The Donkey Sanctuary is an international animal welfare organisation, offering care and protection to donkeys worldwide. Our vision is a world where every donkey has a good quality of life, and our mission is to improve the lives of donkeys every day. We will achieve this by transforming the lives of donkeys in need worldwide by fostering greater understanding, collaboration and support, and by promoting lasting, mutually life-enhancing relationships. 

These are exciting times for the charity and for the finance team as we start to transition to a new finance system. We have an excellent opportunity for a proactive and professional team player with good data knowledge, interpersonal and diplomacy skills, and a strong customer service ethic to join our busy team. As Assistant Finance Business Partner, you will support the provision of robust, meaningful financial information. Responsible for maintaining strong relationships with cost centre managers, you will improve the impact and understanding of financial reporting on charity performance.

About you:

• Qualified AAT or part qualified CIMA.
• Able to demonstrate competent experience in the analysis, interpretation and reporting of financial data.
• Experience in a management accounting role, together with a documented CPD track record.
• Experience of working in and development of a computerised accounting system.
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft applications, particularly Excel including the use of formulae and pivot tables.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to flex and adapt communication to suit a wide range of audiences.
• Able to establish, build and maintain successful collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

About the role:

Your principal duties and responsibilities will include –

• The production of monthly management accounts for given areas, including accruals and prepayments, and writing variance commentary for dedicated cost centres.
• Providing a finance partnering service for given areas, imparting advice and support as required to cost centre managers and other stakeholders, including training and coaching on all aspects of budgeting, forecasting and monthly reporting.
• Contributing to the transition from old to new finance system.
• Contributing to the smooth running of budgeting and forecasting processes giving advice and support to cost centre managers and subsidiary/branch contacts, ensuring alignment with financial accounting systems and processes.
• Monthly accounting schedules and postings for TDS to facilitate accurate management reporting.
• Balance sheet reconciliations for relevant monthly accounts.
• Carrying out any other reasonable duty as may be required.

What we offer in return:

Based in Sidmouth, Devon – an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – this is a part-time, permanent contract, working a minimum of 25 hours per week (with the potential, for the right candidate, up to 35 hours per week) Monday-Friday.

This is a hybrid working position, combining onsite and home working under our guiding principles for such roles. The working pattern will be agreed between the line manager and post-holder, with the requirement for site attendance currently anticipated to be 1-2 days per week.

Benefits: 

Competitive pension.

Life assurance.

31 days holiday (including Bank holidays), rising to 34 with each full year of service.

Wellbeing team.

Recorded Pilates and Yoga classes.

Long service awards.

Healthshield plan – reimbursement of some medical expenses up to the specified limits per membership, including offers, discounts and cashback on shopping, travel and entertainment from participating outlets and access to a 24/7 GP and counselling service.

Free parking.

Subsidised restaurant and shop.

Closing date for completed applications: Sunday 29 November 2026

We reserve the right to close this vacancy before the advertised date and therefore encourage early applications.

The Donkey Sanctuary is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable people (children and adults), and expects all staff and volunteers to undertake this commitment. Applicants will be subject to safer recruitment processes, including an application for a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check where required for the post.

The Donkey Sanctuary also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme and, for relevant posts, may request information from applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment.

Please note: The Guaranteed interview scheme is only applicable to candidates who consider themselves to have a disability applying for roles based within the United Kingdom.

NOTE TO APPLICANTS: We look forward to receiving your application, but we do ask you to complete this in your own words, and not to employ an Artificial Intelligence (AI) writing tool or assistant. Applications that are considered not to be an applicant’s own work may not be shortlisted for interview.

Before submitting your application, please ensure you read our candidate journey page, in particular our FAQs section – https://jobs.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/jobs/candidate-journey/