Objectives

The Scottish Railway Preservation Society (SRPS) owns the Museum of Scottish Railways and the Bo’ness and Kinneil Railway and manages the core collection that has been Recognised as being of National Significance through the Scottish Government’s Recognition Scheme. Most of the collection is owned by the Scottish Railway Museum Collections Trust (SRMCT) and SRPS manages it on behalf of the owner. Visitors to the Bo’ness and Kinneil Railway can see parts of the collection and other rolling stock in operation on the railway and visit the Museum of Scottish Railways.

The post holder will work with our collection to enhance continually its presentation, documentation, storage and use of a searchable online collections database. There will also be a requirement to work closely with the Board and with a team of volunteers. The post will be supervised by an appropriate member of the Board of the SRPS.

Key Responsibilities

1. To represent the interests of the Museum of Scottish Railways within the SRPS, including by attending meetings of the Board and other management committees.
2. To manage the staffing, maintenance and running of the Museum.
3. To manage the delivery of the customer experience in visiting the Museum.
4. To lead and advise the team who maintain the collection.
5. To ensure the Board is provided with informed recommendations on acquisitions, loans and disposals.
6. To ensure the creation of a searchable collection database on our website.
7. To facilitate public access to the collection, including through management of the museum’s social media accounts and website.
8. To ensure compliance with the Museum Accreditation Scheme and with Scottish Government’s Recognition guidelines.
9. To manage the interactions of the Museum, including interfacing with the Scottish Railway Museum Collections Trust, particularly with regard to ownership of vehicles.
10. To represent the SRPS within national museum-supporting organisations.
11. To identify opportunities to apply for grants which would enhance the Museum’s ability to operate or improve the customer experience and then direct the production of grant applications.
12. To manage projects and contractors involved in developing the Museum’s infrastructure as it expands
13. To develop library facilities on site at the Museum
14. To proactively identify projects, and take forward ongoing projects
15. To direct general curatorial duties

Qualifications and Experience

Essential

1. Relevant experience of working with a museum collection, and with staff and volunteers
2. Practical experience of running a successful team, and managing budgets
3. Flexible, confident approach with the ability to work independently or as part of a team
4. Demonstrable capacity to delegate
5. Demonstrable capacity to commit to developing self and colleagues
6. Excellent attention to detail
7. Excellent verbal and written communication skills
8. High standard of written and spoken English
9. Confident IT skills with experience of collections management systems
10. Familiarity with the use of collections management databases

Desirable

1. Applicants should be educated to degree level or equivalent in a relevant subject
2. Museum studies qualification
3. Interest in Scottish Railway History
4. Experience of working with Adlib
5. Experience of project management
6. Knowledge of preventative conservation
7. Knowledge of the Scottish Museum-supporting environment, including of grant giving organisations, and potential for raising funds

The Society, based in Bo’ness, was formed in 1961 to preserve and display Scotland’s railway heritage through the Museum of Scottish Railways and the operation of heritage services on the Bo’ness and Kinneil Railway. It also provides commercial hire and tours through its subsidiary company, SRPS Railtours Limited.

Purpose

Reporting to the Finance Director and working with the members of the Board, department heads, and Finance & Audit Committee (‘F&A’), the Financial Controller is responsible for providing timely and pertinent management information together with relevant advice and support on all financial aspects of the Charity and its trading subsidiaries. They will also be responsible for producing, to a tight schedule, the Annual Report and Accounts to comply with all relevant accounting, charity and tax regulations and liaising with Auditors as required.

The Financial Controller will contribute to the development of company forward planning by providing the appropriate information to help the preparation of appropriate business plans, budgets and cash forecasts encompassing all areas of the business, challenging assumptions, and providing pertinent financial analysis and guidance as required.

The Financial Controller will have experience of finance and a good knowledge of charity regulation requirements and will also be commercially aware. They will require strong communication skills with all levels of staff.

The role of the Financial Controller is crucial in providing the information that the Board and departments require for effective decision-making, as well as dealing with the year-end reporting.

Principal Duties

• Prepare the Annual Report and Accounts including the Trustees’ Annual Report combining the performance of the charity and trading companies and liaise with external auditors in enabling them to complete their report.

• Liaise with the external auditors in respect of statutory returns.

• Ownership of annual budget process.

• Production of monthly management accounts and appropriate accompanying guidance to allow the Board to track, and act upon, financial performance.

• Monitor and enhance the processes and procedures of the Society to ensure there is proper management of transactions and that the relevant processes and procedures are being followed.

• Understand the complexities of VAT as it impacts the business and provide relevant advice and guidance.

• Line Management of Bookkeeper and Assistant Bookkeeper.

• Liaise with the F&A Committee to review, revise, maintain and enhance a set of policies, processes, procedures, controls etc that form the Financial Management System

• Ensure major projects include the appropriate level of financial reporting.

• Other duties as may reasonably be required from time to time.

Skills and Qualifications

• A qualification in accounting (CA/ACA/equivalent) would be desirable but not essential if candidate can demonstrate equivalent practical experience.

• Several years’ experience in charity finance with significant knowledge of the charities SORP and FRS 102.

• High level of integrity and openness combined with commitment to good governance.

• Good numeracy and IT skills.

• Attention to detail.

• An understanding of data privacy regulations

• Skills in problem solving, research, analysis, critical thinking, and multi-tasking.

Salary & Working Pattern

We are flexible employer and can offer a hybrid working environment.

The post is 2.5 days per week with a full-time equivalent salary of £40,000-£45,000 dependent on experience, based on a 37.5-hour week. Working patterns would be flexed to suit the requirements of the business and post holder.