Finance Manager (Financial Accounting)

ISEAL Alliance

Hours
25 hours per week

Start date
January 2026

About the Organisation

ISEAL supports ambitious sustainability systems and their partners to tackle the world’s most pressing sustainability challenges – from the climate emergency and biodiversity crisis to human rights and persistent poverty. ISEAL Community Members include many of the most respected sustainability schemes worldwide and are active across a diverse range of sectors. Our values are Connection, Empowerment, Inspiration, Well-being, Creativity, and Celebration. These are traits we value in each other and in the organisation overall, and we instil these in all our processes and interactions.

The issues we work on are of a global nature, and our team reflects this, with individuals from many different backgrounds and nationalities. We know this diversity adds to the high quality of work we deliver as an organisation, and through our commitment to diversity and inclusion, we want to add strengths and perspectives to our team with each recruitment. Diversity for us includes race and gender identity, age, disability status, sexual orientation, religion, and many other areas forming part of someone´s identity. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. As an organisation, we also support our people in their personal and professional development, with specific budgets and processes enabling individuals to take advantage of growth and development opportunities.

About the role

ISEAL is looking for a Finance Manager to manage the day-to-day finance function in a sustainability-focused international not-for-profit organisation. The Finance Manager, Financial Accounting, is a hands-on role, leading a mostly remote team of 3 part-time staff, who collectively process all ISEAL’s transactions. They report to and work closely with the Finance & Operations Director, playing an important role in ensuring that ISEAL’s finance system operates effectively.

The successful candidate will bring the technical know-how of a qualified accountant, the ability to support colleagues, an eye for detail and be happy managing a varied workload, both for themselves and the team. ISEAL has recently implemented Sage Intacct accounting software, and an initial priority for the role will be to support the team to improve their familiarity with and exploitation of the new system as well as supporting the roll-out of new functionality across the organisation.

In return, ISEAL offers involvement in all aspects of the financial management of an international NGO environment, an inspiring insight into the world of sustainability initiatives and a supportive, flexible organisational culture. ISEAL is the global membership organisation for sustainability systems and includes many of the most respected sustainability schemes worldwide. ISEAL members cover social and environmental sustainability issues from labour rights and sustainable livelihoods to biodiversity conservation, and are active across a diverse range of sectors.

Responsibilities

Team Management:

• Oversee a team of 3 (2 direct reports) who process ISEAL’s day-to-day transactions, incl. purchase ledger, sales ledger and staff expenses, credit cards and payroll accounting
• Coordinate work planning, payment runs and monthly/quarterly accounting processes
• Work with the Finance Director to hold effective monthly face-to-face team meetings.
• At times, provide backup and support to the different roles in the team
• Line manage, support and provide development and growth opportunities to direct reports

Financial Accounting:

• Responsible for and oversee the capture of all day-to-day transactions in ISEAL’s accounting records
• Reconcile balance sheet accounts on a monthly and quarterly basis
• Oversee the payroll accounting, including 4 overseas payrolls
• Review VAT treatment of transactions and prepare VAT returns for review, and submit them to HMRC
• Oversee timesheet processes and the calculation/allocation of staff costs into the accounting system
• Consolidate ISEAL’s accounts and forecasts into management accounting packs
• Support in the preparation of the statutory accounts

Wider Responsibilities:

• Support the evolution of financial accounting procedures that are robust, effective and efficient, incl. acting as an administrator on Sage Intacct accounting software
• Engagement with the wider organisation on questions of accounting processes

Skills, Competencies & Experience

Experience, Knowledge & Attributes:

• Solid professional work experience in overseeing a finance function, ideally in an international setting, using multiple currencies 
• Competent in the use and exploitation of accounting systems
• Proficiency with Excel and the ability to analyse, manipulate and present data to non-finance colleagues
• High level of accuracy in own work and ability to check work done by others
• Excellent organisational and time management skills, with the ability to establish priorities for self and others
• Ability to respond flexibly to the demands of the role and work collaboratively in a small finance team 
• Well-honed interpersonal skills, displaying professionalism, tact and awareness of others, including sensitivity to cultural differences and perceptions
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with colleagues, including remotely, where most interaction will be virtual
• Excellent written and spoken English
• Ability to manage and motivate others  

Additionally Desirable:

• Experience with grant donor reporting and international charity VAT (Reverse charge place of supply and business/non-business input tax recovery)
• Interest in and motivated by issues of sustainable consumption and/or environmental issues

Required Qualifications

• ACA, ACCA or CIMA qualification, or equivalent level experience

Compensation & Benefits

• 25 days of annual leave and an increase of 5 days

Conditions of employment

• Applicants will need to provide evidence that they are entitled to work in the UK

Working locations

• Hybrid model, working in the London office and remotely
• The post holder may be required to undertake occasional international travel

How to apply

• Interested candidates, apply online
• Specific enquiries about this role and the application process can be sent to [email protected]. 4th Application Deadline January.
• Please note that we would like to see candidates´ own writing in the cover letter and discourage the use of AI for this purpose.

Interviews

• Please note that we will only contact shortlisted applicants. 
• Please see below the planned interview process (please note that we will endeavour to keep to this schedule, but some dates may be subject to change)
• First interviews (Teams): 9th-12th January
• Pre-interview timed exercises (between 60 – 90 minutes from home): 
• Panel interviews (in person): 21st January 2025
• Decision: w/c 26th January

Policies

If candidates require additional time or other considerations for the interview process, we are committed to accommodating any reasonable requests. Please note that ISEAL will cover travel expenses for in-person interviews for candidates travelling from outside of Greater London. ISEAL also covers caring expenses for candidates who are carers and need to arrange cover for the duration of the interview/exercises.

Return to listing