Finance Officer

Finance Officer

Application Pack 2026

Application
deadline:
Tuesday 7
April, 9am

Get in touch in whichever way works best for you
– or drop us a line and ask us to call you back.
Email: jurgita@z-arts.org
Call: 0161 226 1912

Ask us a question or call for a chat.z-arts.org335 Stretford Road, Hulme, Manchester, M15 5ZARegistered charity 1093556In this pack you will find...

Page 3                                 Role Overview

Page 4                                 Welcome from our CEO

Pages 5 & 6                        About Z-arts

Pages 7 - 10                        Working at Z-arts

Page 11                               What our families say!

Pages 12 - 14                      The Role

Page 15                               How To Apply

2
Role Overview

Based at:                          Z-arts

Hours:                              Part-time

Z-arts is proud to be a flexible employer and family-focused, and therefore happy to discuss a
flexible working arrangement that suits both the right applicant and Z-arts.

This may involve undertaking the work across fewer days, and/or term-time-only working,
but ideally the candidate would be able to attend the office Monday-Friday for 3 hours per
day.

Dates:                               Deadline: Tuesday 7 April, 9am
                                          Interviews: Tuesday 14 April

Salary:                             £26,447.72 per annum (pro rata)
                                         based on a 37.5-hour full-time week.

Hours:                             15 hours per week

Job Advert:

The Finance Officer will support the Finance Manager with the day-to-day tasks of the
finance department. This includes maintaining and updating all financial records and
assisting with the preparation of management accounts.

3Title: Finance Officer

Welcome from our CEO

Here's a BIG welcome to Z-arts - the UK's only
dedicated arts centre for children and families.

We pride ourselves on being welcoming and family-orientated, and I try to
extend that to the whole team as well as to our visitors. Many organisations like to
call themselves a family, but at Z-arts, we take it one step further!

I'm delighted you're interested in working with us. The staff here are an amazing
bunch, full of vivacity and passion for the work we do and if you join us, you'll see
for yourself that it's a great place to work. The children and the artists are all pretty
inspiring too. Not that it's not hard work. We're a small team, and we expect you to
go the extra mile.

You'll find my door is always open (there's often a tennis ball flying in and out of it
for Siskin, the office dog to play with), so if you have any questions or great ideas to
share, just ask. Because you'll be working closely with me, I'm more than happy to
have an informal chat if that helps you decide whether this job might be for you.

You can email me at liz@z-arts.org / or call 0161 226 1912.

I hope you enjoy reading this pack, and are encouraged to make an application.

We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Our beautiful Edwardian building!

Siskin - Apprentice CEOLiz O'Neill CEO4About Z-arts

Z-arts is the UK’s only dedicated arts centre for children and families,
delivering a broad range of performing arts events, performances,
exhibitions, activities, workshops and participatory opportunities.

Our Mission

To inspire and enable generations of young people from Manchester
and beyond to use creativity to achieve their potential.

Z-arts uses creativity to inspire, enrich and enable children,
young people, and families to reach their potential and be the
agents of change in their own lives.

In our arts centre in Hulme, in education, in communities, at
home, and across networks.

Developing Children, Young People, Educators, Artists, and
Family-togetherness.

We lead networks:

Based in Hulme, we are committed to supporting ourlocal communities as well as reaching out across GreaterManchester and the North West. We operate from alarge Edwardian building that includes a 225-seattheatre, our immersive experience, currently,Adventures in Wonderland, a recording studio, a musicroom, a dance studio, Z-café, our brand-new children'slibrary, an escape room, and rehearsal/meeting rooms.But there is much more to what we do that is outside ofthe building.                                 Big Imaginations children’s theatrenetwork, MADE (Manchester Cultural EducationPartnership), and the Manchester Family Arts Network.We receive strategic funding from Manchester CityCouncil to lead on best practice for engaging childrenand young people in arts and culture. We are an ArtsCouncil England National Portfolio Organisation,leading and delivering the Big Imaginations regionalnetwork of children’s theatre, programming, andcommissioning relevant, diverse theatre for the modernfamily.5About Z-arts

What We Believe

Our manifesto to our families...

Z-arts is a place to express yourself, celebrate your imagination,
have fun, be entertained, and dream big! So, whatever your age and
whether you’re coming to see a show or make some amazing mini-
masterpieces in one of our arts workshops, we hope you enjoy your
visit to Z-arts and are inspired by your own creativity.

History of Z-arts

Pavarotti sang here. Warren Beatty used our building in his film Reds.
And Benji Reid’s Life of a B-Boy was born here, if there’s one thing
that’s for sure it’s that Z-arts has a fascinating and eventful history!

www.z-arts.org/about-us/our-history/

Want to find out loads more about Z-arts?
Head to our website...

www.z-arts.org/about-us/

You can also have a nosey at our social media
channels if you fancy.

@z.artsmcr

@zartsmcr

Z-arts

6Working at Z-arts

They are inspiring, immersive, and magical, and we
want to share the joy of creativity, imagination, and
storytelling with children and families in Greater
Manchester and beyond.

welcoming

forward-thinking

inclusive

engaging

vibrant

fun

A recent staff workshop identified 'inclusive' and 'fun'
being our primary values.

Z-arts has a relatively small team with lots on the agenda that we aim to
get our teeth stuck into! This sometimes means that it's all hands on deck
- so be sure you're up for doing a little bit of everything.

We work collaboratively across our teams.

Getting involved varies from giving a wave to our
social media channels, welcoming a school into our
building, supporting funding bid research or
working with the team to understand and evaluate
our data, so that we can all be the best we can be.

Our ValuesWe believe that theatre and the arts are for everyone.It's sometimes all hands on deck!7Working at Z-arts

At Z-arts we feel it’s vital that our employees are well rewarded.
We are constantly reviewing the details of our package, but the
things you’ll be able to enjoy currently include:

23 days holiday per annum, plus statutory public holidays (pro rata for

part-time staff).

Entitled to one extra day's holiday after one year of continuous service.

Group Personal Pension scheme – Z-arts contribute 3% of the salary for

each employee which contributes 5%.

Sub-Groups

There are four sub-groups run by our staff here at Z-arts, these are:

Diversity, driving our diversity manifesto forward throughout our activity.
Access ensures everyone's visit to Z-arts is as enjoyable as possible.
Green Champs, our environmental heroes.
Wellbeing, to make sure our employees feel at their best!

Wellbeing

At Z-arts, employees’ wellbeing is a big priority, and we want employees to be the best
they can be.
Our wellbeing benefits up to now include:

Flexible working hours
Team well-being walks
Refreshments in our staff kitchen
Regular all staff meetings
Regular team socials! (We know lots of people in the arts & cultural sector,
there's always a ticket or two going for shows & events across the city)
Free tickets to all of Z-arts events & productions!
Buddy System
Team Away Days

8Working at Z-arts

Diversity

We've recently been working on our new diversity manifesto. Here's a
snippet below.

Our activities reflect our audiences, and we aim to represent all the different
communities in our area.  Z-arts is an antiracist organisation. We do not tolerate
discrimination of any kind. We practice inclusivity and accessibility and are learning
how to embed trans-inclusivity across all we do. Z-arts is welcoming to all people who
do not discriminate against others.

We acknowledge all protected characteristics in the Equality Act 2010 – including age,
disability, gender, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race,
religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation recognising socio-economic status and
class as a thread that intersects all of these.

As a learning organisation, Z-arts is always open to change.
You can read more about what diversity means to Z-arts at:
www.z-arts.org/about-us/work-at-z-arts/

Our Recruitment Policy

Z-arts have a recruitment policy in place to ensure job applicants are considered
equally and fairly, and are not discriminated against based on their race, nationality,
ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, marital or civil partner status, disability,
or age.

You can find out more about our Unconscious Bias Recruitment Policy here. Z-arts also
have a Safer Recruitment Policy which takes this further and ensures we are keeping
children safe, this applies to all staff, freelancers, volunteers and placements.

Our building is located at: Z-arts335 Stretford Road, Hulme, Manchester, M15 5ZAOur registered charity no. is: 10935569Working at Z-arts

Don’t just take our word for it, see what our
staff have to say about working at Z-arts.

I love working at Z-arts! Each day is new and exciting
- full of colour, joy, and creativity! Being a parent and
working here is also great as my kids love Z-arts. We
get a free Family Membership and are the first to see
all the fabulous shows and exhibitions on offer!
- Janine, Resident Visual Artist

Part of Z-arts’ remit is working with children and families,
encouraging artistic fun and exploring the joy of just playing.
The best thing is, that the remit doesn’t stop at participants but
also extends to the staff here. And their commitment to this
honestly creates such a supportive, professional, productive,
and most importantly fun working environment! And it’s such a
joy to be part of this! It allows you to be a big kid while being a
grown-up.

 - Isah, Producer

Since joining Z-arts 20 years ago, I have never enjoyed a job so much. I thoroughly love
working in such a dynamic organisation and doing the work I do. Z-arts has continued to
grow and prosper over the years and we thoroughly deserve the praise we get from both
parents and their children. I really take pride in seeing some of the shy young people
developing and becoming more confident by attending our creative workshops. It is
fantastic that I still get a buzz out of coming into work each day.
- Paul, Visitor Experience Team Leader

Working at Z-arts is so refreshing! It's brilliant to work
somewhere where there is such a hive of creative minds
and new ideas are met with, 'let's give it a go'!  Z-arts
are all about supporting the community and the whole
family and this extends to the staff too. Having a young
family, working at Z-arts allows me to work around
family commitments and are genuine about being a
supportive workplace for flexible working.
 - Hannah, Creative Schools Project Coordinator

What the team say!10What our families say!

Z-arts has given my
daughter the
opportunity to be a
dancer and
performer, which
otherwise I feel she
would have missed
out on due to our
financial situation. It
is an amazing place
and I don’t know
what we would have
done if we hadn’t
found it.
 - Parent

I love coming to Z-arts because the
activities and classes here allow me to
express my personality and open my
mind to the world of creativity.
 - Bright Sparks Member

Z-arts has made arts and
theatre particularly
accessible to my family, it’s
been inclusive to my child
with SEN and recaptured
my love for the arts.
 - Parent

Z-arts are really inclusive with our ideas. It
makes us feel like we really fit in… our ideas
want to be heard and our ideas really matter.

 - Parent

10

11The Role

Finance Officer (Part-time)

Z-arts is Manchester’s venue for children and families and delivers a broad range
of performing arts events, performances, exhibitions, activities, workshops and
participatory opportunities. Our mission is to inspire and enable generations of
young people from Manchester and beyond to use creativity to achieve their
potential.

PURPOSE:
The Finance Officer will support the Finance Manager with the day-to-day tasks of
the finance department. This includes maintaining and updating all financial
records and assisting with the preparation of management accounts.

HOURS:
The role is 15 hours per week. Z-arts is proud to be a flexible employer and family-
focused, and therefore happy to discuss a flexible working arrangement that suits
both the right applicant and Z-arts.

This may involve undertaking the work across fewer days, and/or term-time-only
working, but ideally the candidate would be able to attend the office Monday-
Friday for 3 hours per day.

RESPONSIBLE TO:
Finance Manager

2

12MAIN AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY:

Sales Ledger: daily processing of sales invoices, credits and receipts on Sage accounts.
Cash Takings: daily accounting for the cash takings from Box Office and Café/Bar.
Purchase Ledger: daily processing of purchase invoices.
Bank: daily inputting and banking of sales and cash receipts, pay suppliers or cash purchases
by bacs or cheque, and daily reconciliations of all bank accounts.
Petty Cash and Expenses: as and when required, advancing petty cash and processing staff
expenses, completion of expenses/petty cash forms ensuring receipts are correct, approved
by appropriate person, weekly input to Sage and reconciliation.
Nominal Ledger: inputting and recording of journal entries including prepayments and
accruals.
Credit Control: produce and send monthly statements, calling debtors on the telephone,
dealing with queries and disputes from the debtors in a systematic manner.
Month-end: assist with reconciliations and preparations for producing quarterly
management accounts and VAT returns.
Data Records: Maintaining all necessary records, including quantitative data of attendance
and KPI targets – creating and managing a data dashboard

OTHER DUTIES:

Any other duties as directed by the Finance Manager, including admin support for all
departments
To work with the entire staff team to support and deliver Z-arts strategic and creative vision
To understand, actively promote and adhere to Health & Safety legislation and Z-arts Health
and Safety policy
To adhere to all Z-arts policies and procedures

2

13
PERSON SPECIFICATION:

Finance/accountancy-related qualification or at least two years’ experience in a bookkeeping
or finance assistant role
Working knowledge of Sage 50 Accounts software
Knowledge of Microsoft Office and Excel
Strong organisational and time management skills
Ability to demonstrate attention to detail
Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work within a diverse team
Excellent communication skills both verbal and written
Interest in working in a creative environment.

The following attributes would be desirable:

Understanding of Charity accounting
Experience of box office systems
Knowledge of the arts and cultural scene in the Northwest
AAT (or equivalent) part-qualified

To comply with legislation covering the activities at Z-arts, it is required that all staff undertake
training as directed by their line manager. It is also essential that all staff carry out their duties in
a safe manner in accordance with the current Health and Safety at Work legislation.

2

14How to apply

Please download and complete Part 1 and Part 2 of the application form.

As you fill in the application form, please explain how you think you meet the job description
and person specification for the role. The information you provide will be used for the
shortlisting process. It is important in your application to give us examples of what you have
previously done that shows us how you could be right for the job and why you’re enthusiastic
about joining Z-arts.

You do not have to have previously undertaken all of the duties in the job description but you
should tell us about your potential ability to do them.

Please email completed applications to: paul@z-arts.org

We will contact you by email if you are shortlisted for an interview.

All job applicants will be contacted via email whether or not they have been shortlisted.

Get in touch in whichever way works best for you – or
drop us an email and ask us to call you back.
Email: jurgita@z-arts.org
Call: 0161 226 1912

2

Thank you for taking the time to read ourapplication pack! This recruitment pack is brand new! It's a work in progress and alearning document for us to update and make even better in duecourse.So, if you have any feedback on the content, layout, oranything at all, we'd love to hear what you think.Please email marketing@z-arts.org - we're all ears!z-arts.org335 Stretford Road, Hulme, Manchester, M15 5ZARegistered charity 1093556Ask us a question or call for a chat.