Finance Director

(We welcome proposals for flexible working arrangements)

£55k per annum

This is a newly created role, with responsibility for financial management ownedpreviously by the Executive Director, supported by the Head of Finance & Operations. Inthe refreshed structure operational and finance functions are separated.

The purpose of this role is to ensure the organisation is financially sustainable, well governed, and able to deliver its mission effectively.

You will lead the financial management of the organisation, ensuring robust financial control, high-quality reporting, and effective financial planning to support strategic decision-making and long-term sustainability.

This is a hands-on, collaborative role in a busy team, spanning both strategic and operational finance.

Being a success in this role will essentially balance three things at the same time:

Over the last two years the Festival has refreshed a number of our platforms and waysof working, including updating our CRM, ticketing and finance systems (Xero). We have worked with an external consultancy firm who have reviewed our systems and processes in finance and recommended new approaches; we are seeking a financialleader who can continue to progress this transformation, embedding new systems andways of working across the team, while managing the busy annual BAU financeoperations.

We are in year two of a refreshed Strategic Plan, with a focus on building organisational resilience, maximising income and building new revenue streams; our new Finance Director will play a key role in realising these ambitions.

The role will be the key liaison with the Audit & Risk Committee of the Board of Trustees.

Ownership of:

• Annual budgeting and reforecasting
• Multi-year financial planning
• Management accounts and Board reporting
• Audit preparation and statutory accounts
• Charity compliance and governance
• Financial controls and risk management
• Financial Governance frameworks including liaison with Audit and Risk Committee and Board engagement

• Prepare accurate monthly management accounts and financial reports
• Oversee annual budgets for Festival activity, year-round programmes, and operational functions
• Lead the preparation of statutory accounts and annual audit processes
• Ensure effective financial controls, procedures, and reporting systems are inplace
• Ad hoc financial modelling to inform decisions around specifical proposals or opportunities
• Oversee payroll, pensions, VAT, banking, and treasury functions
• Ensure timely and accurate financial reporting to funders, regulators, andtrustees

• Work collaboratively with wider teams to support Festival delivery
• Provide financial oversight of festival budgets, contracts, and event expenditure
• Work with teams to monitor and maximise income streams (including ticketmodelling), and to manage project expenditure
• Work with the team to explore new avenues for opportunity for the Festival.including commercial growth
• Support financial planning for new initiatives, partnerships, and audience development activity
• Balance artistic ambition with financial sustainability

• Support the development of funding applications and project budgets
• Monitor restricted and unrestricted funds
• Ensure compliance with grant conditions and reporting requirements
• Work with Fundraising and Development colleagues on income diversificationstrategies and forecasting
• Support financial reporting to funders and sponsors
• Support scenario planning and long-term financial strategy

• Work with the Operations Director to implement and embed newly adoptedsystems, processes, and ways of working
• Own financial systems (Xero and related tools)
• Hold overall accountability for financial data integrity across the organisation
• Lead financial aspects of integration with Spektrix and Artifax
• Work with the Operations Director to ensure consistency between financial,CRM, and operational data to…