Finance Director

Awel Aman Tawe is a pioneering community energy charity working to tackle the climate emergency while strengthening community resilience. Founded in 1998, we have developed two of the largest renewable energy co‑operatives in Wales – Awel Co‑op (wind) and Egni Co‑op (solar and smart local energy systems). We are entering an exciting and pivotal phase. Alongside our established renewable energy assets, we are developing new infrastructure, including a solar farm and battery storage project (one of the UK’s first “tribrid” systems). We are also advancing shared ownership wind and solar projects with commercial developers – these are multi‑million pound projects and will be getting built over the next 2‑10 years. We are also expanding our portfolio of community, education and enterprise activities. As of end 2025, AAT and group companies have a combined balance sheet of more than £19m and turnover of £4m. Our work spans multiple legal and operational structures, including a charity, community benefit societies (co‑ops), trading activity and joint ventures. Hwb y Gors, our low‑carbon arts and enterprise centre, is a key part of our growing earned income and community development. We are a dynamic, values‑driven organisation with a strong track record and ambitious plans for the future.

Why this role matters

With increasing scale, complexity and ambition, we need a Finance Director who can ensure our financial systems, planning, and governance remain robust, agile and aligned with our mission. This role offers a rare opportunity to work across a diverse and evolving financial landscape — combining charitable funding, co‑operative structures, commercial income and major capital energy projects.

The Role

We are seeking an experienced, inquisitive and proactive Finance Director to provide strategic financial leadership across the organisation. As a key member of the senior leadership team, you will work closely with the CEO, Creative Director, Trustees and senior colleagues to shape organisational strategy, support decision‑making and ensure financial sustainability. You will bring clarity and insight across multiple entities and income streams, and play a central role in navigating complexity, including financial planning for large‑scale infrastructure and operating in a sector influenced by fluctuating energy markets. AAT is looking for someone who is committed and enthused to accelerate Wales towards net zero carbon and helping the community energy sector’s vital role in achieving this.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic leadership
  • Provide strategic financial leadership as part of the senior management team
  • Contribute to organisational strategy and provide constructive challenge and insight
  • Lead the development of long‑term financial plans and sustainable business models
  • Develop financial modelling and scenario planning, including for major capital projects
  • Support funding strategies (including liaison with banks), business cases and income diversification
• Financial Planning and Reporting
  • Lead the development of robust budgets, forecasts and financial models
  • Provide clear, insightful management accounts and financial reporting to SMT and Board
  • Ensure reporting supports effective decision‑making across the organisation
  • Oversee financial reporting to funders, lenders and stakeholders
• Operational finance and governance
  • Oversee day‑to‑day financial management and cash flow
  • Ensure strong financial controls, systems and processes are in place and continuously improved
  • Maintain and develop accounting systems (Xero) and reporting processes
  • Ensure compliance with all regulatory, legal and audit requirements
  • Lead the preparation of statutory accounts across multiple entities (including charity SORP and FCA requirements)
  • Manage relationships with auditors, banks, HMRC and funders
• Complexity and risk management
  • Consolidate and oversee finances across multiple entities and funding streams
  • Provide financial oversight of joint ventures and commercial activity
  • Undertake financial risk analysis, including for major capital and infrastructure projects
  • Provide scenario planning in relation to energy price volatility and income variability
• Income generation and projects
  • Support funding applications, grant claims and contract reporting
  • Contribute to development of earned income activities
  • Provide financial input into new projects, partnerships and investments
• Leadership and team development
  • Lead and support a small finance and administration team
  • Ensure appropriate financial controls and segregation of duties
  • Build financial understanding and confidence across the wider organisation

Person Specification

Essential experience

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CPFA or equivalent)
• Significant senior finance leadership experience in a complex organisation
• Strong experience of financial planning, budgeting, forecasting and modelling
• Experience of producing statutory and management accounts
• Experience of multi‑entity structures and financial consolidation
• Experience of charity finance, including SORP and restricted/unrestricted funds
• Track record of supporting strategic decision‑making through financial insight
• Experience working with multiple income streams (e.g. grants, trading, contracts)

Desirable Experience

• Experience of community energy, infrastructure or similar sectors
• Understanding of community benefit societies or co‑operative models
• Experience of working with joint ventures or shared ownership structures
• Experience of sectors with market‑driven or variable income (e.g. energy)

Skills and abilities

• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail
• Ability to communicate complex financial information clearly to non‑finance colleagues
• Strong commercial awareness and sound judgement
• Advanced Excel and financial modelling capability
• Ability to work independently and proactively
• Strong relationship‑building skills across diverse stakeholders

Personal qualities

• Inquisitive and curious – someone who actively interrogates and understands the numbers
• Proactive and solutions‑focused – comfortable taking initiative in a dynamic environment
• Strategically minded – able to connect financial insight with organisational goals
• Comfortable with complexity and ambiguity
• Collaborative and values‑led
• Committed to environmental sustainability and community wellbeing

Why join Awel Aman Tawe?

• Be part of one of the UK’s leading community energy organisations
• Work at the forefront of innovative renewable energy and social enterprise models
• Play a key role in tackling the climate crisis and supporting communities
• Help shape a financially resilient and ambitious organisation at a pivotal moment

Positions are open to all suitably qualified candidates regardless of age, disability, gender, marriage/civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.