Salary: £34,696 - £39,219

Contract type: Permanent

Reporting to: Head of Finance

Department: Finance, Resource and Planning

Who are we?

We are Scotland’s design museum. Designed for everyone, firing imaginations and sparking curiosity in design across Scotland and around the world. At V&A Dundee we are on a mission to inspire and empower through design.

Design shapes our world, it's part of everyday life and it's everywhere. We are a museum with energy and have a vision of the future where everyone is inspired through design and recognizes its far-reaching impact in our lives.

We are a welcoming place for people of Dundee to explore design and to use as an everyday part of their city, as well as inviting visitors from around the world. We are part of the V&A family of museums that celebrate creativity in all its forms from across centuries, for everyone.

Role profile

We are seeking an experienced and motivated Management Accountant to join our small team at V&A Dundee - Scotland’s design museum. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in supporting the financial management of a mission-driven charitable organisation. Working alongside passionate colleagues you will join us in our mission to inspire and empower through design, contributing to informed decision-making and the long-term sustainability of our exhibitions and public programmes.

The Management Accountant plays a key role in ensuring the financial sustainability and effective stewardship of the charity’s resources. Working closely with budget holders, senior leadership, and programme teams, the postholder will provide timely, accurate management information to support decision-making across exhibition, fundraising, and learning activities. The role reports to the Head of Finance, with supervision duties over the finance assistants’ team.

The successful candidate will be responsible for assisting the Head of Finance in budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis, and reporting, with a particular focus on grant-funded projects, restricted income, and compliance with funder requirements.

Duties and Responsibilities

Management Reporting

• Produce accurate and timely monthly management accounts, including variance analysis and commentary.

• Prepare financial reports for senior management, trustees, and committees as required.

• Support year-end processes and liaise with auditors, working closely with the rest of the finance team on gathering and providing information.

Financial Controls and Improvement

• Maintain robust financial controls and processes in line with charity governance and best practice.

• Identify and implement improvements to financial systems, reporting, and procedures.

• Support compliance with charity law, funder requirements, and internal policies.

• Supervise and review transactional processing, reconciliations and month close.

• Assist HOF in tax compliance (VAT, Gift Aid, etc).

• Assist in payment runs and cashflow management.

Project and Grant Accounting

• Monitor income and expenditure against budgets for grants, commissions, and funded projects.

• Ensure accurate tracking of restricted and designated funds.

• Prepare financial reports for funders in line with grant conditions and reporting deadlines.

Business Partnering

• Act as a finance partner to non-finance colleagues, providing clear and accessible financial advice.

• Support budget holders in understanding financial performance and managing resources effectively.

• Contribute to financial planning for new initiatives and funding applications.

• Any other finance and administrative duties as requested.

Person specification

Essential

• Part-qualified or newly qualified accountant (e.g. CIMA, ACCA, ACA, ICAS) or equivalent relevant experience.

• Proven experience in a management accounting or similar finance role, specifically in charity sector.

• Experience in VAT and Gift Aid processing and compliance.

• Strong budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis skills.

• Experience of producing clear management reports for non-finance audiences.

• High level of accuracy and attention to detail.

• Excellent prioritisation and time management skills coupled with the ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines.

• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work collaboratively across teams.

• Proficiency in accounting software and Microsoft Suite.

• A genuine interest – and desire to work in – a cultural organisation

• Positive, team-oriented attitude.

• Active team player with a real understanding of impact on own work on the performance of the organisation.

Desirable

• Experience working in the charity, cultural, arts, or not-for-profit sector.

• Experience of business partnering with creative or programme teams.

• High IT literacy, knowledge of PowerBI, use of automation tools to gather and present financial and non-financial information.