Full job description*Senior Finance Officer
*Hybrid working
*International charity

Summary*Join Media Defence, a leading international human rights organisation that works to protect journalists, independent media and freedom of expression worldwide.
*This position is central to delivering accurate financial operations, payroll, reconciliations, donor reporting and continuous process improvement.
About Media Defence
Media Defence is an international human rights charity that provides legal defence, capacity building and support to journalists, independent media and citizen journalists facing threats to press freedom around the world. Operating globally, the organisation works to protect freedom of expression and strengthen access to independent journalism.
As Media Defence continues to grow its impact internationally, it is investing in its finance function to ensure robust financial management, reporting and operational excellence.

The Role
This is a hands-on Senior Finance Officer position responsible for supporting the smooth operation of day-to-day finance activities and financial reporting across the organisation.
Key responsibilities include:
*Managing accounts payable, accounts receivable, expenses and payment processes
*Owning monthly payroll preparation and administration
*Completing reconciliations, journals and month-end activities
*Preparing donor, grant and restricted fund financial reports
*Supporting finance systems, processes and control improvements
Main Duties
Working closely with colleagues across the organisation, you will:
*Process supplier invoices, payments and staff expenses
*Prepare and submit monthly payroll and pension information
*Complete bank and balance sheet reconciliations
*Process journals, accruals and prepayments
*Produce donor, grant and restricted fund reports
*Support ERP development, financial controls and process enhancement initiatives
*Assist with month-end and year-end reporting requirements
*Contribute to continuous improvement projects across the finance function
The Successful Candidate
We are looking for someone who can demonstrate:
*Experience working within a charity, NGO or not-for-profit environment
*Experience of restricted fund and donor reporting
*Strong month-end accounting knowledge, including reconciliations, accruals and prepayments
*Payroll experience and understanding of associated processes
*Strong Excel skills, including PivotTables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP and data analysis
*A proactive and solutions-focused approach
*Strong communication and stakeholder management skills
*Studying towards or holding a recognised accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent)
What’s on Offer?*Salary up to £41,000 per annum, depending on experience
*Permanent, full-time position
*Hybrid working, with a London office and typically 2-3 days per week in the office
*Opportunity to join a highly respected international charity
*Exposure to global operations and donor-funded programmes
*Collaborative, mission-driven and supportive culture
*Excellent opportunity to develop your finance career within a growing organisation undergoing significant transformation
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
Media Defence is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, respected and able to thrive. Applications are welcomed from candidates of all backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. We believe that diverse teams strengthen decision-making, innovation and organisational impact, and we are committed to ensuring a fair and accessible recruitment process for all applicants.