Looking for something a little different?
This is a rare opportunity to step into a genuinely unique Finance Lead role — one that goes far beyond the numbers. You’ll be working at the heart of a historic estate trust, playing a key role in its future while helping to preserve its past.
Perfect for someone who enjoys variety, autonomy and purpose in their work, this role offers the chance to combine hands-on finance with meaningful involvement across a diverse and evolving organisation on a beautiful estate in Kent.
Our Client
Our client is a private landed estate with significant heritage and a strong sense of purpose. Alongside maintaining its historic foundations, the organisation is evolving, with ambitious and exciting plans for the future.
With a close-knit and values-led team, they are looking for someone who will embrace the spirit of the estate, build strong relationships and play an active role in its continued success.
The Role
As Finance Lead, you will be the finance expert within the organisation, working closely with the CEO.
This is a broad, hands-on and highly autonomous role where you’ll balance strategic oversight with day-to-day delivery. You’ll take full ownership of the finance function, while also being involved across the estate — from working with trustees and stakeholders to supporting operational decision-making.
Alongside maintaining robust financial management, you’ll play an important role in strengthening and modernising systems, processes and controls — ensuring the finance function is fit for the future.
Cash flow management will be a key focus, alongside providing clear insight to support growth, sustainability and investment decisions.
Key responsibilities include:
- Leading the day-to-day small finance function (AP, AR, payroll)
- Managing and forecasting cash flow — ensuring strong financial control
- Preparing monthly management accounts with clear, insightful commentary
- Producing annual budgets and ongoing financial forecasts
- Budgetary control and financial oversight across the organisation
- Conducting investment appraisals and providing financial decision support and analysis
- Establishing and maintaining robust financial controls and processes
- Leading the modernisation of the finance systems and improving efficiency
- Partnering with the CEO and wider team to support decision-making
- Liaising with trustees, estate teams and external stakeholders
- Supervising and supporting a part-time bookkeeper
- Contributing commercially across the organisation — from detail to big picture
This is less about technical reporting and more about practical, commercial finance in a dynamic and evolving environment.
About You
You’ll be an experienced, well-rounded finance professional who enjoys rolling up your sleeves and getting stuck in and acting with integrity at all times.
Comfortable operating independently within a small organisation, you’ll bring both strong technical grounding and a clear understanding of what “good” looks like — along with the confidence and capability to implement it.
Equally at ease in the detail and at a strategic level, you’ll take a proactive, pragmatic approach and enjoy building strong relationships across the organisation.
We’re looking for:
- Qualified accountant (ACCA/ACA/CIMA)
- Experience leading a finance function within an SME or similar-sized organisation
- Strong cash flow management and commercial awareness
- Experience establishing or improving financial processes, systems and controls
- Ability to analyse performance and communicate insights clearly
- Experience managing budgets and overseeing spend, ideally including capital projects
- Experience of investment appraisals and financial decision support
- High levels of integrity, reliability and attention to detail
- Knowledge of VAT, ideally within a mixed income environment (desirable)
- A hands-on, “turn your hand to anything” mindset
- Confident, personable and able to build relationships at all levels
- Proactive, self-motivated and solutions-focused
Experience within estates, land or property would be beneficial but is not essential.
What’s on Offer
- A truly unique and varied role in an historic and meaningful setting
- Part-time flexibility (32 hrs/wk, worked over 5 days, one can be remote)
- Salary of up to £75k FTE* (up to £60k for 32 hrs, depending on experience)
- Based at beautiful historic estate in Kent
- The opportunity to make a genuine impact within a values-led organisation
- A supportive, collaborative and welcoming team environment
- Free parking
Interested?
If you’re looking for a role where you can use your financial expertise in a more meaningful, varied and hands-on way — while shaping and improving how things are done — we’d love to hear from you.
*full time equivalent - actual salary will depend on hours worked
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