Senior Finance Manager

GET INVOLVED – WORK FOR US – BE DRIVEN BY THE GOOD WE DO

Salary: Up to £46,000 (dependent on relevant qualifications, skills, and relevant experience)

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Location: Hybrid (Cheltenham-based, min. 1 day on site), part time also considered for the right candidate

YMCA Cheltenham is looking for a Senior Finance Manager to join our high-performing (and genuinely enjoyable) finance team. We are a Christian Charity and Registered Provider – leading the way in accommodation and support in Gloucestershire. 

This is a key role at the heart of the organisation, with accountability for the day-to-day delivery of the finance function across supported housing, property, charitable services and trading activity. You’ll work closely with the Head of Finance to ensure strong financial management, robust controls, and high-quality reporting that supports decision-making across the charity. 

We’re at an exciting point in our journey, building on a period of financial transformation and continuing to strengthen how finance supports operational delivery and long-term sustainability. You will work closely with Project teams and be an approachable, positive part of delivery teams on a day today basis. 

About the Role

You’ll take ownership of the day to day operational finance function, including:

• Management accounts, reporting, budgeting and forecasting
• Housing, rents, property and facilities accounting
• Work in conjunction with the Head of Finance on Income streams including grants, donations, gift aid and trading
• Ensure financial controls, compliance and audit support
• Cashflow work alongside the Head of Finance and day-to-day financial operational delivery
• Supporting budget holders and building strong relationships across teams

This is a hands-on Senior Finance role where you’ll bring clarity, structure and insight to a complex and rewarding environment. We are delivering more than numbers in our department, we enable support, dignity and space to thrive for adults and children here in our own community! Something we are proud of. 

What You’ll Bring

Qualifications

• Qualified or part-qualified accountant (ACCA, CIMA, ACA, AAT or equivalent), or significant relevant experience in a senior finance role.
• Evidence of ongoing professional development in finance, accounting, or a related field.
• Understanding of charity finance, housing finance, or regulated environments (desirable).
• Commitment to continuing professional development and maintaining technical knowledge.

Competencies & Technical Skills

• Strong technical accounting knowledge, including management accounts, financial controls, and reporting.
• Excellent numeracy, analytical and problem-solving skills, with high attention to detail.
• Ability to interpret financial data and present clear, meaningful insight to non-finance colleagues.
• Strong judgement, integrity and ability to handle sensitive financial information with confidentiality.
• Ability to manage a varied and busy workload with minimal supervision and competing deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal and influencing skills, with the confidence to support and challenge budget holders.
• Proficient in financial systems (e.g. Xero), Excel, and Microsoft 365.
• Understanding of financial compliance, audit processes, and regulatory requirements.

Experience

• Significant experience in a finance role, ideally at senior or management level.
• Proven experience of preparing management accounts, budgets, and forecasts.
• Experience of maintaining strong financial controls and supporting audit processes.
• Experience supporting operational teams with financial management and decision-making.
• Experience managing or overseeing finance processes (e.g. ledgers, cashflow, reporting cycles).
• Experience in charity, housing, or regulated environments (desirable).
• Experience working with multiple income streams (e.g. rents, grants, donations, trading) (desirable).

Personal Qualities

• Purpose-driven: motivated by using finance to support meaningful outcomes for communities and residents.
• Collaborative & Approachable: builds strong relationships across teams and supports non-finance colleagues with clarity and patience.
• Organised & Resilient: able to manage competing priorities, meet deadlines and maintain accuracy under pressure.
• Proactive & Solutions-focused: identifies issues early and takes ownership of resolving them.
• Ethical & Professional: demonstrates integrity, accountability and strong financial stewardship.
• Continuous Improvement Mindset: seeks to improve processes, systems and ways of working.

And importantly, you’ll fit the team. That means:

• A good sense of humour
• A willingness to occasionally get stuck in beyond the day job which could mean volunteering at an event (or sleeping out in a cardboard box at our yearly Sleep Easy event)
• And an appreciation that the odd Friday coffee and pastry is part of how we keep things running

ABOUT US

YMCA Cheltenham, founded in 1855, is a Charity and a Registered Housing provider, has become a leading provider of supported housing for the most vulnerable in Cheltenham and Gloucester, alongside its thriving Community Sports centre facilities, affordable housing and other charitable activities.

Organisational Values

YMCA Cheltenham is an organisation founded on Christian values and, as such, employees may encounter behaviours, artefacts, or other elements particular to or representative of the Christian faith in their workplace.

As an organisation founded upon the Christian Faith, YMCA Cheltenham draws its Values from the Bible, principally as described in Micah 6:8. Our Values are therefore expressed as follows:

OUR VALUES

YMCA Cheltenham will OPERATE with Equity, Integrity, Openness and Honesty.

YMCA Cheltenham will ENGAGE with Empathy, Kindness, Generosity and Grace.

YMCA Cheltenham will BE Thoughtful, Discreet, Ethical and Respectful to all.

Employees are not required to adhere to the Christian faith, nor any faith, and no such consideration is made by the organisation in employment choices nor in delivering its services – however, we do expect all employees to demonstrate the list of Values shown while in the workplace.

ABOUT WHAT WE OFFER

The organisation recognise that employees need a good balance between work and life.  We are committed to supporting a healthy balance between work and life, and creating a workplace where people can thrive. Our benefits include:

• 25 days of annual leave plus bank holidays, rising by up to 5 extra days with service.
• Two wellbeing days per year.
• Retail discounts and rewards across major high‑street and online brands.
• Cycle to Work scheme.
• Generous contributory pension.
• Company sick pay.
• Life Assurance at two times salary.
• Health cash plan, covering optical and dental costs, GP/consultant access, and independent personal, workplace, and financial advice.
• Free use of on‑site sports facilities.
• Occupational Health support and reasonable adjustments where needed.
• Extensive training and development, including opportunities to gain relevant qualifications.
• Regular social events for colleagues and their families
• Critical Illness cover.
• A supportive, passionate and high-performing team environment.

We are committed to creating a dynamic and diverse workforce and welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates regardless of their age, gender, disability, race or ethnicity, sexual orientation or faith. We have procedures in place to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process.

YMCA Cheltenham is committed to following safer recruitment guidelines.  In line with the requirements of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996, all applicants must be able to demonstrate they have evidence to be eligible to live and work in the UK.  Successful candidates will need to provide two satisfactory references, undergo a DBS check and demonstrate full employment history. 

YMCA Cheltenham is wholly committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment.