Director of finance and company secretary jobs

A fantastic opportunity has arisen for an Associate Director of Finance with a Japanese cultural institution, on a full-time (35 hours per week), FTC (to March 2029) basis. As Associate Director of Finance you will be accountable for the organisation’s financial operations.

There is hybrid working in place at this organisation with 2-3 days per week in their central London office.

As Associate Director of Finance, you will:
- Manage the finance function and ensure compliance with internal procedures and accounting standards

- Ensure that all the company’s financial practices are in line with statutory regulations and legislation

- Plan and monitor departmental budgets and support budget-holders in their planning and budget management through accurate and timely budgetary information

- Act as Company Secretary

- Be responsible for overseeing cyber security

- Provide strong line management to the Finance Team, IT Manager and Executive Officer

The successful applicant will:
- Have significant demonstrable experience in finance within the charity sector, in a similar role
- Be ACA, ACCA, CIMA or CIFA fully qualified
- Have good knowledge of UK GAAP and UK tax law and regulations
- Have experience of developing and implementing new financial procedures
- Have excellent communication skills, both written and verbal

If this sounds like you and you're keen to hear more, please do get in touch ASAP!

Please note, only successful applicants will be contacted with further information.

As leading charity recruitment specialists and a certified B Corp™, Harris Hill is committed to high and ever-improving standards of equitable and inclusive recruitment. We actively welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality and other protected characteristics.

You will support the work of the Trust Company and Synod in all matters of compliance with Company and Charity legislation, overseeing the day-to-day operation of the Trust and Synod offices. You will also have the lead in-house responsibility for ensuring that the Board is able to discharge its financial responsibilities in an informed and timely manner. You will work with the honorary Synod Treasurer in liaising with and supporting local churches in financial matters.

You will be based in the Trust Office in Southampton, visiting other locations across the Wessex area as needed. Flexibility is also required for attending occasional evening and weekend meetings.

Key Responsibilities: Company Secretary 

1. in consultation with the Trust Executive Officer and the Chair of the Board, convene and provide administration for annual general meetings (AGMs) and Board meetings, including: 
   • producing agendas
   • making all papers available to the Board in a timely manner 
   • taking minutes
   • conveying decisions 
   • handling meeting correspondence 
2. provide legal, financial and/or strategic advice to the Board during and outside of meetings, and more generally advise the Board on corporate governance matters 
3. keep up to date with regulatory or statutory changes and policies that might affect the organisation 
4. ensure that the Company’s policies are up to date and are approved 
5. communicate with external professionals involved in corporate governance, such as auditors 
6. implement processes or systems to help ensure good management of the organisation or compliance with legislation 
7. file all necessary documents with the Charity Commission and Companies House, including the Annual Report and Accounts 
8. inform the Charity Commission and Companies House of appointments and resignations of Trustee Directors 
9. take responsibility for HR and the health and safety of employees, including payroll in liaison with external consultants 
   • maintain Role Descriptions for staff 
   • ensure that the Company’s Employment Handbook and statutory employment policies are reviewed and updated annually 
10. manage the Company’s premises and facilities, including IT in liaison with external consultants 

Key Responsibilities: Deputy Treasurer 

1. in collaboration with the Synod Treasurer: 
   • ensure the Wessex Trust is managing the assets of the Synod in an appropriate manner and in accordance with its strategy and policies 
   • report on the Synod’s financial matters and budgets to the Synod Executive and Trust
   • ensure that policies, operations and priorities are in keeping with the aims of the Wessex Synod. 
   • participate in the Synod Executive’s regular review of the Wessex Synod’s governance structure 
   • attend relevant Assembly level meetings for matters of concern to Synod Treasurers 
   • liaise with the Treasurers of the 12 other Synods, with a particular focus on commitments to Inter-Synod Resource Sharing. 
2. manage the annual process to agree and deliver the overall contribution from the Synod to the United Reformed Church’s national Ministry and Mission Fund, or its successor 
3. develop and maintain a rolling 3-year projection of the Trust’s financial capacity 
4. participate in the appointment of the Trust Secretary and the Financial Accountant and participate in monitoring and evaluating their performance 
5. undertake line management responsibility for the Financial Accountant 
6. serve on the Investment Committee and assist in maintaining the Trust’s Investment and Reserves policies 
7. monitor changes in statutory financial requirements and ensure that relevant ones are implemented 
8. support the Trust Convener in the production of the Trustees’ Annual Report 
9. take overall responsibility in the staff team for work to prepare for and support the annual statutory audit 
10. lead the Trust’s response to the Audit Findings Report each year and prioritise responses.

We’re looking for a dynamic Head of Governance & Business Administration to play a pivotal role in ensuring our organisation runs with integrity, transparency, and impact. This is an exciting opportunity to influence how one of the UK’s most ambitious cultural organisations operates as we grow and evolve.

In this role, you’ll lead on governance, risk management, and compliance, acting as Company Secretary and Data Protection Officer. You’ll oversee business planning and reporting, legal and insurance matters, procurement, and organisational policies – ensuring everything we do meets the highest standards.

You’ll work closely with our Executive Director, Board of Trustees, and senior leadership team, building strong relationships and driving change that supports our vision for equality, inclusion, and sustainability.

JOB SUMMARY

To ensure that efficient governance, operational systems and controls are in place to manage Factory International’s Governance and Business Administration function.

This includes governance and acting as Company secretariat, data protection and acting as Data Protection Officer, accountable for Business Plan Reporting, internal communication, oversight of Legal & Compliance, Risk Management, Insurance, Policies & Procedures and Procurement

The key responsibilities for the Head of Governance & Business Administration include;

Governance & Risk

• Ensure robust governance frameworks and compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements
• Coordinate Board and Committee meetings, including scheduling, agenda preparation, and distribution of papers
• Maintain statutory registers and ensure timely filing of returns and documents with regulatory bodies
• Support FI Executive and Board in proactively managing risk, and accurately reflecting via the Company Risk register, working closely with Directors to ensure quarterly updates are shared with the Executive Leadership and Board of Trustees (including relevant sub-committees)
• Maintain consistency and compliance for all internal communication channels

Business Planning & Reporting

• Act as the organisational lead for Business Plan Reporting, ensuring alignment across all key grant funding agreements and business plan KPIs
• Oversee the annual cycle of statutory reporting to both public sector funders and trustees including all ad-hoc reporting requests across the business
• Attend key external stakeholder meetings with the Executive Director (e.g. MCC, ACE, GMCA) relating to reporting against grant agreements etc
• Work closely with key Directors, Commercial Leads (including the Trusts & Foundations Manager) on funding bids ensuring that commitments are consistent with our agreed internal Business Plan targets and objectives

Legal, Insurance, Data Protection & Compliance

• Ensure legislative and regulatory compliance in all systems and procedures around business administration
• Acting as lead organisational contact and budget holder for external legal support ensuring consistent processes are followed and value for money is achieved to meet the strategic needs of the business
• Ensure adequate data protection in place, devise and implement any additional process and/or training, and act as DPO, accessing external advice as appropriate
• Where required, support the achievement of essential consents such as Planning, Licence variations, Building Control, etc
• Manage the relationship with FI’s insurance broker, working with the Executive Director and Finance Director to ensure appropriate cover and regularly review policies. Overseeing the appropriate claiming of all losses

Procurement

• Acting as lead organisational contact for all Procurement Activity – working closely with the Executive Director to ensure consistent processes are followed and value for money is achieved to meet the strategic needs of the business
• Maintain oversight of the register of planned Procurement as well as responding to un-planned procurement requirements – working closely with relevant Directors and Executives

Policies & Procedures

• Overall responsibility for control and oversight of the organisation’s suite of policies and procedures, including requests for new procedures
• Ensure that key policies are updated by business owners and renewed as per the agreed schedule – ensuring a consistency of tone, content and that relevant checks/approvals have been managed at the appropriate level (Exec, Trustees etc)