South Bank Students Union is a non-for-profit organisation, which champions social mobility through education and has a vision to disrupt the cycle of inequality in higher education. 

We are looking for a Finance Manager to join our new team as we embark on a five-year strategy to transform the way we engage and support students to help them reach their full potential.  

South Bank students have high expectations and ambitions for themselves but lead complex lives where they are faced with the pressures of trying to balance their studies with work and juggling their lives at home. In fact, many don't identify primarily as students, but instead as carers, nurses, engineers, parents, designers, workers, entrepreneurs, apprentices, last chance learners and Londoners. 

At South Bank Students' Union we believe that a student's background and life circumstances should not put them at an educational disadvantage, and all students deserve a high-quality University experience and the chance to graduate equipped with the tools to succeed in life. This role would suit someone who shares this vision. 

We are looking for an experienced finance professional to line manage the finance team, and provide excellent financial management for the Union's newly incorporated company. You will be part of the senior management team, supporting them in making effective financial decisions and ensuring good governance to further the transformation of the organisation and pursue our mission. You will be responsible for producing budgets, improving and implementing policies and processes; providing timely and accurate management information, processing payroll, ensuring statutory compliance; supporting the annual audit process and supervising daily bookkeeping and banking. 

This role would suit someone who either holds an accounting qualification; is working towards one; or who is comparably qualified through experience. This is a part-time role, and it is expected you will work either 3 or 4 days per week. 

Students' Unions are fast-paced, creative environments, and we pride ourselves on providing employment and development opportunities for students and graduates who are taking the first steps on their career path. Therefore we are looking for someone who enjoys these kinds working environments and is able to adapt their approach and working styles if necessary to help others thrive. You will also be able to explain complex financial information and principles to non-finance staff so they can understand and develop their financial literacy. 

Commitment to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

SBSU’s simple vision of disrupting inequality is the heartbeat of the organisation and it is this which steers its decisions, practice, and priorities. It unifies our services, and it drives our staff to remove societal barriers so that all people can achieve their full potential.

SBSU believes that in order to truly disrupt inequality for its members, it must also strive to do this for its workforce – in short, staff must experience it in order to deliver it!

Our Union benefits enormously from having a team of staff with a range of diverse lived experiences. We understand that some life circumstances might be more complex, and that some will have had to overcome more barriers. We value the unique perspectives that are formed by an individual’s background and believe that ‘bringing your whole self to work’ is essential for informed decision making and collaboration and paves the way for high performance so we welcome applications from all, especially if your background and circumstances are traditionally under-represented in the workplace.  

Process 

To apply, you will need to:

• submit a copy of your CV
• submit a supporting statement (a maximum of two sides of A4) that details your interest in, and suitability for the role in PDF format.
• answer some questions relating to your eligibility for employment.
• provide some details about your individual identity (not mandatory) 

Candidates will be shortlisted based on how well their application demonstrates they meet the criteria in the job description and person specification. Your CV will provide information on your education and work experience, however, your supporting statement is your chance to show why you are right for the role and an opportunity to stand out from others. It should provide clear and relevant examples of how you have met the key criteria, and the successes you have had in your previous roles. An application which does not provide this detail is unlikely to make it through to an interview so please take the time to make sure you have given this full consideration.

Applications should be submitted electronically via the link by 23:59pm on Sunday 25 July 2021, however, interviews for this role will take place on a rolling basis - as and when applications are submitted. If a suitable candidate is identified they may be appointed before the deadline and applications will be closed at that point, therefore early application is strongly encouraged.

Shortlisted candidates will receive an invitation to an interview, most likely held virtually, with a panel of SU staff and elected officers and may also include some practical scenario-based tasks.

The students’ union is unable to offer feedback to non shortlisted candidates; however, every applicant will be informed of the outcome of their application. 

Accessibility

We encourage applications from candidates from a broad range of backgrounds and life circumstances and want to make sure that this recruitment process is accessible to all. We also recognise that this recruitment process, and the opportunity to join the organisation, is taking place during a period of major instability and uncertainty in the wider world, so should you require support related to this process or attending a digital interview, please let us know at any point during the process via hello@lsbsu.org.