Job Description

SSE are seeking a Senior Finance Consultant from mid-December / early January for approximately 3 months on a part time basis. The consultant will be available 2 - 3 days a week with flexibility around days / times.

SSE’s Head of Finance will leave in mid-December, and it is unlikely that she will be replaced before early 2022. She has kindly agreed to work 1.5 days a week from January until her successor is in post. Nevertheless, this will leave a capacity gap in terms of urgent project work and business as usual. Specifically, in the period January – March budgeting and planning for 2022/3 will take place. It is essential that we have adequate capacity to complete this exercise on time.

At the same time, SSE’s current finance software and systems are no longer fit for purpose. They require upgrading to accommodate the increased volume and complexity, with users across the organisation upskilled accordingly. In parallel, and pending completion of this exercise, we are aiming to introduce a number of short-term “quick fixes” to make the current finance software more user friendly and ensure that information contained in it is up to date. We are also aware that we may soon reach the threshold for VAT and need to understand and address this in a timely fashion.

The Consultant will have demonstrable experience of managing a finance function (preferable in a small / medium sized charity), including annual budgeting and planning. S/he will have led on the introduction of new finance software and systems in a comparable organisation and have a good understanding of VAT implications for UK charities.