At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead financial monitoring for property and assets, driving improvements through effective reporting.
- Company: Join Southway Housing Trust, a community-focused housing association in Greater Manchester.
- Benefits: Competitive salary with potential increase, hybrid working, and a commitment to diversity.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth in a supportive and inclusive environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on community housing while developing your finance skills.
- Qualifications: Advanced accounts skills, strong Excel proficiency, and excellent communication abilities.
The predicted salary is between 49934 - 51783 £ per year.
Finance Manager – Property & Assets
Location: Hybrid home working / Didsbury / Manchester
Salary: 49,934 increasing to 51,783 after 6 months
Full Time: 35 hours per week / Permanent
About Us
Southway Housing Trust is a committed and forward‑thinking community focused housing association dedicated to providing excellent homes and outstanding customer care. With a vision of Thriving Communities, Southway manages over 6,500 homes across Greater Manchester. Southway strives to reduce child poverty, loneliness and isolation and increase employment, social connectedness and pride in neighbourhoods. Our REACH values of Respect, Equity, Ambition, Compassion and Honesty reflect Southway\'s culture, how we deliver our services, and our relationships with customers, colleagues and partners. Southway values diversity in all aspects of its communities and operations.
Candidates / Role
An exciting opportunity has arisen in the Finance team for a Finance Manager – Property & Assets to lead Southway Group\'s financial monitoring of its property and assets programme. This will entail collaborative work with service managers whilst preparing and reporting KPIs to demonstrate performance and driving improvements through internal controls and processes.
You will also have:
- Advanced accounts and general ledger skills.
- Excellent verbal communication skills, able to explain financial information to residents and manage relations with internal customers effectively.
- Strong Excel skills, with a knowledge of a range of functions and their application.
Responsibilities
- Lead the development of effective reporting tools and financial data reports for the Property Services and Assets Teams to support the provision of good quality information for decision making, including concise written reports for the Executive and others.
- Regular reporting of key performance indicators to show performance against targets (operational and financial), trends and any risk to Southway including non‑compliance, reduced income/spend levels, loss of grant, ensuring escalation where necessary to develop remedial actions.
- Contrast the results of stock condition surveys to Business Plan assumptions. Prepare and monitor long term budgets based on data from various sources including programme schedules, survey results and data from housing management system. This should outline any slippage, savings, acceleration and overspends, with corresponding impacts on current and future year budgets.
- Support preparation of programme returns and grant claims to external partners (identifying works, administration and staffing elements), ensuring all data and explanations are evidenced with colleagues before submission.
- Prepare fixed asset register and general ledger entries using data from the stock investment programme to ensure the accountancy for the capital works costs and related grant are correctly identified for individual properties and components.
- Prepare budgets for Property Services including analysis of different workstreams (and agree recharges between DLO and the client) to ensure value for money is achieved via operational delivery.
- Ensure the Finance Apprentice (Property & Assets) liaises productively with budget holders to analyse results and consider actions to deliver effective budgetary control.
- Identify and drive improvements in processes and procedures which impact the financial performance of the repairs and maintenance service.
- Assist budget holders to operate an effective system of electronic purchase order and invoice authorisation routines, resolving individual users\' difficulties. Support budget holders to enable them to navigate through the financial processes, including the NOPO report, to improve data integrity and accurately record costs and grant income to be accrued.
- Provide information to Finance Operations team supporting the preparation of monthly management accounts, annual statutory accounts and other reports as required (e.g. Funders Report) outlining performance and explanations on variances.
Closing Date: Monday 13 October 2025
Interview Date: w/c Monday 20 October 2025
For an informal discussion about this role please contact Bhups Gohil, Assistant Director of Finance.
We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from suitably skilled people from all sectors of the community.
All applicants who have a disability or are ex armed forces that meet the minimum essential criteria for the post will be invited to interview. If you have a disability or are ex armed forces, please tell us about this on your application form and please let us know about any special arrangements you would like us to make if you are invited in for an interview.
Finance Manager - Property & Assets in Manchester employer: Southway Housing Trust
Southway Housing Trust is an exceptional employer that prioritises community well-being and employee development, offering a hybrid working model that promotes work-life balance. With a strong commitment to its REACH values of Respect, Equity, Ambition, Compassion, and Honesty, employees are encouraged to grow within a supportive environment that values diversity and fosters collaboration. The Finance Manager role not only provides competitive salary progression but also the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the financial health of the community's housing services.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Finance Manager - Property & Assets in Manchester
✨Tap into Campus Networks
If you're still in uni, don’t forget to engage with your campus's career services and attend finance-related events. Banks often do presentations and recruitment drives on campus, so put yourself out there and make use of these opportunities to show off your passion for the field.
✨Get Certified
Consider pursuing relevant certifications like the CFA or ACCA while you’re job hunting. They not only beef up your CV but also connect you with professional bodies which can lead to networking opportunities and even job openings in banking and financial services.
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Join finance-focused groups on platforms like LinkedIn and engage in discussions. This can really help you stand out from the crowd, allowing potential employers to see your knowledge and interest in industry trends. Plus, you might stumble upon job postings shared exclusively within the group.
✨Apply Directly and Be Proactive
Don’t shy away from reaching out directly to firms like Southway Housing Trust. Use their websites and apply through them, but also consider following up with a polite email to express your enthusiasm. Being proactive can make a huge difference in getting noticed in the competitive financial services sector.
We think you need these skills to ace Finance Manager - Property & Assets in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Numbers!:In the banking and financial services world, quantifiable achievements are key. Make sure your CV highlights your grades in relevant subjects, any financial certifications you hold, and specific projects where you've delivered measurable results. Employers love to see how your skills translate into real-world success.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Role:When applying for a full-time position, your cover letter should make a direct connection between your experience and the job description. Don't just state your enthusiasm for finance—dive into how your background in banking or financial analysis sets you apart. Let your passion shine through while being specific about what you can bring to Southway Housing Trust.
Include Relevant Financial Software Experience:If you've worked with financial modelling tools or software like Excel, SAP, or specific analytical tools during your studies or internships, bring that up! Highlighting your proficiency can really make your application pop and show you're ready to hit the ground running in a full-time role.
Research and Reflect:Before hitting that 'apply' button on Southway Housing Trust's website, do a little digging. Look up their recent projects, values, and culture. Reflecting their ethos in your application can make a huge difference and show you’re genuinely interested in being part of the team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Southway Housing Trust
✨Brush Up on Financial Analysis Skills
Make sure you're well-versed in financial concepts and analytical techniques relevant to banking and financial services. Get comfortable with tools like Excel for modelling or financial forecasting, as technical questions in this area are common during interviews with Southway Housing Trust.
✨Prepare for Case Studies
Expect to tackle case studies that demonstrate your problem-solving skills in real-world banking scenarios. Familiarise yourself with the types of problems you might face—think risk assessments or investment evaluations—and be ready to articulate your thought process clearly.
✨Show Your Passion for Finance
Since this is a full-time position, employers at Southway Housing Trust will be keen to see your genuine interest in finance. Be prepared to discuss recent industry trends or news articles that excite you, showcasing your enthusiasm and engagement with the field.
✨Network with Industry Professionals
Before your interview, reach out to current or former Southway Housing Trust employees on platforms like LinkedIn. They'll offer unique insights into the company's culture and the interview process, which can give us a delightful edge in showcasing a good fit for the team.
