Finance Consultant - External Reporting (Interim)

RM Recruit is working with a West Midlands based charity who are recruiting an experienced Finance Consultant – External Reporting on an interim basis for circa 12 months. This role will play a key part in supporting the organisation to meet its statutory reporting requirements and successfully deliver its upcoming audits. This is a standalone project role focused on delivering several near-term objectives across the organisation’s external reporting and audit processes.

Main duties include:

• Lead the coordination and delivery of the organisation’s 2025 statutory audits, which have previously experienced delays and enhanced scrutiny.
• The role holder will take ownership of driving the process forward to ensure delivery ahead of the October 2026 reporting deadline.
• Working closely with Financial Controllers across multiple hubs and accountants involved in the statutory accounts preparation.
• Reviewing the year-end close process, ensuring journals are appropriately posted and year-end reporting (including accruals and revaluations) has been completed for the year ending December 2025.
• Ensuring and evidencing that ERP system balances across all entities reconcile with statutory accounts, including the 2024 filed accounts and the 2025 draft accounts.
• Reviewing and understanding the group consolidation workings and cashflow model, ensuring they are robust, appropriate and supported by clear evidence, including FX movement documentation for audit purposes.
• Acting as the lead contact for the external audit team, coordinating responses and working closely with the wider finance function to provide audit evidence and documentation.
• Managing and monitoring the audit portal, tracking actions, assigning ownership and ensuring timely responses to auditor requests.
• Producing fully documented, reconciled and reviewed audit files for both entities and the group consolidation, including clear version control and evidence of sign-off.
• Promoting and embedding consistent record-keeping standards across all hubs, ensuring suitable documentation and reconciliation practices are in place to support the audit process.
• Supporting the revision and improvement of statutory accounts documentation, including formatting and presentation updates in collaboration with the communications team.
• Managing relationships with key stakeholders including: CFO, Audit & Risk Committee, Board of Trustees and the External Audit Team.
• Alongside the delivery of the 2025 audit, the role holder will also help strengthen processes in preparation for the 2026 audit cycle.

Responsibilities will include:

• Applying lessons learned from the 2025 audit to improve financial reporting and audit readiness.
• Developing and embedding improved month-end close processes, reconciliations and financial controls.
• Establishing clear financial timetables and service level expectations across the finance function.
• Supporting the introduction of improved reporting disciplines such as formal financial period close processes.
• Working closely with Financial Controllers during the implementation of a new ERP, leveraging enhanced system capabilities to strengthen statutory reporting processes.

The successful candidate will be an experienced finance professional with a strong background in statutory reporting, audit delivery and financial controls, ideally within a complex or multi-entity environment. As the ideal candidate, you will be Qualified and available immediately / short notice. You will possess strong experience managing statutory accounts preparation and external audits and have an excellent understanding of financial reporting standards and audit requirements. Proven ability to drive process improvements and establish best practice is highly desirable along with strong stakeholder management skills, with experience working with senior leadership, trustees and external auditors. This role is working on site three days per week.

RM Recruit is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of race, gender, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, or age.