The Stables is based in Milton Keynes and is one of the UK’s leading music venues with a
vision to engage the widest range of people with music in all its diversity. We enrich people’s
lives by offering opportunities to access, participate in and experience live music and the arts
more broadly.
We present around 400 concerts and events each year across all genres, alongside an extensive
programme of learning and participation. We also founded and produce IF: Milton Keynes
International Festival, a multi-artform biennial event that transforms the city into a stage.
The Stables and IF: Milton Keynes International Festival are operating names of Wavendon
AllMusic Plan, a registered charity. We are proud of our reputation for world-class music and
events, a warm welcome and high standards of customer service.
The Stables is located in one of the UK’s fastest growing and most economically vibrant cities
and is part of Arts Council England’s National Portfolio.
Role Description
The Stables is seeking an experienced, hands‑on Finance Director to provide strategic and
operational financial leadership across the organisation’s charitable, trading, subsidiary, festival
and project activities. As a member of the Strategic Management Team, the postholder will lead
financial planning and help shape business planning, strengthen long‑term sustainability, lead
robust budgeting, reforecasting, cash flow forecasting and treasury management, and provide
clear financial insight and constructive advice to the Chief Executive & Artistic Director, senior
colleagues and the Board.
The role combines senior accountability with direct, hands‑on delivery. The postholder will
oversee rigorous and accurate financial management; charity, company, tax, funding and
data‑protection compliance; statutory accounts and audit; financial controls, records and
systems; funder reporting; investment, liquidity and risk; and agreed company‑secretarial and
governance support.
They will lead and develop the Finance team, support budget holders to manage resources
confidently, and personally prepare, complete or cover core processes such as management
accounts, forecasts, reconciliations, payroll, payment runs, statutory returns and year‑end
schedules when required.
Strong practical knowledge of charity accounting – including the Charities SORP, restricted
and designated funds, Gift Aid, statutory reporting and Charity Commission requirements – is
essential, together with the judgement to balance artistic ambition and charitable purpose with
financial sustainability, control and resilience.
Reporting to: Chief Executive & Artistic Director
Responsible for: A small, part‑time Finance team and any agreed finance, payroll, accounting or
company‑secretarial support.
Hours: Part‑time, up to 30 hours per week. The weekly hours and working pattern will be
agreed with the successful candidate and may be arranged flexibly to meet both individual and
organisational needs.
Salary
Circa £60,000-£65,000 per annum full-time equivalent, depending on experience and the
agreed scope, pro‑rated for the successful candidate’s contracted hours.
Qualifications and work related experience
- Fully qualified accountant – ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA or equivalent – with substantial post-qualification experience. Applications from candidates qualified by experience may also be considered where they can demonstrate equivalent technical expertise and senior-level responsibility.
- Significant experience of leading a finance function and team in a complex organisation.
- Strong technical knowledge and practical experience of charity accounting, including the Charities SORP, restricted and designated funds, statutory accounts, audit, Charity Commission reporting, VAT, Gift Aid, management accounts, budgeting, forecasting and cash flow management.
- Recent hands‑on experience in an SME, charity, owner‑managed or similarly lean environment, with the ability to prepare detailed financial outputs personally and operate effectively without large specialist teams.
- Experience of payroll oversight, trading‑subsidiary arrangements and maintaining effective financial controls, including segregation of duties and delegated authorities.
- Experience of finance‑systems implementation or development, data‑quality improvement, process review and management‑information design.
- Strong working knowledge of contemporary cloud‑based accounting software, with experience of using finance systems to improve controls, workflows, data quality, reporting and management information.
- Experience of annual budgeting, rolling forecasts, capital budgeting, business cases, investment appraisal and financial modelling for new activity or income streams.
- Experience of working with boards, senior leadership teams, auditors, banks, funders and statutory bodies.
Personal Qualities
- Ability to operate strategically and practically, moving confidently between advice to the Board and detailed financial delivery.
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain complex financial information clearly to nonfinance colleagues and support confident decision making.
- Strong leadership and people management skills, with the ability to support, develop and motivate a small finance team.
- High levels of accuracy, integrity, confidentiality and professional independence.
- Ability to work flexibly in a busy, creative environment where artistic ambition, public benefit and financial sustainability must be balanced.
- Positive, calm and resilient approach, with the confidence to advise constructively and challenge appropriately.
- Collaborative and supportive working style, with an interest in helping colleagues strengthen their financial understanding.
Other
- Commercial awareness and sound judgement, with an understanding of earned income, fundraising, project‑based activity and financial risk in a creative organisation.
- Interest in the arts and commitment to the charitable purpose of Wavendon AllMusic Plan, The Stables and IF: Milton Keynes International Festival.
- Commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion, good governance and safe working practices.
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