Finance Officer in Milton Keynes

The Finance Officer will play a key role in maintaining strong financial controls, ensuring data accuracy, and supporting the effective stewardship of resources across the organisation.

Key responsibilities:

• Financial Operations

• Act as the first point of contact for finance-related queries, responding or escalating as appropriate.
• Contribute to the effective day-to-day financial operations across the Church and associated entities.
• Process and accurately record income and expenditure transactions in line with internal processes.
• Maintain accurate, complete, and audit-ready financial records.
• Support the handling, recording, and secure processing of cash and cheque income in line with established procedures.
• Prepare and arrange the banking of funds, ensuring accurate reconciliation to financial records.
• Support financial processes across multiple related entities, including appropriate allocation of income and costs.
• Process and reconcile inter-entity transactions where required.
• Investigate and resolve discrepancies, escalating issues where appropriate.

• Administer all income streams, including donations, events, and charitable and commercial activities.
• Maintain accurate records of donor giving and ensure appropriate allocation of funds.
• Process Gift Aid claims in compliance with relevant regulations and maintain supporting documentation.
• Reconcile giving records with bank and system data, investigating and resolving discrepancies.
• Support donor communications, including responding to queries and preparing giving statements and related communications.

• Process supplier invoices, staff and volunteer expenses, and other payments in a timely manner.
• Ensure all transactions are appropriately authorised and coded in line with financial controls.
• Support the preparation and execution of payment runs.
• Raise invoices and manage incoming payments, including monitoring outstanding balances and following up where necessary.
• Prepare and process payments, including international transactions where required, ensuring accuracy and appropriate authorization.

• Maintain and apply financial controls, including approval processes and expense policies.
• Support fraud prevention measures, including verification of payment details and appropriate segregation of duties.
• Ensure compliance with charity finance requirements, including Gift Aid and restricted fund management.
• Maintain accurate and audit-ready financial records and supporting documentation.
• Maintain appropriate controls over cash handling and banking processes.
• Support the integrity and accuracy of financial data across systems.

• Assist with period-end processes, including reconciliations and preparation of supporting schedules.
• Prepare draft financial reports and summaries for review by the Finance Manager.
• Provide basic analysis and commentary on financial performance where appropriate.
• Monitor bank balances and support cashflow awareness through regular updates and reporting.

• Use financial and related systems effectively to maintain data accuracy and efficiency.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, systems, and internal controls.
• Support the implementation of new systems or process improvements where required.

• Provide administrative and operational support to the Finance Manager as required.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of the finance function.
• Undertake other duties appropriate to the role.

• Will clearly live out, embrace and impart the culture of New Life Church through being Honouring, Courageous, Compassionate and Generous.
• Clearly demonstrate a heart and passion for the church and the city.
• Sincere acceptance, understanding and practice of the Christian ethos and purpose of the charity.
• Willingness and ability to communicate their own story of their faith journey.
• Positively promote the Christian faith in line with the objectives of New Life Church.