Financial Controller (Maternity Cover)


Company:	Centre for Sustainable Energy
Salary:	£50,285
Hours:	Full-time
Location:	Bristol, BS1 3LH
Working pattern:	Hybrid - 2 days remote
Job type:	Contract
Posting date:	31 Jul 2026
Closing date:	16 Aug 2026

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Summary

Location: Bristol office, hybrid (minimum three days a week onsite)

Salary: £50,285 per annum

Job Type: Fixed term maternity cover, approximately 15 months. Minimum 30 hours a week, up to full time (37.5 hours)

The role:

This role covers the current post-holder's maternity leave for an anticipated 15 months. As Financial Controller you will lead CSE's finance team, directing and overseeing the finance function in compliance with appropriate accounting standards and practices, company and charity law.

You will provide timely, accurate financial and management information to support strategic decision-making and effective budgetary control by our Senior Leadership Team, Trustees, project managers and other budget holders. You will line manage the Finance Manager and Finance Assistant and be a member of CSE's Senior Management Team.

Reporting to the Director of Finance and Operations, you will work alongside the wider Operations Team to provide operational support that underpins delivery of our charitable mission. This is a fast-paced role and we need someone who can get up to speed with minimal delay.

Specific responsibilities

An applicant appointed to the role will be expected to:

• Take responsibility for day-to-day accounting, invoicing, payroll, VAT returns, payments and banking, credit control and cash management, including timely monthly management accounts.

• Line manage the Finance Manager and Finance Assistant.

• Co-ordinate the annual budget cycle and mid-year budget refresh alongside the Director of Finance & Operations and SLT.

• Attend monthly SMT meetings to share the previous month's financial results and handle related queries.

• Prepare accurate, accessible reports on organisational, team, staff and project financial indicators to support timely decision-making.

• Maintain the organisation's financial records to appropriate accounting standards and prepare documentation for the annual audit and other statutory reporting.

• Liaise with CSE's auditors to enable an effective and timely annual audit.

• Support project managers to plan and manage project budgets, providing financial data for reporting to clients and funders.

• Provide expertise on financial costing and monitoring approaches for new project funding proposals, reflecting funder requirements.

• Provide finance support to Retrofit West CIC, including financial reporting, statutory obligations and payroll as required.

To see a more detailed list of responsibilities please see the supporting documents attached. These documents are also available to download from our website.

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