Find your place in the field of good food

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Roots to Work is a project of Sustain: the alliance for better food and farming.

Job description

Garden Organic is looking for a Finance Manager to deliver the operational management of the finance department and line management of a small finance team.

Role: Garden Organic Finance Manager Location: Garden Organic, Wolston Lane, Coventry, CV8 3LG (Hybrid)

Key Requirements: Garden Organic is looking for a Finance Manager to deliver the operational management of the finance department and line management of a small finance team. This is a hands-on role, combining day-to-day delivery, alongside supporting the Finance Director with finance data analysis, reporting and audit.

Hours: Full time (although 4 days a week would be considered) Duration: Permanent Salary: £34,000 to £38,000 Role subject to DBS Check: No

The charity:

Our organisation promotes the know-how and benefits of organic gardening to individual and community gardeners. Showing people how they can encourage ecosystems to flourish in their own growing space has never been more important to stem the decline of plant and insect species and aid nature’s recovery. Our work is set in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and we want to ensure Garden Organic is having demonstrable and measurable positive impact, in particular on SDG 15 – Life on Land.  

We are a membership organisation, attracting individuals who want to find out how best to garden in harmony with nature.  We work with private, public and voluntary sector organisations to promote organic growing.  We have a good profile and reputation for our research, much of which is conducted as citizen science projects via our membership.  We are the home of the Heritage Seed Library – a living collection of vegetable seeds which would otherwise have gone extinct.  

Overall purpose of the role:

Garden Organic is looking for a Finance Manager to deliver the operational management of the finance department and line management of the small finance team. This is a hands-on role, combining day-to-day delivery, alongside supporting the Finance Director with finance data analysis, reporting and audit. This role requires strong partnership skills to support and collaborate with other departmental managers across the organization, enabling departmental budget processes, accounting and financial planning. This role demands the proactive and efficient management of the finance function to deliver financial and management accounts & reporting along with all aspects of contractual and financial regulatory compliance and a keen focus on growth, efficiency and opportunities to increase revenue. 

Responsibilities & Main Duties:

Financial Management & Reporting

• Lead the month-end process, including review and posting of journals, ledger management, adjustments, and balance sheet reconciliations, ensuring timely and accurate reporting.
• Produce the monthly management accounts pack (P&L, cash flow, and balance sheet), including clear financial analysis, commentary on variances, and trend insights for the Senior Management Team and Board of Trustees.
• Oversee day-to-day financial operations, including payroll, Gift Aid, VAT, membership income, donations, and other charitable income streams, ensuring compliance with relevant regulations.
• Lead the budgeting and forecasting cycle, working collaboratively with budget holders to develop accurate and meaningful financial plans.
• Support the Finance Director in developing management information and key financial KPIs to inform strategic decision-making.
• Deputise for the Director of Finance and Corporate Resources as required.

Team Leadership & Business Partnering

• Line manages and develops the Finance team, including recruitment, onboarding, performance management, coaching, and workload planning.
• Act as a trusted business partner across the organization, providing financial insight, guidance, and training to non-finance colleagues.
• Support managers in assessing the financial viability of new initiatives, ensuring full cost recovery and sustainable planning.

Systems, Controls & Audit

• Lead on the implementation and optimization of financial systems (e.g. Business Central, SharePoint), ensuring best practice and effective use across the organisation.
• Maintain and continuously improve financial controls, ensuring they are robust, proportionate, and fit for purpose.
• Lead the preparation for the annual audit, acting as the primary contact for auditors and ensure all documentation is complete and audit ready.
• Manage relationships with external stakeholders including auditors, banks, payroll providers, pension providers, and insurers.

Project / Grants, Membership & Fundraising Support

• Oversee income management across fundraising, grants, trading, and membership streams, ensuring accurate recording, allocation, and compliance with donor restrictions.
• Support fundraising activities, including financial input into grant applications, reporting, and maximising tax-efficient income (e.g. Gift Aid).
• Support departments with project budgets, cashflows and grant applications.
• Oversee membership income processing (Direct Debit, card, online, and bank transfers), ensuring accurate reconciliation between finance systems and CRM.
• Ensure timely reconciliation of subscription income, debtors, and deferred income, including appropriate adjustments and write-offs.
• Work closely with the membership team to provide analysis and reporting to support performance and governance.

Risk, Governance & Compliance 

• Support the Director of Finance and Corporate Resources in maintaining strong internal controls, governance frameworks, and assurance processes.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant financial, legal, and regulatory requirements, including charity and tax regulations.
• Assist in monitoring compliance with supplier, landlord, and service delivery contracts.

General

• It is the nature of the work of Garden Organic that tasks and responsibilities are, in some circumstances, unpredictable and varied. All employees are expected to work in a flexible way when the occasion arises where tasks are not specifically covered in the Job Description and have to be undertaken.
• A valid UK driving license would be useful. 

What we are looking for:

Our ideal candidate will bring energy and enthusiasm to the role as well as proven experience in the fields of finance management, governance and compliance together with a willingness to learn. You will ideally be a qualified Accountant, or with demonstrable qualification by experience, along with evidence of continued professional development and commitment to staying abreast of current financial practice and regulation. The ideal candidate will be able to work independently with minimal supervision, will be comfortable with responsibility and decision-making where needed, and will have a proactive, curious and can-do approach.

What we can offer:

• Salary: £34,000 to £38,000 depending on experience
• 25 days Holiday plus bank holidays and additional leave at Christmas (pro-rata)
• Group Pension Scheme with 8% employer contribution
• Relaxed and friendly office set within an organic garden
• Salary Extras benefits platform (Instant discount scheme and health, wellbeing and financial support)
• We Care benefits platform (With access to virtual GP consultations, nutritionist support, get fit programmes, smoking cessation and further health and wellbeing support
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Additional long service holiday
• TOIL for additional hours worked
• Life Assurance
• Garden Organic membership

Application information

Please visit our website at www.gardenorganic.org.uk/who-we-are/work-with-us/finance-manager

For the full job description and person specification please email us at HR@gardenorganic.org.uk

All applicants must complete a Garden Organic Application Form which can be downloaded via our website along with a covering letter explaining why you think you would be a great fit for the role. We pay close attention to covering letters so please do send us one.

We will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis and we reserve the right to close the vacancy early depending on response levels.

As part of our commitment to Diversity and Inclusion all applications will be anonymised before being submitted to the recruitment panel. You are welcome to submit an anonymised CV in application for the role however please ensure you provide a contact telephone number or e-mail address.

Recruitment Timetable:

Application Deadline: Monday 4th May 2026.

Equal Opportunities:

At Garden Organic we embrace diversity and recognise the value it brings to our organisation. As such, we match charity needs with the skills and experience of candidates and welcome candidates from various backgrounds irrespective of age, disability, gender, gender identity or reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief or sexual orientation. We are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace and take pride in ensuring that everyone feels welcome, respected and empowered.

Garden Organic is also a Disability Confident Employer and aims to create opportunities wherever possible. It should be noted that some of our roles require travel and attendance at events where accessibility arrangements will vary.

Safer Recruitment:

Garden Organic is also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects employees, associates and volunteers to share this commitment. We may require some candidates to undertake a DBS check relevant to the requirements of the role.

Please note that we only accept applications from individuals with the right to work in the UK. We are unable to sponsor working visa applications.

Please mention Roots to Work when applying for these jobs