Work with us: Finance and Operations Director

Posted 2 years ago

Job Description 

  • Reports to: Chief Executive
  • Contract: Initially 24 months, to be extended by mutual agreement. There will be a three-month probationary period. 
  • Hours: Full time – 35 hours per week
  • Remuneration: £50,000 per annum
  • Annual leave: 26 days plus bank holidays 
  • Location: Home working with regular travel for meetings and events 
  • Awards for Young Musicians is committed to tackling the systemic inequalities of opportunity across the arts sector. We welcome applications from across UK society.

About Awards for Young Musicians

Awards for Young Musicians (AYM) exists because musical talent is everywhere but opportunity isn’t: family finances and other obstacles too often get in the way. We’re here to change this in two key ways: 

  • We support young musicians from low-income families with funding and other help
  • We support music education through training, advocacy and research. 

AYM became an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation in April 2023 and also joined an expanded cohort of National Youth Music Organisations (NYMOs). We currently support around 900 individual young people across the UK every year and demand for our support is increasing. It’s an exciting time to join a pioneering organisation at the forefront of British music education.

The Role

AYM is growing rapidly. This new role will provide the financial and operational leadership that will enable AYM to deliver its strategy.

Purpose of the role

  • To take responsibility for AYM’s effective financial management, organisational infrastructure and planning, data and IT systems and HR function.
  • To ensure the effective implementation of AYM’s business plan.

Reporting

  • Reports to the Chief Executive


Responsible for

  • Finance Officer (part-time freelance contractor)
  • Systems Consultant (part-time freelance contractor)
  • Digital and Communications Co-ordinator (full-time staff member)
  • Monitoring and Evaluation Manager (part-time staff member)
  • Other Consultants engaged for specific activity.

Please click here to download the full job description for a detailed list of responsibilities.

Person specification

Skills and Experience

We are looking for someone who has the following knowledge, skills and experience: 

  • Fully Qualified CIMA, ACCA or ICAEW 
  • Strong Quickbooks experience or similar. AYM currently also uses GoCardless, although we will be moving to another online donation system during 2024.
  • Proven experience of managing systems and processes 
  • A full understanding of charity accounting 
  • At least five years’ relevant professional experience, including managing others
  • Demonstrable experience in managing organisational change
  • Experience of working on own initiative and demonstrable self-leadership 
  • Able to proactively prioritise time to ensure focus on the right priorities 
  • A clear communicator, effective at presenting information to a variety of stakeholder needs, verbally and in writing. 

The following would also be desirable: 

  • A passion for the arts and young people 
    • Experience of claiming Gift Aid 
    • Experience of working with sensitive data together with an understanding of current data legislation GDPR.

Terms and conditions

  • Contract: a 24 month fixed term contract from April 2024 to March 2026 inclusive, to be extended by mutual agreement.
  • Salary: £50,000 per annum.
  • Hours: 35 hours per week. This is not a 9 to 5 position, and the post holder will be able to work flexibly. Weekend or evening work may occasionally be required: however this work can be organised well in advance. 
  • Access to a computer and digital storage facilities will be made available if necessary. 
  • Expenses including travel costs will be paid monthly in arrears on production of relevant receipts.
  • Place of work: From your own home and other locations as required. 

How to apply

Please complete the Applicant Details Form, Application Form and optional Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form and return these to Neil Phillips: [email protected] 

Key dates

  • The deadline for applications is 9.00 am on Monday 5 February 2024. Applicants invited to interview will hear from us by the following morning, Tuesday 6 February.
  • Interviews will be held in person in central London on Tuesday 13 February 2024. Please note that it won’t be possible to offer alternative dates. 
  • The position is available to start from April 2024. A specific date will be negotiated with the successful candidate. 

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