Finance Manager Role

Bristol Food Network is looking for a part time Finance Manager: the closing date for applications is Sunday 5 July 2026.

Hours/term: Approximately 7.5-11.25 hours (1-1.5 days) per month, freelance
Location: Home based
Reports to: CEO
Salary: £25 per hour

The opportunity

Could your finance expertise help Bristol Food Network manage and plan its finances effectively, supporting us to grow Bristol’s Good Food Movement and transform our local food system?

This is an opportunity to join a mission-driven, collaborative team at the heart of food systems change in Bristol. We’re looking for a resourceful individual who can carry out day to day book-keeping and support the CEO and Board with management accounts, forecasting and financial planning.

We offer flexible working, a supportive team environment and the chance to contribute to impactful, collaborative work in Bristol to improve our food system for all.

About Bristol Food Network

Bristol Food Network (BFN) supports, informs and connects people across Bristol working to make our food system more sustainable, just and resilient. We are a Community Interest Company (CIC) and have been engaging and working with food systems stakeholders in the city for over a decade.

We coordinate major projects and campaigns including Bristol Good Food 2030, Bristol’s Silver and Gold Sustainable Food Places Awards and the annual Get Growing Trail which opens up community growing spaces to the public each year.

We are a small team of six staff (including this role) and are supported by a Board of voluntary Directors and several fabulous volunteers. We value high-quality work, collaboration, inclusion, and continuous learning and are motivated by a shared vision of a better food future for Bristol.

Role Purpose

• To manage the day-to-day book-keeping for the organisation and all associated processes and systems using Quickbooks Online

• To produce monthly management accounts and year end accounts using Excel, working with our external account to ensure accurate accounts are filed with Companies House

• To work with the CEO to monitor and manage financial forecasting, maintaining an Excel based financial forecast for the current and as necessary future financial years

• To support the CEO and Board with financial decision making and funder relationship management as required, for example through the provision of additional financial management documents and insights.

Key responsibilities

1. Day to day financial processing
a. Coding (including nominal and project-based analysis), posting and filing documents for expenditure transactions
b. Creating payments as required for purchase invoices
c. Creating, coding and sending sales invoices as per instructions
d. Credit control – sending statements and reminders, and escalating problem accounts to the managing director
e. Reconciliation of the bank account

2. Payroll processing
a. Calculating and processing monthly payroll payments
b. Ensuring HMRC and pension filings are made
c. Creating bank payments for all payroll payments

3. Maintenance of budget / forecast
a. Development of annual budget modelling tool
b. Updating of modelling to reflect changes as the year progresses

4. Production of reports
a. Monthly – production of management accounts showing actual performance against budget and forecasted year end position
b. Ad hoc – reports to support funding agreements
c. Ad hoc – modelling of costs to support fundraising work
d. Ad hoc – other management reports, such as calculating reserve requirements, analysing particular areas of income or expenditure etc

5. Year end
a. Reconciliation of all balance sheet accounts
b. Posting of provisions for accruals, prepayments and deferred income
c. Preparation of year end workings for the accountant and liaison to address corrections etc
d. Checking provisional statutory accounts
e. Ensuring all filing deadlines are met

6. Sundry duties
a. Meeting with the CEO on a monthly basis or as required
b. Keeping an eye on notifications regarding subscriptions, website hosting etc and escalating as needed
c. Developing timesheets as needed for new staff, and at the start of each holiday year
d. Responding to queries from staff, suppliers, clients and funders
e. If required by the Board of Directors, acting as Company Secretary, recording changes to directors and submitting annual filings
f. Alerting directors of concerns, such as compliance with VAT thresholds, errors or
potential fraud

Values and Ways of Working

• Committed to the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion

• A team player who brings a proactive and positive attitude

• Values high quality work and strives for continual improvement

• Curious, adaptable, and able to problem solve

• Motivated by the vision of a fair, sustainable, and resilient food system

Equal opportunities

• We actively welcome applications from historically underrepresented groups in the sustainability movement. If you require any adaptation or assistance during the application process, please be sure to let us know.

How to apply

• Please send a CV (maximum 2 pages) and covering letter (maximum 2 pages) to recruitment@bristolfoodnetwork.org by 23.59 on Sunday 5th July 2026.

• Please complete an Equal Opportunities Monitoring form and return this with your application.

• If you’d like an informal chat with our CEO about the role before applying, please email our central inbox: hello@bristolfoodnetwork.org

Tips on writing a strong application

• In your cover letter, please tell us why this role interests you

• Provide specifics examples of previous work, study or personal activities undertaken to demonstrate how your skills and experience meet the job requirements

• Do apply even if you don’t meet 100% of the criteria – so long as you can demonstrate relevant skills and passion, we’d like to hear from you.

Recruitment process

• We are happy to consider reasonable adjustments that candidates may need during the recruitment process – please email us to discuss at recruitment@bristolfoodnetwork.org.

• Interviews are expected to be held during the week 13th July, ideally in person in Bristol

• Interviews will include a short Excel task, which we will provide details of in advance.

• References will be requested from successful candidates post interview.

Download Equal Opportunities Recruitment Monitoring Form (downloadable Word file).