Finance Manager
Job Title: Finance Manager (depending on experience)
Location: London, with frequent international travel of up to four months/year.
Reporting to: CEO
Salary: £30,000-35,000 (depending on experience)
Direct reports: Accountant.
Please send a covering letter and CV to Nick Sireau, Executive Director, at recruitment@solaraid.org, with the words ‘Finance Manager Application’ clearly written in the email subject line.
Deadline: 16 September at 5pm.
Interviews: Monday 5 October
About SolarAid
We believe that the two most important threats facing humanity today are climate change and
global poverty. SolarAid was launched in 2006 as a response to this and already has programmes
in Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia, Kenya and South America.
SolarAid is an innovative and fast-growing charity that aims to enable the world’s poorest
people to have clean, renewable power. Solar power leads to better education, health, safety
and income by allowing poor communities to cook, pump water, run fridges, store vaccines,
light homes, schools, clinics and businesses, power computers and homes, farm more
effectively, and much more.
SolarAid carries out micro solar projects, training people to market and distribute small scale
solar devices to power radios, LED lights and mobile phones and also installs solar systems on
community centres, medical clinics, schools and other such communal infrastructure. As
SolarAid grows, it will educate and influence the public and policy makers on issues related to
renewable energy and climate change and their impact on the world’s poorest people.
Our micro solar projects are done under the brand name Sunny Money, which works as a
microfranchise in East and Southern Africa. We are raising social investment to finance its scaleup.
We were set up with backing from Solarcentury, the UK’s largest solar company (which
donates 5% of its net profit to SolarAid), and Christian Aid, which funded part of our first project
in Malawi.
Our aim is to become the charity of choice for the solar industry, drawing upon its human
and financial resources for volunteers and funding. Our patrons are Cherie Blair the actress Cate
Blanchett and we are already building strong support from a wide variety of major donors,
trusts, companies and other donors.
SolarAid is not your typical charity. We have strong links with a range of companies and
aspire to combine the efficiency of the commercial sector with the social commitment of the
voluntary sector. We therefore seek candidates who are entrepreneurial, dedicated, and totally
professional.
To find out more, go to www.solar-aid.org
Rationale for this post
 Provide an effective financial management service to the charity SolarAid.
 Provide sound financial advice to trustees, chief executive and other senior
management colleagues.
 Provide business planning / social investment expertise for the Sunny Money
programme.
 Act as the leading interface between management and trustees on financial matters.
 Ensure the finances of our international programmes are managed effectively.
 Oversee the administration and IT.
Please note we are growing fast and that staff need to be flexible: so the job description may
evolve to be amended as new projects start and other staff are recruited. We review our staffing
structure on a regular basis in order to ensure that it meets our needs most effectively.
Duties and responsibilities
1. Financial management for SolarAid and Sunny Money (SolarAid’s microfranchise
brand):
•
Ensure, in close cooperation with the chief executive and honorary treasurer, that an
appropriate financial policy framework is in place to guide that charity's financial decision
making. In particular, clarity will be required on reserves, expense ratios and income mix
questions.
•
Ensure the appropriateness of the key assumptions included in the charity's medium
term financial plan and annual budget proposals. Provide advice to senior management
colleagues and trustees on these matters.
•
Contribute to the preparation of the charity's strategic plan.
Prepare the annual budget and forecasts.
•
Manage the finances for SolarAid and for Sunny Money, which is our microfranchise
network.
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Manage the cash flow, currency risk and treasury operations of SolarAid and for Sunny
Money.
•
Manage finance staff: setting objectives, sharing workload, performance appraisals, etc.
2. Business planning and management of social venture capital investors:
•
Develop and strengthen financial systems for our country programmes.
•
Manage and control financial risk in respect of our country programmes
•
Ensure budgets, financial updates and financial requests are completed on time and in
accordance with agreed procedures
•
Visit the country programmes regularly to monitor and oversee finances.
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3. Oversee finances of our international programmes:
Set up financial systems for our country programmes.
Ensure budgets, financial updates and financial requests are done effectively.
Visit the country programmes frequently to oversee the finances.
4. Financial advice and support:
•
Advise the treasurer, trustees of SolarAid on major financial issues which arise and
which are outside the agreed boundaries of management authority, for example, a proposed
major new fundraising initiative or a contract for service provision.
•
Service the finance and audit committee.
•
Maintain regular liaison with the honorary treasurer.
•
Advise the honorary treasurer and trustees of SolarAid about the possible financial
consequences of unplanned developments or changes in external market conditions.
•
Plan and manage cash flow and investment activity - the latter in consultation with
investment advisers and the relevant trustee sub-committee, if any.
•
Maintain contact with bankers, investment managers, pension advisers and auditors.
5. Legal obligations:
•
Maintain records to meet legal and tax requirement and to measure both the inputs and
the outcomes of the charity's operations. Provide accounting services for use by managers in
planning and controlling the work of the charity, this includes financial accounting, management
accounting, forecasting, budgeting and control systems.
•
Plan and manage SolarAid’s tax liabilities under existing and proposed legislation.
Evaluate the tax liability impact of contemplated courses of action, minimise the tax burden and
deal with tax authorities.
•
Prepare the statutory annual accounts.
6. Financial information:
•
In close consultation with the chief executive and honorary treasurer, establish a
relationship with each trustee so that each individual has an opportunity to understand fully the
key financial issues confronting the charity.
•
Keep abreast of financial developments across the charity sector by liaising with senior
finance staff in other charities.
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7. Administration and IT:
To ensure the administrative functions of the organisation (legal documents, contracts,
annual accounts, and other such processes) are carried out effectively.
To oversee the IT requirements for the organisation. Please note that the Finance Manager
is not expected to provide hands-on IT support as we have the support of IT contractors and
may recruit an internal IT Coordinator to be line managed by the Finance Manager.
Person Specification
Please refer to these points when you are completing the application form.
Experience
Essential
 Degree level education
 A qualified accountant with experience of
financial administration, investment and
management.
 Managing and developing financial
systems and controls and budget
processes in a multi-currency situation.
 Managing financial management
reporting.
 Providing advice and support to budget
holders.
 Managing a small financial administration
team.
 Cash flow and treasury management.
 Production of statutory accounts.
 International financial systems.
 Managing international payments.
 Business finance and business modelling.
Desirable
 Providing training for budget holders.
 Accounting for multiple funding streams.
 Producing annual accounts.
 Experience of working in a commercial
environment
 Experience of managing or accounting for
externally funded projects.
 IT management
 Administration management.
 HR management.
 Experience of managing finances of teams
operating in Africa.
Knowledge & Skills
Essential
 Excellent research and analytical skills
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Willingness to travel frequently
Excellent interpersonal, relationship
management, communications and
presentation skills
Proven computer literacy
Excellent written and spoken English
Proven administrative skills and attention
to detail
Ability to work independently, in teams
and a multicultural environment
Knowledge and understanding of charity
finance.
Desirable
 Knowledge of key developments in the
field of accounting
 Staff management skills
 Knowledge of IT.

HR skills.
Personal Qualities
Essential
 Commitment to SolarAid’s approach and
values
 Willingness to travel for extended periods
Desirable

to SolarAid’s country programmes.
Creative and confident self-starter with
ambition and vision to grow with the
organisation.
Terms and conditions
 Full-time
 Probationary period: six months, after which there will be a review and confirmation in
post or otherwise.
 Notice period: one week within probationary period, one month thereafter.
 Annual leave: 25 days
 Opportunities for training and personal development will be made available.
 The employee will have a contract of employment containing more details of the terms
and conditions relating to the post.
 Salary: £30,000-£35,000. Only top candidates who fulfil all the requirements will be
offered a salary near the top of the range.
Due to UK law, SolarAid is only able to employ people with employment rights in the UK/EU.
Please send a covering letter and CV to Nick Sireau, Executive Director, at recruitment@solaraid.org, with the words ‘Finance Manager Application’ clearly written in the email subject line.
Please ensure you explain why you are fit for this post and cover all the points in the person
specification. Visit www.solar-aid.org for more information about SolarAid. Due to UK law,
SolarAid is only able to employ people with employment rights in the UK/EU.
Deadline: 16 September at 5pm.
Interviews: Monday 5 October