143680) and company limited by guarantee (04302657).

You can find out more about what we do and how we do it on our website - www.surreyllp.org.uk.

About The Role

This is a great opportunity for someone to revolutionise the way we manage our finances and make a huge difference to the running and sustainability of the charity.

The role has three main dimensions:

• Ensuring that the finances of Surrey Lifelong Learning Partnership are managed efficiently and properly, in accordance with high standards of good practice in the charity sector, and that its numerous financial obligations are met efficiently.
• Developing financial support tools and services for other Surrey Lifelong Learning Partnership staff, including bringing externally contracted payroll and accounting services in-house.
• Contributing to the wider strategic direction and management of Surrey Lifelong Learning Partnership as a member of the Leadership Team

More specifically, we are looking for a colleague who will:

• Look at what we do with a fresh, professional eye and advise us on what we can do better and help us put those improvements in place.
• Oversee all the accounting and auditing procedures of Surrey Lifelong Learning Partnership
• Actively manage the cashflow requirements of the charity, including liaison with the charity’s bank
• Oversee the management of Surrey Lifelong Learning Partnership’s investments.
• Prepare the annual accounts in accordance with statutory and Charities Acts requirements, and in line with an agreed timetable.
• Ensure the audit/independent examination of the financial statements can be undertaken efficiently and expeditiously.
• Ensure the timely and efficient operation of Surrey Lifelong Learning Partnership’s payroll and pensions system, including bringing them in-house from a third-party contractor.
• Support the Leadership Team to set and monitor the budgets for our various projects and services and liaise closely and positively with budget holders in ensuring tight budget control and reconciliation.
• Review and implement the charity’s insurance policies.
• Oversee the work and provide regular support to the Finance Coordinator (bookkeeper).
• Undertake annual business rates review and relief submissions, HMRC returns and similar.
• Keep abreast of significant developments in external circumstances, professional and charity practice as they might affect the work of Surrey Lifelong Learning Partnership.
• Carry out other duties as required, in line with the role.

About You

We are looking for a skilled and capable finance manager who can help make Surrey Lifelong Learning Partnership run as smoothly as possible and provide an excellent service to trustees and staff.  You will help us build a strong foundation for our continued growth and success.

To stand out as a candidate, you should have some or all of the following:

• A relevant professional qualification.
• Experience of managing the finances of an organisation of a similar scale.
• You should be familiar with charity SORP

There are some other things the perfect candidate would demonstrate, listed below.  We would like to hear from you if you feel you meet most of the criteria.  We are committed to continued professional development, so don’t be put off if you do not meet all the criteria fully but know you can do a great job.

• Understanding and practical experience of tackling VAT and other financial aspects.
• Wide and varied experience of successfully managing the relationship with professional advisers or outside contractors, eg independent examiners.
• Interpersonal and communication skills (written and verbal) sufficient to present complex issues lucidly to Trustees and other staff, facilitating smooth and well-informed decision-making and articulating Surrey Lifelong Learning Partnership’s requirements without risk of misunderstanding.
• Strong understanding of running payroll & pension schemes, as well as cycle to work and other salary sacrifice schemes.
• IT literacy with experience of computerised accounting systems (currently SAGE but we would be happy to change).
• Understanding of distinctive requirements of charity finance, including contract compliance, grant-giving, and stewardship of investments and other charitable assets.
• Line-management skills and experience.
• Personal commitment to the broad values championed by Surrey Lifelong Learning Partnership.
• Having a creative and entrepreneurial approach to maximise the use of Surrey Lifelong Learning Partnership’s resources.
• Being comfortable taking accountability for important decisions

The Nuts and Bolts

The role is a permanent contract for 21 hours per week.

The role can be remote, hybrid, or based in any of our offices in Epsom, Guildford, Leatherhead, Redhill or Woking.  If remote, regular travel to one or more of our offices would be required.

The salary for this role is £25,200 for 21 hours (£42,000 full time equivalent).

In addition, we offer:

• Flexibility around caring or childcare responsibilities
• 3% employers pension contribution
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Paid volunteering leave
• 25 days holiday
• Professional development opportunities

The role is subject to an Enhanced DBS check.

Accessibility

We are looking for a skilled and capable finance manager who can help make Surrey Lifelong Learning Partnership even more successful.

We are committed to ensuring that our recruitment process is inclusive, accessible, and fair for everyone.  We welcome applications from all candidates, and we are happy to make reasonable adjustments at any stage of the process to support you in applying for and succeeding in this role.

If you require the job pack, application form, or any part of the recruitment process in an alternative format, please let us know.  We can also arrange adjustments such as:

• Additional time for assessments or interviews
• Providing interview questions in advance
• Conducting interviews in an accessible location
• Allowing a support person or interpreter to be present

We recognise that everyone’s needs are different, so we encourage you to contact us to discuss what would work best for you.  All requests will be treated with sensitivity and in confidence.

We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer, and we actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences — including those with lived experience of disability, neurodiversity, or long-term health conditions.

As part of the Disability Confident scheme, we guarantee to offer an interview to all disabled candidates who meet the minimum essential criteria for the role as outlined above – just let us know in your application if you want to be considered under this scheme

How to Apply

Please send and up-to-date CV showing relevant experience to Hannah Nicholson (via info@surreyllp.org.uk) along with a cover letter outlining how you meet the key criteria above and what you can bring to the charity.  The cover letter is an essential part of your application.

You can also email Hannah to arrange an informal conversation with Jason Gaskell, our CEO, before submitting an application.

The deadline for applications is 23:59 on Sunday 09 August.  We are planning interviews for Thursday 27 August 2026.  Please indicate in your application if these dates are unsuitable.

Please note that we are not a sponsoring organisation and the successful candidate must show evidence of the right to work in the UK.