At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead finance operations, ensuring accurate processing and strong financial controls.
- Company: Join Save the Children UK, a charity dedicated to improving children's lives.
- Benefits: Flexible working, health and wellbeing support, and a rewarding sense of purpose.
- Why this job: Make a real difference for children while developing your finance skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in finance operations and strong communication skills required.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
We are looking for an individual with strong finance operations experience to join us as our Finance Operations Officer, where you will work closely with colleagues across the organisation and with external partners to deliver an efficient, well-controlled and customer-focused finance service that maximises our impact for children.
About Us
Save the Children UK believes every child deserves a future. In the UK and around the world, we work every day to give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. When crisis strikes, and children are most vulnerable, we are always among the first to respond and the last to leave. We ensure children's unique needs are met and their voices are heard. We deliver lasting results for millions of children, including those hardest to reach.
About the role
As Finance Operations Officer, you will play a key role in delivering a high-quality finance operations service across the organisation. You will ensure accurate and timely processing of income and costs, maintain strong financial controls and reconciliations, and help colleagues across the business understand and use finance processes effectively. You will also work collaboratively with internal teams, external suppliers and partners, including Save the Children International and its member organisations, to support statutory and donor reporting, audits and continuous improvement across our finance systems and processes.
In this role, you will:
- Provide leadership and expert guidance on finance processes including income and cost accounting, reconciliations, retail controls, accounts payable and accounts receivable, ensuring services meet agreed service level agreements.
- Maintain strong financial control by owning and completing bank, cash and balance sheet reconciliations, identifying and resolving discrepancies promptly.
- Drive continuous improvement by identifying, designing and implementing enhancements to finance processes and systems to improve efficiency, controls and user experience.
- Ensure accurate and timely processing of financial transactions, supporting smooth month-end and year-end close and high-quality financial reporting.
- Support statutory and donor audits by responding to queries and providing clear, timely and well-documented evidence.
- Support treasury activities, ensuring payments and refunds are processed securely, on time and in line with organisational policies.
About you
To be successful, it is important that you have:
- Experience in a complex organisation delivering finance operations across income and cost accounting, reconciliations, retail controls, accounts payable and accounts receivable.
- Proven experience of month-end and year-end processes, including journals, data uploads, payment runs and resolving financial issues.
- Strong knowledge of financial accounting concepts and their application within a charity or not-for-profit environment.
- A proactive approach to identifying, developing and implementing controls and process improvements.
- Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to explain financial information clearly to non-financial colleagues and work collaboratively across teams.
- Strong organisational, analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage a varied workload and meet deadlines.
- Commitment to Save the Children's vision, mission and values.
What we offer you
Working for a charity provides one of the best benefits there is – a sense of purpose and reward for helping others. However, we understand the importance of giving back to our employees to ensure a happy and healthy working environment and work/life balance. We focus on flexibility, inclusion, collaboration, health and wellbeing both in and outside of work. We provide a wide range of benefits which will reward your hard work, motivate you, and inspire you to work to improve the lives of children every day.
To learn more about the position, please review the Job Description in the attached documents.
Fixed Term Contract / Internal Secondment Full / Part Time: Full time (flexible working options available)
Finance Operations Officer (7314) employer: Save the Children
Contact Detail:
Save the Children Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Finance Operations Officer (7314)
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the finance sector and let them know you're on the lookout for opportunities. You never know who might have the inside scoop on a role that’s perfect for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your finance operations knowledge. Be ready to discuss your experience with income and cost accounting, reconciliations, and how you've improved processes in the past. Show them you’re the expert they need!
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t just apply anywhere; focus on organisations that align with your values, like Save the Children. When you apply through our website, you’ll be part of a mission that truly makes a difference in children’s lives.
✨Tip Number 4
Follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can go a long way. It shows your enthusiasm for the role and keeps you fresh in their minds as they make their decision.
We think you need these skills to ace Finance Operations Officer (7314)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Finance Operations Officer role. Highlight your finance operations experience and any relevant skills that match the job description. We want to see how your background aligns with our mission!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about working with us at Save the Children UK. Share specific examples of your experience in finance operations and how you can contribute to our goals.
Showcase Your Teamwork Skills: Since this role involves collaboration with various teams, make sure to highlight your teamwork skills. We love candidates who can work well with others, so share examples of how you've successfully collaborated in past roles.
Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it gives you a chance to explore more about our organisation and values.
How to prepare for a job interview at Save the Children
✨Know Your Numbers
Brush up on your finance operations knowledge, especially around income and cost accounting, reconciliations, and financial controls. Be ready to discuss specific examples from your past experience that demonstrate your expertise in these areas.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare to share instances where you've identified and implemented process improvements in finance operations. Highlight how these changes benefited your previous organisation, focusing on efficiency and user experience.
✨Communicate Clearly
Practice explaining complex financial concepts in simple terms. Since you'll be working with non-financial colleagues, being able to communicate effectively is key. Think of examples where you successfully bridged the gap between finance and other teams.
✨Align with Their Mission
Familiarise yourself with Save the Children's mission and values. Be prepared to discuss why you're passionate about their work and how your skills can contribute to their goals, especially in delivering impactful finance services for children.