Finance and Operations Officer
Energy Garden
Pimlico, London
Posted: 26 May 2026
Deadline: 16 Jun 2026
Compensation: £31,000 – £39,000 per annum
Living Wage employer
Paid Full-time Permanent
Job description
Full Time | London / Hybrid Salary: £31,000 – £39,000
About Energy Garden
Energy Garden is a community benefit society that brings together People, Place, Power and Impact to build a more resilient city. Through community gardens, urban greening, education programmes and community-owned renewable energy infrastructure, we work with local communities, local authorities and corporate partners to create visible climate solutions across London.
Our approach is summarised through our learning journey:
Seed → Solar → Society
We introduce people of all ages to nature and growing, connect communities to climate solutions, and develop community-owned renewable energy systems that generate long-term benefit for communities.
Energy Garden operates at the intersection of:
- grant funding
- corporate partnerships
- service contracts
- community investment through solar share offers
As the organisation grows, we are strengthening our internal finance capacity to support this blended funding model and the development of community-owned energy assets.
Role Overview
We are seeking a Finance Officer who combines strong accounting capability with analytical thinking and a genuine interest in mission-driven organisations.
This role will support the day-to-day financial operations of Energy Garden while also contributing to the development of financial systems, reporting and project modelling across the organisation.
The successful candidate will help manage operational finance processes including:
- bookkeeping and receipt entry into Quickbooks
- cash flow tracking and reporting
- support coordination of VAT reporting and financial compliance processes alongside external accountants
- Programme budget tracking
- financial data management
- support the integration of financial, operational and solar performance data into reporting systems including Excel-based and Power BI dashboards
- Cashflow forecasting and financial projections
- Support creation of year end accounts and Annual Report to Members
The role will also support the organisation’s evolving community-owned solar investment model and blended funding programmes, which combine grants, service contracts, corporate partnerships and community investment.
You will work closely with the CEO, programme teams and board-level financial oversight support to strengthen systems and improve organisational financial visibility.
This role reports directly to the CEO and does not currently include line management responsibilities.
Energy Garden currently works with external chartered accountants for year-end accounts, compliance and specialist financial support, with this role focused on strengthening day-to-day operational finance systems and reporting.
Key Responsibilities
- Financial Operations & Administration
- Process and enter receipts, invoices and financial records accurately in QuickBooks and Avensure
- Support bookkeeping and reconciliation processes
- Maintain up-to-date cash flow tracking and forecasting
- Support coordination of VAT returns and financial compliance reporting alongside external accountants
- Support payroll and supplier payment administration where required
- Data & Reporting
- Support the maintenance and development of financial reporting systems
- Assist with Excel-based and Power BI data input and reporting processes
- Help integrate programme, financial and solar generation data into reporting systems
- Support organisational dashboard development for finance and impact reporting
- Support the production and creation of annual reports and accounts
- Cross-Team Liaison
- Work with programme and fundraising teams to track project budgets and funding allocations
- Support grant reporting and financial compliance requirements across programmes
- Help ensure financial information is aligned across operational and fundraising activities
- Liaise with our external accountants (GPFM)
- Financial Management
- Maintain accurate financial records & support day-to-day financial management of the organisation
- Manage bookkeeping and financial data using accounting software (QuickBooks)
- Support preparation of monthly management accounts and financial reports
- Assist with year-end accounts and liaise with external accountants and auditors
- Monitor programme budgets and track restricted and unrestricted funds
- Financial Analysis & Modelling
- Support the development of financial models for projects and programmes
- Run financial sensitivities and scenario analysis for new initiatives
- Assist with modelling income streams including grants, service contracts and community energy revenues
- Contribute to financial forecasting and organisational planning
- Programme & Project Finance
- Track income and expenditure across multiple projects and funding streams
- Support budget management for grant-funded and contract-funded programmes
- Help ensure financial compliance with funder requirements
- Strategic Finance Support
- Assist in developing financial strategies that support Energy Garden’s community model
- Contribute to improving financial systems and processes
- Provide financial insight to support organisational decision making
Skills & Experience
- Essential
- Experience in accounting, finance or bookkeeping roles
- Strong understanding of financial reporting and accounting principles
- Ability to work with financial models and spreadsheets (advanced Excel skills preferred)
- Experience with accounting software QuickBooks
- Experience working with or supporting not-for-profit organisations, charities, or social enterprises
- Strong attention to detail and organisational skills
- Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines
- Highly Desirable
- Experience using Power BI or similar reporting/dashboard tools
- Experience supporting VAT reporting and financial compliance processes
- Experience working with infrastructure, energy or asset-based projects
- Experience working with blended funding models involving grants, contracts and investment
- Desirable
- Familiarity with accounting software such as Xero and Sage
- Experience with community energy, sustainability or environmental organisations
- Experience with grant reporting and restricted funding management
- Experience building financial models or running scenario analysis
- Knowledge of community benefit societies or cooperative structures
- Personal Qualities
- Interest in climate solutions, community development and social impact
- Analytical mindset combined with practical problem solving
- Collaborative and able to work with programme and engagement teams
- Comfortable working in a growing organisation with evolving systems
- Motivated by mission as well as financial discipline
Salary & Working Structure
Salary: £31,000 – £39,000
- Energy Garden operates a flat organisational structure, with most roles structured at Officer level.
- Within this band, salary progression reflects experience, responsibility and contribution to programme development.
- Hybrid working arrangements are available, with regular collaboration with the London team.
What Success Looks Like in the First 12 Months
Within the first year, the successful candidate will have:
- Improved cash flow visibility and financial reporting across the organisation
- Strengthened receipt processing, bookkeeping and financial data systems
- Supported VAT reporting and financial compliance processes
- Helped improve integration between programme, fundraising and financial reporting
- Supported the production of reliable management accounts and forecasting
- Contributed to the development of clearer Power BI reporting and organisational dashboards
- Supported financial tracking connected to Energy Garden’s growing solar and infrastructure portfolio
- Helped strengthen the financial systems needed to support Energy Garden’s next phase of growth
Who This Role Is Perfect For
This role is particularly well suited to someone who:
- enjoys working at the intersection of finance and mission-driven work
- likes combining operational finance with strategic thinking
- enjoys building systems within a growing organisation
- is interested in sustainability, climate action or community development
- is comfortable working across finance, programmes and infrastructure projects
- enjoys improving organisational clarity, reporting and financial visibility
You may come from a background in:
- charity or social enterprise finance
- sustainability or environmental organisations
- infrastructure or community energy organisations
- accounting roles with a strong analytical and operational component
Who This Role May Not Suit
This role may not be the best fit if you prefer:
- working within large finance teams with highly defined roles
- focusing purely on bookkeeping without strategic engagement
- highly rigid organisational structures
Energy Garden is a small and evolving organisation, and this role suits someone comfortable working across operational and strategic finance.
Why Join Energy Garden Now
Energy Garden is entering an important new phase.
Over the past 12 years we have built a network of community gardens, delivered climate education programmes and installed community-owned solar across London.
We are now moving from individual projects to scalable programmes, working with councils, communities and corporate partners to build long-term climate infrastructure across the city.
A key part of this transition is developing a sustainable finance model, where service contracts grant and community-owned renewable energy helps scale our social and environmental programmes.
This role offers the opportunity to help build the financial foundations that will support that next stage of growth.
Application information
Please email CV and cover letter to agamemnon@energygarden.org.uk
Please mention Roots to Work when applying for these jobs
About Energy Garden
Energy Garden is a not-for-profit Community Benefit Society transforming London Overground platforms and underused urban spaces into vibrant community gardens. Since 2012, we’ve created a network of biodiverse green spaces cared for by local volunteers and supported by our team of horticulture, education and biodiversity specialists. Funded through community-owned solar projects on rail depots, our work connects communities, improves urban biodiversity and supports climate action across London.
