Finance Manager: The Donaldson Trust in Linlithgow

The Company Rutherford Cross is delighted to be retained by The Donaldson Trust, a leading Scottish charity that provides a range of services and support to Neurodiverse children, young people, and adults.

The Individual

You will be a Qualified, Part-Qualified or suitably qualified by experience Accountant nearing completion, with great interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate with a variety of stakeholders. You will have a real passion for the charitable sector, whilst being driven to deliver accounting excellence. You will have excellent problem-solving skills that will enable you to adapt to challenges that you may face while working and the ability to ask questions and support the team around you. You will have excellent attention to detail and the ability to meet tight deadlines in a collaborative organisation. As a driven individual, you will want to take on responsibility for your work, ensuring it is of a high standard and constantly striving to improve.

The Role

Your role will support the client’s finance function as the organization grows. You will be involved in an organization that focuses on individualised, person‑centred, skills‑based learning for children and young people up to age 18 with complex additional support needs, including autism, sensory impairment, and communication difficulties. The position suits someone passionate about supporting a charitable organization and keen to implement change to help move the business forward.

Responsibilities include providing timely monthly management accounts, overseeing the fortnightly and monthly payroll process, delivering regular cash‑flow forecasts, preparing long‑term forecasts, and reviewing and supporting quarterly VAT returns.

Main Responsibilities

• Shape the future by supporting the ongoing development and implementation of the Donaldson Trust's 10‑year strategic plan, working closely with the Head of Strategy and Resources and colleagues at all levels, to achieve the Trust's vision for the future.
• Lead, develop and manage the Finance and Systems Team in the delivery of effective and efficient financial management services, facilitating and demonstrating a culture where the Trust's desired behaviours, attitudes, integrity, and unique personality are communicated to, and reflected in, the corresponding everyday work, actions, and attitudes of the team.
• Ensure that the Trust's strategy and vision are articulated, shared, and understood at all levels and are translated into agreed objectives and plans.
• Provide accurate and timely financial and accounting information—including monthly, quarterly, and year‑end accounts, cash‑flow analysis, forecasts, and budgets.
• Create financial budgeting and forecasting models, finance policies and procedures, and develop and implement the Trust's finance and systems strategy.
• Ensure all accounting activity complies with relevant financial regulations and best practice and monitor all financial transactions.
• Accountable to the internal and external auditors for annual monitoring and, as required, deliver on HMRC reporting, and be responsible for all statutory accounts' preparation, reporting and compliance in accordance with the SORP and charity regulations.
• Provide cost and efficiency leadership, reducing the Trust's costs where possible and undertaking cost‑benefit analysis for financial opportunities on an ongoing basis.
• Lead the Trust's annual budget process ensuring full involvement of budget holders and the Executive Team.
• Advise and support department leads/budget holders on planning, spending and management of their budget.
• Responsible for payroll activity, sales and purchase invoicing processing and all transactional bank and investment reconciliations.
• Understand and convey to others financial regulation, legislation, and developments and how they will impact the Trust.
• Lead the annual insurance renewal programme ensuring the best value and that the appropriate cover is always in place.
• Maintain the Trust's Fixed Asset Register, undertaking asset verification and providing regular reports on asset condition and appropriateness of accounting policy.
• Responsible for effective and efficient financial operations including reviewing, maintaining, and implementing new systems and processes, including accounting and payroll software packages.

Experience & Qualifications

• Qualified by Experience, Qualified or Part-Qualified Accountant nearing completion (CA/ACCA/CIMA/ICAEW).
• Experience and expertise in the use of Microsoft Office packages.
• Comprehensive knowledge and experience in accounting and finance regulations.
• Able to understand, collect, analyse, report and present data, with meticulous attention to detail.
• Excellent verbal, written and presentation communication skills and the ability to work effectively with a range of stakeholders and convey complex financial information simply and clearly.
• Strategic thinker, able to deliver a vision of the future organisation.
• Highly numerate, with an understanding of the company finances including P+L, Balance sheet, cash flow, financing strategies etc.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with an ability to articulate financial information in an engaging and informative way to non-financial colleagues.
• Naturally inquisitive, being prepared to ask “why” and constructively challenge others.