© Colin McLean Photography
Contents About Us The Role Accountability
Person Specification
Organisational Chart
How
© Mike Bolam Photography
About Us
Scottish Historic Buildings Trust (SHBT) is a charitable Building Preservation Trust active across Scotland. The Trust is dedicated to regenerating significant historic buildings which are at risk, for the benefit of others, through conservation and sustainable re-use.
Following the retirement of our Head of Finance, we are seeking to appoint a talented finance professional, who will ensure a high standard of financial management and reporting, including fulfilling the statutory and reporting requirements of SHBT as a Charitable Trust with subsidiary trading company.
For almost fifty years, our charity has played a unique role in preserving and promoting the nation’s architectural heritage. Our charity collaborates with the third sector, local authorities, communities, and specialists to preserve and restore significant historic buildings across Scotland.
About Us
With a small expert team and no core public funding, we have restored over 30 buildings and raised more than £40 million. We have retained a portfolio of historic properties which we run commercially and for the benefit of their local communities. Our team of 18 FTE has specialist skills in building preservation, fundraising, community engagement, heritage communications, grant writing, project management and property operations.
We also bring expertise in event management, cultural interpretation and in developing and delivering educational programmes. SHBT undertakes largescale projects directly (e.g., Leith Custom House and Bernat Klein Studio, Scottish Borders), while also (and increasingly) providing consultancy services to other non-profit historic building owners. SHBT is based in Riddle’s Court in Edinburgh’s UNESCO World Heritage Old Town in a sixteenth-century palace which we restored in 2017.
© David Burnside Photography
The Role
This is a senior and strategically important role within SHBT and will be part of the Senior Management Team, reporting to the Director. The role carries a high level of autonomy and covers a broad remit including budgeting, forecasting, financial performance reporting and the preparation of annual charity accounts and working with the Trust’s external auditors.
The Head of Finance is responsible for the day-to-day management of finances for the charity (and its subsidiary trading arm) and will ensure the efficient management of the accounting functions and delivery of all aspects of financial administration operating with high levels of personal integrity. The company secretarial responsibilities require the appointee to ensure that all statutory reporting and compliance required for the limited companies are fulfilled in a timely and efficient manner.
The Head of Finance will assist the Director in the smooth and efficient operation and financial reporting of the Trust. This will include:
Preparation of monthly Management Accounts, Budgets and Cashflow and annual Charity Accounts and reporting to the Finance & Audit Committee and Management Board
Delivery of the finance function of the Trust, ensuring financial records and reporting are accurate and complete, and produced on a timely basis. Ensuring compliance with appropriate financial policies and procedures and ensuring there are robust controls and checks in place for the management of the financial functions of SHBT, complying with OSCR requirements for charities and Companies House as a company limited by guarantee Completing the on-line appointments and resignations of Directors as required Working with external auditors and payroll providers to ensure the timely completion of accounts and audit and payroll provision
The Role
Responsibilities, continued:
Developing and establishing the systems, processes and procedures required to ensure SHBT has an efficient and effective finance function and proactively provide ideas for improvement
Manage the Bookkeeper and have overall accountability for their deliverables –including all receipt and payment related matters, processing invoices, fee claims, VAT returns, Gift Aid claims. staff expenses and grant drawdown requests Working with Trust staff to provide all financial information and monitor expenditure against budgets and ensure that all finance procedures are followed ensuring that training is provided where required on any finance processes Take a lead on Project finance to include grant reporting, budget control and cash flow.
© Mike Bolam
© Richard Murphy Architects
Accountability
The appointee will also take on some company secretarial work for SHBT and its subsidiary companies. You will initially be based within the Trust’s property at Custom House, 67 Commercial Street, Leith, Edinburgh, EH6 6LH. Hybrid and flexible working arrangements are available.
You will be directly responsible to the Director on a day-to-day basis, and accountable to the Finance & Audit Committee and Management Board (Charity Trustees). You will be responsible for the Bookkeeper and will liaise with other staff as part of the Senior Management Team setting Financial Procedures and Processes and providing financial information as well as Project Staff (on project finances and grant applications and claims), Property Staff (property financial management).
Person Specification
Education and Training
Job Experience & Skills
Qualified/Part-Qualified Accountant/ICAS/ICAEW/ ACCA Qualified, or applicants with significant experience in a finance role or similar. Part-Qualified applicants will be supported on the completion of their professional accountancy qualification
Proven experience of working in a charity and of charitable accounting procedures and preparation of charitable accounts
Demonstrable track record of managing all aspects of finance for a charity, or equivalent organisation and proven experience of working within a finance role at a similar level
Proven experience in developing systems, indepth financial analysis and account production and maximising the potential of accounting and supporting systems producing Financial Reports and Papers at Board level which are clear and understandable to less experienced reviewers and non-finance professionals
Relevant CPD training and professional development in charity finance
Knowledge of company secretarial responsibilities
Experience of capital project finance
Person Specification
Job Experience & Skills
Personal Qualities
Strong technical accountancy and financial management skills with expertise in online accounting systems (SHBT use Xero)
Knowledge and experience of tax and VAT process and procedures
Strong Microsoft Office skills especially Excel, Outlook and Word
An ability to manage creditor and debtor relationships in a positive and engaging manner
A creative mind – you will often need to find new approaches to unexpected problems, which can be fun as well as stimulating
An ability to remain calm under pressure and to work at pace against changing requirements and priorities, many of these to challenging deadlines
Proactive self-starter with excellent time management and organisational skills
Flexibility to work outside of usual business hours by mutual agreement (e.g., evening or weekend at community engagement event)
An interest in historic buildings and cultural heritage
IT and practical skills beyond standard office suite
Person Specification
Personal Qualities
An exceptional ability to prioritise, manage workload and work to deadlines
Good attention to detail and the ability to produce work with a high level of accuracy and ability to spot errors
Strong problem-solving skills as well as a can-do attitude, the ability to listen to and understand requirements as well as share ideas
Excellent communication skills, ability to interact with people at all levels and convey technical financial information to nonspecialists in a confident and courteous manner
Comfortable managing multiple work streams simultaneously
Organisational Chart
Board of Trustees
Director
Head of Operations
Project Manager
Project Officer
Building Manager
Fundraising Officer
Marketing & Communications Manager
Head of Finance
Finance Assistant
Events & Sales Manager
Events Coordinator
Terms and Conditions
Salary: c. £54,000, pro-rata
Hours of Work: Part-time (between 21 and 28 hours per week).
Due to the nature of this post requiring attendance at Board and other meetings, there will be a requirement to work some evenings and weekends.
Pension Scheme: The Trust runs a qualifying Workplace Pension Scheme with Royal London with 5% company and 4% employee contributions. If you are eligible, you will be automatically enrolled into the scheme after 3 months.
Terms & Conditions
Holidays: 20 days per calendar year (full-time equivalent), increasing by 1 day per year for each year of employment with the Trust, up to a maximum of 25 days, plus 9 days local/ statutory holidays (FTE). The Trust usually closes for two weeks over the Christmas period and you will be expected to use some of your own holiday allowance in addition to any additional discretionary days which are offered.
Probation: There will be a probationary period of up to six months after which time the appointment will be confirmed subject to a satisfactory performance review.
How to Apply
Interested parties should submit their cover letter outlining their suitability for the job including motivation for applying and Curriculum Vitae to sam@shbt.org.uk.
Deadline is midnight on Monday, 11th May 2026.
Please note interviews will be in person on Wednesday 27th May 2026 at Riddle’s Court.
Ideal starting date for the successful candidate will be early September 2026, or earlier if possible.