Senior Financial Accountant - Fixed Term - RSPB : Job Details

Senior Financial Accountant - Fixed-Term

Reference: AUG20257890

Location: Flexible in UK

Contract: Fixed Term until 31st December 2026

Hours: Full Time, 37.5 hours per week

Salary: £47,313.00 - £50,309.00 Per Annum

Benefits: Pension scheme (7%), Life Assurance scheme, 26 days' annual leave (plus bank holidays)

The RSPB reserves the right to extend or make this role permanent without further advertising dependent on business needs at the end of the contract term.

This is an excellent opportunity to join our busy Finance team and develop your skills in one of the UK’s leading conservation charities. This role arises in order to support the Finance Systems Replacement project which is a Board priority and a major digital change project.

In order to facilitate this we are looking for additional support in our Financial Control Team. We are looking for a strong technical professional, whose financial expertise and specialist knowledge are a given. The main purpose of the role is to provide technical financial accounting support, with a focus on, but not limited to VAT, gift aid and corporation tax, preparation of statutory accounts, to ensure that RSPB and its related group entities comply with a range of regulatory and external stakeholder reporting requirements and specific project requirements related to the implementation of the new finance system.

What's the role about?

You will be part of a team of professionals reporting to the Financial & Treasury Controller.

As part of a team of 5 your main duties will be to:

• Deal with VAT, Gift Aid and corporation tax enquiries, produce returns, etc.
• Be involved in the preparation of the Trustees’ Report and Accounts (including subsidiary and related entities); This involves co-ordinating input from the wider Finance team as well as liaison with the Communications and Corporate Governance and Risk teams to provide an integrated narrative that clearly articulates RSPB’s impact and the challenges it faces.
• Liaise and provide information to internal and external audit.
• Help manage and reconcile the fixed asset system with particular focus on getting the fixed asset data ready for accurate transfer to new finance system.
• Financial analysis and technical reporting including government statistics returns

With an income of over £170m per annum and 1.15 million members the RSPB combines worldwide charitable impact with a substantial commercial operation. The scale and diversity of the operation gives scope for this role to make a significant impact on the delivery of RSPB’s work as well as the opportunity for major personal development.

Essential skills, knowledge and experience:

• Fully qualified accountant or part qualified in final year of exams.
• Good working knowledge of the rules, regulations and standards in respect of tax legislation (VAT and Gift Aid), preferably for the charity sector.
• Good working knowledge of the rules, regulations and standards in respect of financial reporting (Accounting standards and company law) preferably for the charity sector.
• Ability to analyse, interpret and communicate financial data.
• Ability to communicate financial information to both a finance and non-finance audience.
• Experience within a medium sized organisation (Income £50m+) of preparing reports/returns for external stakeholders including Tax returns (VAT, Gift Aid and corporation tax), Annual Reports and Annual Returns (Charity Commission, Government agencies).

Desirable skills, knowledge and experience:

• Advanced knowledge of MS Excel
• Experience of accounting software within a medium sized organisation.
• Experience of communicating with HMRC and other regulatory bodies.
• Experience of communicating with internal and external stakeholders including auditors, trustees and directors.

Additional information:

• The role can be hybrid within the UK however you may be periodically required to attend our HQ finance office at RSPB HQ in Sandy, Bedfordshire.
• This role may require some travel within the UK.
• This role may require some overnight stays away from home.

The RSPB works for a healthy environment for all and we therefore expect you to take action in accordance with our Environmental Policy and objectives. Together we can make a positive difference for our world.

In the RSPB, volunteers are a major resource and make a vital contribution to the RSPB’s aim to take action for the conservation of wild birds and the environment. Employees are responsible for encouraging, developing and supporting volunteers in their work for the RSPB.

Support for obtaining taxation qualification can be considered.

Agreed professional subscriptions are paid by RSPB.

Closing date: 23:59, Tue, 2nd Sep 2025

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position on: 11th September 2025.

Please note that we will be actively recruiting for this role and reserve the right to close this vacancy should sufficient applications be received.

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

We are committed to developing an inclusive and diverse RSPB, in which everyone feels supported, valued, and able to be their full selves. To achieve our vision of creating a world richer in nature, we need more people, and more diverse people, on nature’s side. People of colour and disabled people are currently underrepresented across the environment, climate, sustainability, and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we are particularly interested in receiving your application. Contact us to discuss any additional support you may need to complete your application.

The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

No agencies please.