Financial Accountant (Maternity Cover)

Financial Accountant (Maternity Cover)
Up to £55,000 pa plus excellent benefits
London WC1 and home-based
35 hours per week, full-time
Fixed-term (Maternity Cover)

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) is seeking an experienced and detail-oriented Financial Accountant to join our Finance team on a maternity cover basis. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the financial sustainability of an organisation dedicated to improving child health in the UK and globally.

Reporting to the Financial Controller, you will play a key role in ensuring the integrity, accuracy and compliance of the College s financial operations. You will support strategic decision-making through high-quality financial reporting, analysis and modelling, while ensuring robust financial controls and timely statutory reporting.

This role is ideally suited to a qualified or part-qualified accountant with strong financial accounting experience, particularly within the not-for-profit or public sector environment.

Key responsibilities include:

• Preparing balance sheet, cash flow, payroll, headcount and KPI reports, including commentary and analysis
• Producing financial reports for the Senior Leadership Team, Audit and Finance Committees, and Board of Trustees
• Developing financial models and analysis to support strategic decision-making
• Managing fixed asset accounting, reconciliations and monthly postings
• Preparing key balance sheet reconciliations including accruals, prepayments, deferred income and investments
• Supporting the preparation of annual statutory accounts and managing relationships with auditors
• Supporting corporation tax and VAT reporting requirements
• Assisting with the implementation and maintenance of robust financial controls and compliance processes
• Supporting month-end and year-end close processes
• Monitoring cash flow and supporting treasury and banking relationships
• Working collaboratively with teams across the College to provide financial insight and support strategic initiatives

Essential skills and experience include:

• Bachelor s degree and qualified, or experienced part-qualified, ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent
• Experience in financial management roles, ideally within a charity, nonprofit or public sector environment
• Strong knowledge of financial reporting, budgeting and regulatory compliance
• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to present complex financial information clearly and effectively
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and proficiency with financial systems
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively

Desirable:

• Knowledge of charity accounting and SORP requirements
• Experience using Business Central or equivalent ERP/financial systems
• Familiarity with healthcare or public health organisations

The RCPCH has more than 25,000 members and fellows worldwide and employs around 200 staff. Most staff are based in our London office in Holborn, with teams also working across the devolved nations.

Our values Include, Influence, Innovate and Inspire guide how we work together. We are committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and welcome applications from candidates with protected characteristics. We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates and disabled candidates who are under-represented at this level of the organisation.

The College operates a flexible and modern hybrid working policy, with colleagues spending 40% of their working time in the office over a four-week cycle and the remainder working from home.

The RCPCH is committed to safeguarding the children, young people and adults it has contact with. All staff are expected to share this commitment. Employment is subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if sufficient applications are received. If you are interested, please submit your application as soon as possible.

Closing date: 31 May 2026.