Finance Manager

The Society of Authors

Hours
35 hours per week

About the Organisation

Society of Authors is the UK trade union for writers, illustrators, scriptwriters, and literary translators. We’ve been advising individuals and speaking out for the profession since 1884. With almost 12,500 members and 33 staff, the SoA provides unlimited, free advice on all aspects of the writing profession, including the confidential, clause-by-clause vetting of publishing agreements, publications, and a wide range of benefits.

We empower authors through campaigning, professional training, events, conferences, special interest groups, and community networks. We also manage around 15 charities which provide prizes and grants to writers, and we manage over 50 literary estates.

About the role

The Finance Manager leads the operational management of the finance function to ensure there are robust financial controls, effective reporting, and efficient day-to-day financial operations across the organisation, including our ancillary charities and literary estates. The postholder is expected to foster excellent working relationships across the organisation with all staff, member volunteers, senior colleagues, board members, and charity trustees. Reporting directly to the Chief Operations Officer, the Finance Manager has significant responsibility for:

• Management accounts and reporting
• Budgeting and forecasting
• Cashflow oversight
• Audit and compliance
• Financial controls and process improvement
• Operational financial analysis

Responsibilities

Day-to-day Financial Management:

• Manage the day-to-day finances for the organisation. Ensuring all aspects of the financial systems are accurate and kept updated, including banking, sales, and purchase ledgers.
• Manage the finances for our 14 charities. Ensure all aspects of the financial systems are kept updated.
• Undertake monthly reconciliations, ensuring all transactions are properly and efficiently recorded.
• Prepare quarterly VAT returns for the organisation, including the partial VAT exemption calculation.
• Oversee the management and appropriate allocation of any restricted funds for the charities, ensuring that monies are allocated as per donor wishes or grant specifications.
• Prepare any ad hoc budget request and figures for other departments or the management.
• Regularly review and maintain financial policies and procedures.
• Support with funding bids and reports for donors and grant-making bodies. 

Budget Process Management:

• Work closely with the Chief Operating Officer on preparing the annual budgets for the organisation and our ancillary charities.
• Prepare quarterly figures for review, explaining any variation from budgeted figures.
• Monitor the actual spend against budgets for all the charities.
• Ensure adequate cash flow to meet the needs of the organisation and our charities in consultation with the Chief Operating Officer and Head of Charities.
• Work closely with all Departmental Heads to ensure they fully understand their budgets and ongoing organisational performance against budget. 

Statutory Reporting:

• Assist the Chief Operating Officer with the preparation of the organisation’s accounts.
• One of the main points of liaison with the external auditors is ensuring all supporting papers are collated for an efficient and effective annual audit to take place.
• Maintain fixed asset register and inventory of all equipment contracts and agreements.
• Ensure adequate controls are in place to safeguard the financial assets of the organisation.
• Lead on preparing all our charity accounts.
• Assist the COO to ensure the organisation and its ancillary charities are compliant with statutory bodies and external institutions, including:
  • Companies House
  • Certification office
  • Charity Commission
  • HMRC
  • All banks and payment processors

Financial Risk Management:

• Work with the Chief Operating Officer to ensure that the appropriate processes are in place for the long-term financial viability of the organisation.
• Develop, update, and produce long-term cashflow forecasts for both the organisation and our ancillary charities.
• Ensure appropriate financial risk management techniques and controls are in place at strategic and operational levels.

Governance support to the Finance Sub-Committee and Charity Trustees:

• Assist in the preparation of all associated papers and minutes for the Finance Sub- Committee.
• Assist the Chief Operating Officer in preparing papers for the Board and Charity Trustees.

Skills, Competencies, Experience & Attributes

Essential:

• Minimum part-qualified accountant or qualified by experience with strong financial management experience, with an ability to understand the practical impact of finance decisions and processes across the organisation.
• Strong IT skills, including the Microsoft Office suite, in particular Excel, and experience in using databases.
• Experience in using Sage 50 Cloud Accounts.
• Significant experience and confidence in managing a full range of finance operations in a small or medium-sized organisation in the not-for-profit sector.
• Confident in presenting financial information to non-financial audiences.
• Demonstrates excellent attention to detail, organisation and communication skills.
• Resilience in working under pressure, ability, and willingness to both give and take constructive feedback.
• Bring ideas for improvements and is open and honest in all communications where relevant and appropriate.
• Ability to work with the Chief Operating Officer to develop the formulation of long-term financial plans and strategies for the society and its ancillary charities.

Desirable Skills:

• Specialist knowledge of Charities, including Charity SORP guidance and procedures, underpinned by strong theoretical knowledge and practical experience.
• Experience of working for a trade union or a membership organisation.
• Tax and charities law, including a good understanding of partially exempt VAT status

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Flexible, family-friendly, disability confident working practices
• Generous annual leave, including all bank holidays
• Generous employer contributions to a group pension plan
• Good work/life blend – minimal additional hours required
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Employee perks scheme
• Private healthcare options
• Interest-free annual travel card loan
• Cycle-to-work scheme
• Death-in-service benefit
• Ongoing development opportunities
• Office closure over Christmas

Working locations

• Hybrid model, working in the London office and remotely

How to apply

• To apply, please send your CV and a personal statement as a single document (max. 3 x A4 pages) to: [email protected]
• To arrange an informal conversation about this role, please contact [email protected]

Interviews

• First Interviews will be held the week commencing Monday, 20th July 2026

Policies

Equity, diversity, and inclusion are core SoA values. We aim to tackle structural discrimination and prejudice. Part of this commitment means we are looking to increase diversity in our organisation at all levels and in all forms. We therefore strongly encourage applications from a broad range of social, cultural, educational, and underrepresented backgrounds.

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