Director of Finance

Director of Finance

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) to:

• Play a significant role in the overall leadership and management of the charity.
• Provide strong strategic professional leadership for all aspects of financial management for the charity and its related entities.
• Provide expert strategic advice and financial modelling to inform our funding model, financial planning and key contracts and partnerships.
• Lead the development and implementation of the organisational financial strategy and plan and ensure targeted engagement with key internal and external stakeholders.
• Ensure robust internal systems of control, including financial controls and the legal and financial integrity of internal systems and procedures.
• Lead and develop the Finance team taking responsibility for controls, financial planning, budgeting and forecasting, financial analysis, tax and treasury, management and statutory financial reporting.
• Provide decision making support and act as the key finance business partner to the Chief Executive and the rest of SLT.
• Manage key relationships with trustees, Company Members and support the effective governance of the charity and its related entities.
• Manage significant financial transactions including strategic disposals and acquisitions as well as capital expenditure.
• Lead organisational risk management and assurance.
• Ensure the production of accurate, timely and relevant management information.

Accountability

Financial leadership and management

• To provide professional advice and guidance on all financial matters.
• As a member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), to contribute to all discussions and decision-making processes that relate to the realisation of the organisational strategic plans.
• Lead the development and implementation of the financial strategy and plan for the charity.
• Co-ordinate the charity’s overall budget activity including, KPIs, cash flow, management of the budget process and forecasts.
• To attend Board and Committee meetings as required, presenting reports and participating in debate.
• Devise, implement and maintain financial controls that comply with the requirements of the charity, legal and regulatory authorities ensuring an exemplary level of financial probity is maintained.
• Enable internal and external audits to be successfully completed with the minimum of delay and full preparation of year end accounts.
• To ensure that the systems and processes are in place to provide all the necessary data (information and knowledge management), in the required formats, on which the efficiency and effectiveness of the organisation can be evaluated and developed.
• As a registered director of the trading subsidiary, ensure all financial systems, processes and reporting are implemented to a high standard.
• Principal liaison with Investment Managers to agree KPIs, monitor performance and the linkages to financial analysis for any significant capital expenditure so that the impact of the proposed expenditure on the charity and its reserves policy is understood.
• To make a significant input into the leading and shaping of future capital developments.
• To agree, manage and monitor the directorate’s annual budget, ensuring that all activities are delivered on time and within budget, devising relevant KPIs and taking appropriate corrective action where necessary.
• To lead the annual statutory audit and production of the statutory financial statements and tax returns.
• To support other SLT members with their reporting needs in respect of grantmakers, regulators and other bodies.

Risk and assurance

• To lead corporate risk management and reporting for the charity and its related entities, aligned to key corporate risks.
• Work effectively with SLT and trustees to ensure effective risk mitigation and management.
• To lead the development and maintenance of the organisation’s assurance framework.

Influencing and relationships

• To maintain productive dialogue and relationships with trustees, Company Members and Life Patrons.
• To build and maintain strong working relationships with staff cross-functionally and across levels of seniority, as well as with volunteers, to ensure their needs are understood and met by the postholder and the Finance team.
• To report key strategic and operational information in impactful ways.
• To regularly addressing a range of non-technical audiences to keep them abreast of the technical requirements of the team and to ensure effective internal systems of control.
• Proactively maintaining open lines of communication with members of various teams in an effort to ensure.
• To ensure external stakeholders including investment managers, auditors and other suppliers provide value for money and optimise terms for the charity and its related entities.

Key relationships

• Chief Executive
• Senior Leadership Team
• Trustees
• Head of Finance & Business Intelligence, Finance Manager and Finance team.
• The post holder will manage key relationships with the organisation’s appointed banks, auditors, investment company, insurance brokers, suppliers as well as statutory and regulatory bodies as appropriate.
• The post holder will work across functional teams and seniority levels of the organisation to inspire, design, lead, and ensure effective delivery of strategic and operational goals across.

Person Specification

Knowledge, educational and professional qualifications:

• Educated to degree level.
• ACA, ACCA or other CCAB qualification.
• Knowledge of charity accounting.
• Understanding of SORP 2015 and FRS 102.
• Understanding of UK company law.
• Knowledge of tools, including those for planning, estimation, stakeholder management, issue, risk and benefits management.

Experience

• Experience of charity or not-for-profit financial management and accounting, including fund accounting, Gift Aid and partial VAT exemption for charities.
• Line management; leading and overseeing a demonstrably successful, vibrant team.
• Analysing data, parsing complex information and providing insights.
• Experience of working with senior stakeholders, including trustees, to understand requirements.
• Defining, monitoring and evaluating enterprise-wide financial performance.
• Designing, managing and delivering highly complex solutions to ambiguous and sometimes contentious issues.
• Operational management including knowledge of HR practice, people and budgetary management.
• Influencing and holding senior colleagues to account.
• Experience of delivering highly complex strategic programmes.

Skills & abilities

• Commercial acumen and financially literate.
• Strong financial modelling and analysis skills.
• Ability to think strategically (keeping things in perspective, viewing the wider context, making the links).
• Possessing highly developed analytical, judgement and problem-solving skills to interpret and evaluate complex, dynamic and sometimes ambiguous situations and information.
• Ability to engage a range of stakeholders and communicate strategies, policies, procedures, plans and other organisational information to a variety of audiences in a style relevant and accessible to each.
• Able to make judgments, take qualified risks and make decisions with confidence, taking responsibility for the outcomes.
• Strong consultative, listening and communication skills with the ability to adapt to a diverse range of people and staff across levels of seniority, being assertive when required.
• Able to work well collaboratively and in a team as well as autonomously and independently.
• Logical, practical and structured approach to manage competing priorities and manage tight deadlines.
• Strong project-related skills including the ability to set, monitor, evaluate, communicate and base action on meaningful metrics;
• Advanced Excel skills and skilled in all MS Office packages (especially Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Contract and Benefits

Job Title: Director of Finance

Reports to: Chair of the Board of Trustees

Contract: Permanent, part time (0.8 FTE) or full time (1.0 FTE). Full time working hours are 37.5 hours a week. Due to the nature of the role some commitments may take place outside of the normal working day.

Pension: Our Charity operates a Group Personal Pension Scheme. Our Charity contributes 8% of salary. Personal contributions through a salary sacrifice arrangement can be requested.

Work Base: Homebased with travel to one of our centres (Cumbria/Devon/West Sussex) or Basingstoke office or London expected at least once per week.

Annual Leave: 30 days plus bank holidays.

Pension: Our charity operates a Group Personal Pension Scheme with an 8% contribution of salary. Personal contributions through a salary sacrifice arrangement can be requested.

Life Assurance: 3 times basic salary, on death, payable to nominated individuals whilst employed by the Charity.

Employee Assistance Programme: A free 24hr confidential helpline which provides signposting, advice and guidance on a range of personal issues. If required telephone or face to face counselling is available.

My Benefits at Work: A portal that provides information and guidance on a range of financial and health and wellbeing matters.

Headspace: Access to the Headspace App which is a science-backed meditation and mindfulness tool which has hundreds of meditation and sleep exercises to support wellbeing.

Healthcare: A discounted health cash plan is available whereby employees can pay a monthly premium and then claim cash back for treatments.