At a Glance
- Tasks: Oversee financial health, compliance, and strategy for the West Highland Museum Trust.
- Company: Join a passionate team dedicated to preserving cultural heritage.
- Benefits: Flexible part-time role with opportunities for remote work.
- Other info: Engage with a dynamic board and contribute to exciting capital projects.
- Why this job: Make a meaningful impact on the museum's financial sustainability and growth.
- Qualifications: Experience in finance and governance, with strong strategic thinking skills.
About the Role
Commitment: 4 Board meetings (including preparation time) and annual AGM attendance (ideally in person). Circa 2-4 days a month hands-on additional support activity for our Museum & Collections Manager and Finance Manager throughout the year (which can be remote/hybrid working).
Role Purpose: The Finance Director maintains a strategic overview of the museum’s financial health, safeguards its assets, and ensures robust financial governance. The role acts as an active critical guide and advisor to the Museum & Collections Manager and provides the wider Board clear, objective assurances regarding financial compliance, risk management, and the long-term sustainability of the museum.
Key Responsibilities
- Financial Governance & Compliance
- Regulatory Compliance: Ensure the Trust complies with its governing documents, OSCR and HMRC regulations regarding Gift Aid, VAT, and payroll tax.
- Annual Accounts: Oversee the timely preparation of annual statutory accounts in accordance with the SORP.
- Independent Audit: Act as the primary Board liaison for the external independent auditor during the year-end financial review (as required).
- Financial Strategy: Lead the Board’s long-term financial strategy and vision that aligns with the charity’s goals, including forecasting and evaluation.
- Budget Management: Overseeing budget creation, monitoring, and evaluation to maximize resource efficiency.
- Investment Oversight: Managing investment activities to grow the charity’s financial portfolio responsibly.
- Strategic Oversight & Board Assurance
- Financial Reporting: Review and present quarterly management accounts, cash flow statements, and budget variances to the Board in a clear, accessible manner.
- Budget Scrutiny: Advise and challenge the Museum & Collections Manager on the creation of the annual operating budget and rolling multi-year financial forecasts.
- Investment & Reserves Policy: Formulate, monitor, and periodically review the museum’s reserves policy and investment strategies to safeguard the trust’s long-term capital.
- Fundraising Support: Collaborating with our Fundraiser and the Fundraising team to ensure both capital and revenue funding is secured for the Museum's continued longevity.
- Capital Project Scrutiny: Provide financial oversight on major upcoming capital redevelopment and historic building renovation projects, monitoring restricted vs. unrestricted funding allocations.
- Risk Management: Ensure appropriate internal financial controls, fraud prevention measures, and risk registers are maintained and reviewed regularly.
- Risk Assessment: Identifying and mitigating financial risks to protect the organization’s assets; liaising with the Audit Committee to support risk management.
Finance Director at West Highland Museum Trust Closing date: 30 November, 2026 Salary: N/A Contract type: Part Time in Fort William employer: Museums Galleries Scotland
Museums Galleries Scotland is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment that fosters creativity and collaboration. With a strong commitment to employee development, staff have access to numerous growth opportunities and training programmes, all while contributing to the cultural heritage of Scotland. Located in a vibrant community, employees enjoy a supportive culture that values innovation and teamwork, making it a rewarding place to advance your career in fundraising and partnerships.
Contact Details:
Museums Galleries Scotland Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Finance Director at West Highland Museum Trust Closing date: 30 November, 2026 Salary: N/A Contract type: Part Time in Fort William
✨Dive into Financial Communities
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We think you need these skills to ace Finance Director at West Highland Museum Trust Closing date: 30 November, 2026 Salary: N/A Contract type: Part Time in Fort William
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Financial Acumen:For a role in financial controlling, we really want to see your analytical skills shine through. Make sure your CV highlights any coursework or experience with financial analysis, budgeting, and forecasting. If you've worked on any projects that involved financial modelling, definitely mention those!
Quantified Achievements Are Key:In financial roles, numbers speak volumes. When detailing your experience, use quantifiable achievements whenever possible. For example, if you helped reduce costs or improved a process, include the percentage or amount saved. This will make your application really pop!
Tailor Your Cover Letter to Part-Time Availability:Since this is a part-time position, it's super important to specify your availability in your cover letter. We want to know when you can work and how you plan to balance this role with other commitments. Highlight your motivation for joining Museums Galleries Scotland and why this flexibility fits your lifestyle.
Highlight Relevant Qualifications:If you have any certifications related to finance or accounting (like ACCA or CIMA), make sure they're front and centre in your application. Even if you're studying towards a qualification, mention that too! It shows your commitment to the field and continuous improvement.
How to prepare for a job interview at Museums Galleries Scotland
✨Get comfy with numbers!
Since you're diving into financial controlling, be ready to crunch some numbers during the interview. Brush up on key financial concepts and be prepared for technical questions about budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis. Practicing some numerical problems will really help us shine!
✨Show off your analytical skills
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✨Bring your portfolio of wins
Even if it’s part-time, showcasing our past experience can set us apart. Gather examples of projects where you implemented financial controls or helped improve reporting processes. Concrete achievements give us an edge, showing that we can deliver real value to Museums Galleries Scotland.
✨Know the part-time game
With part-time roles, employers want to see that we can effectively manage our time. Be ready to discuss our availability and how we plan to balance work and other commitments. We should convey our motivation and readiness to contribute without compromising quality!
