The Love Music Trust is a charity that provides music education across Cheshire and the Wirral and provides a wide range of opportunities for young people to make music. We are the Hub Lead Organisation for the Cheshire and Wirral Music Hub. For more information about us, please visit https://www.lovemusictrust.com/about-the-trust/who-are-we.
Our Finance Manager is retiring and so we are seeking an enthusiastic and able Finance and Business Manager to take the lead on important aspects of our administration - full details about the job and the essential attributes that you’ll need to fulfil the role can be found here:
https://www.lovemusictrust.com/about-the-trust/jobs
Finance and Business Manager
Accountable to the Director
Responsible for: Finance & Administrative Staff
Contract: Permanent; Full Time (.8 part time considered; hybrid working may be possible)
Location: Sandbach or Ellesmere Port (with some travel to other Trust premises)
Salary: £45,000- £50,000 (with more available for an exceptional candidate)
Purpose of Role
To manage the finance, facilities and functions to a high standard, ensuring that the requirements of the organisation, funders and regulatory bodies are complied with effectively.
Specific Responsibilities
Finance
1. Oversight/ operation of all finance functions:
a. Operate, and develop as necessary, clear financial controls
b. Ensure the integrity of the accounting system and financial controls.
c. Action month-end journals comprising accruals, pre-payments, fixed assets and payroll/pensions.
d. Produce monthly management reports such that key financial information is available to senior staff and the Trustees in clear and accurate formats and in a timely manner (including income, expenditure, cash at bank, outstanding debtors and creditors, cashflow and variances on budget).
e. Produce financial information for funders (e.g. Arts Council England) in the formats and within the timeframes required.
f. Working with the Director and Deputy Director, produce the annual budget and any ad-hoc project or event budgets, including cashflow projections, for submission to trustees and funders.
g. Monitor income and expenditure against budget and highlight any significant matters in a timely way.
h. Ensure that financial management and reporting is kept in line with the Charities SORP and any requirements set out by the Trust’s auditors.
i. Line manage the Finance Administrator (including conducting her/his annual performance review, maintaining a clear overview of their work, and providing such support and direction as is necessary).
j. Oversee preparation for the audit process including ensuring that all schedules and reports required by auditors are produced in a timely way
k. Work with the Auditors to ensure that the statutory accounts are completed in a timely fashion for presentation to the Board.
l. Attend weekly management meetings and attend such Board meetings as directed.
Facilities
2. Act as the Trust’s Health and Safety Lead across all premises:
a. Manage Health and Safety issues associated with premises, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation in relation to all equipment, mechanical and electrical systems.
b. Ensure systems are in place to enable the identification and effective minimisation of hazards, including ensuring regular risk assessments and the reporting of relevant issues to the management team.
c. Programme the maintenance and testing of alarms, fire equipment, wiring, portable appliances etc.
d. Ensure that suitable plans and procedures are in place for the eventuality of a fire in all premises and act as Fire Officer for the main office.
e. Liaise with premises landlords as necessary.
f. Oversee security measures for all premises ensuring key holder and alarm monitoring systems are in place.
g. Periodically review and renew office equipment lease arrangements, as necessary.
h. Oversee ancillary services (e.g. cleaning and catering) to ensure that they are delivered effectively.
i. Ensure a systematic procedure for recording assets which ensures that the Asset Register is kept accurate and current.
Other
3. Ensure that the Trust’s process of Risk Review and Risk Mitigation is effective and that insurances are arranged effectively.
4. Work within agreed Trust protocols, policies and procedures at all times
5. Maintain an up-to-date understanding of Trust policies and procedures; and incorporate the implications within the operation of all aspects of the role.
6. Support the maintenance and enhancement of LMT’s reputation, ethos and mission through high standards of professional conduct.
7. Develop and maintain good working relationships with colleagues and external contacts.
8. Attend and assist with The Love Music Trust events as required (including occasional evenings/ weekends).
9. Participate actively in the annual appraisal cycle.
10. Undertake such other duties as directed and in line with the overall objectives of the role.
11. For a full-time appointment there is scope to take include HR administration within the role.
If you would like to be part of a small, lively team within a growing organisation that thrives on inspiring young people to participate in music-making, we’d love to hear from you. If you have any questions about the role, once you have read the recruitment pack, please feel free to contact our Director at Jbarber@lovemusictrust.com
All applications must be made by using the application form in the recruitment pack and should be sent to the Director by 9am on 2nd December 2025.