We have an exciting opportunity for a full-time Finance Manager to join the team at Gainsborough’s House to manage and develop all operational aspects of Gainsborough’s House finances through the development and maintenance of appropriate systems and procedures and to ensure all financial and legal requirements of the charity as a business, employer and professional body are met.
Company: Gainsborough’s House
Location: Sudbury, Suffolk
Salary: £33-35,000 (dependent upon experience) Reports to: Director
Hours: 35 hours per week, occasional weekends Holiday: 22 days, public holidays
Contract: permanent
Gainsborough’s House explores the life and art of Thomas Gainsborough. One of the greatest artists of his age, he is renowned throughout the world for his portrait and landscape paintings. The house, ‘a most excellent Brick Mansion,’ was bought by John Gainsborough, the artist’s father, in May 1722. Thomas Gainsborough (1727-88) was born in Sudbury and was baptized there at the Independent Meeting-House in Friars Street on 14 May 1727. He lived here until around 1740 when he was sent to London to pursue a career as an artist. He returned to Sudbury in the spring of 1749 until 1752 when he painted his celebrated Mr and Mrs Andrews. He never lost the influence of his native town and county. ‘Nature was his teacher, and the woods of Suffolk his academy,’ noted an obituary after his death in 1788.
In 1958 Gainsborough’s House Society was formed to purchase the house and establish it as a centre for Thomas Gainsborough. The Museum opened to the public in 1961 and has remained open for over 50 years. Gainsborough’s House has now commenced an £8.7m Heritage Lottery funded development project to bring Thomas Gainsborough to life for a new generation of visitors.
‘Reviving an Artist’s Birthplace: A National Centre for Gainsborough’ will enable Gainsborough’s House to engage and inspire a larger and more diverse range of visitors, secure the future of this nationally significant heritage and spearhead the regeneration of a market town. It will safeguard Gainsborough’s Grade I childhood home and garden; interpret and improve access to the most comprehensive collection of his art, display more works in a new showcase gallery; and explore his life in the special atmosphere of his home. Drawing on the history of Gainsborough’s weaving family, we will tell for the first time the story of wool and silk weaving in Sudbury. By creating significant exhibition spaces and increasing the heritage offer, the project will attract more visitors, create financial resilience and promote the exploration of the surrounding landscape so inspirational to Gainsborough and Constable, whose family collection we will display.
We are looking for a candidate with a professional accounting qualification who has 5 years experience of working at a high level in the charity sector, with good working knowledge and experience of IT software and accounting systems. You will have a flexible approach to work, be willing to be involved in assisting the Director in developing Gainsborough’s House and creating a sustainable and dynamic art gallery and historic house of national importance.
Good time management and the ability to prioritise your workload is an essential requirement.
Job title: Finance Manager
Reports to: Director of Gainsborough’s House Responsible for: Finance & Administration Assistant Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: 35 hours per week and occasional weekends Salary: £33-35k per annum
Gainsborough’s House, the childhood home of Thomas Gainsborough is a national centre for the exploration of Gainsborough’s art, the development of the English landscape and the art of printmaking. With Thomas Gainsborough as its inspiration it seeks to bring to life the art and ideals of Thomas Gainsborough to inspire a new generation of visitors.
To assist the Director in developing Gainsborough’s House through the delivery of a £8.7 million capital project and creating a sustainable and dynamic art gallery and historic house of national importance.
Oversee all aspects of financial management in all areas of Gainsborough’s House. Work closely with the Director and participate in part of the management team in formulating strategy, monitoring progress including finance and investment meetings and achieving budgeted profitability.
The Finance Manager role includes:
PERSON SPECIFICATION FOR FINANCE AND OPERATIONS MANAGER GAINSBOROUGH’S HOUSE
Attributes
Skills & Experience |
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Knowledge & Accounting qualification – chartered accountant or AAT higher level Qualifications 5 years experience of working at a high level in the charity sector
Personal Attributes |
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Applicants should send their CV and application form with a cover letter to Mark Bills, Director of Gainsborough’s House, Gainsborough’s House, 46 Gainsborough Street, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 2EU or by email to mark@gainsborough.org to be received by 12 noon Monday 16th November 2020.
Shortlisted candidates will be contacted in the week of 16th November 2020 for interviews on 27th November 2020. These may be held via video call.
Thomas Gainsborough (1727-88) was born in Sudbury and baptised at the Independent Meeting-House in Friars Street on 14 May 1727, the fifth son and ninth child of John and Mary Gainsborough. In 1958, Gainsborough’s House Society was formed to purchase the house and establish it as a centre for Thomas Gainsborough. The Museum opened to the public in 1961 and has remained open for over 50 years. The beautiful historic garden at the heart of Gainsborough’s House is maintained by a devoted body of volunteers, who garden exclusively with plants that were available in Gainsborough’s lifetime.
Gainsborough’s House Society , Charity No. 1170048 and Company Limited by Guarantee No. 10413978