Financial Controller Jobs

Ivy Rock Partners are pleased to be working with an outstanding Multi Academy Trust to recruit a Financial Accountant to join their team, reporting to the Financial Controller on a 12 month fixed term contract.

They are looking for someone to work with the Audit Lead and the Financial Controller support the delivery of the Audit and ensure financial statements are prepared for both internal and external consumption.

This is a hybrid role working 3 days in their office based in East Croydon.

This role would be perfect for someone who is passionate about developing their skills in an excellent organisation.

Main responsibilities:

• Prepare balance sheet control accounts.
• Consolidate all grant income remittances for Government income.
• Prepare monthly income and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Ensure bank reconciliations are completed.
• Provide support on reconciling Fixed assets registers for all schools and head office.
• Create audit packs for auditors and work on queries from the auditors

You will:

• Be fully qualified
• Be experienced in production of month end accounts.
• Have strong reconciliation and data analysis skills.
• Experienced in preparing month end journals, including departmental recharges
• Have strong excel skills and experience of using a variety of software packages to generate reports
• Have excellent analytical and communication skills.
• Have a professional "cando" attitude and work ethic
• Have excellent time management skills

Experience of the education sector is desirable but not essential.

For more information on this role please contact Megan Hunter

A well-known National health and well-being charity dedicated to supporting young people are seeking an ambitious Financial Accountant to join the team in this newly created role.

About the role

As Financial Accountant, you will support the Head of Finance with the financial management of the charity.

You will have ownership of the balance sheet and assist in the preparation of the statutory accounts, management accounts, general ledger reconciliation and control activities as well as assisting with month end responsibilities.

You will lead and manage the Accounts Receivable and Payables team of 2 as well supporting the Head of Finance to review and improve the current financial controls, systems and processes to drive an increase in efficiency.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who is looking to qualify within the next 12-18 months as full study support is offered.

A summary of some of the key responsibilities below:

• Assist the Head of Finance in managing an efficient year-end audit and assisting in the annual budget process.
• Support the Head of Finance with the preparation of the Charity’s monthly management accounts
• Maintain the charity’s fixed asset register, ensuring assets are recorded and depreciated according to the correct accounting policies
• Maintain and monitor all assigned control accounts, reconciling on a monthly basis as well as investigating and correcting any variance.
• Identify and implement process improvements in own role leading to greater efficiency and more time spent on value adding activity.
• Deputise for Head of Finance as and when required, taking on all associated responsibilities and duties.
• Manage the AP & AR team of 2

About you:

• You will be a part-qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA or equivalent) and actively studying to become qualified
• Charity experience is desirable but not essential
• Demonstrable experience owning the balance sheet
• Experience supporting or producing statutory accounts
• Experience within other Financial accounting positions
• Good knowledge and understanding of transactional finance
• Management experience is desirable but not essential

What’s on offer?

• £40,000 - £45,000
• Study support
• Hybrid working (1 day per week required in the Central London Offices)

The Chief Executive will be responsible for providing leadership, developing, and implementing Living Well Bromley’s strategic and operational plans, leading on partnership and business development, and being an effective advocate for the charity and its beneficiaries.

They will lead a senior management team of three (the Operations Manager, Funding and Communications Manager and Advocacy Manager).They will be responsible for ensuring financial control and supporting and advising on governance best practice across all aspects of the charity.

This post is a first-tier post directly reporting to the Board of Trustees. Ideally the post holder will have a Christian faith and be committed to core Christian values.

About the post of CEO

You will report directly to the Board of Trustees, ensuring excellent governance of the Charity, regulatory compliance with the Charity Commission and Companies House, and will collaborate with Trustees on designing and executing the 2024-2027 strategy. You will lead and support a team of seven staff, supporting 500+ older and disabled Neighbours annually with a large team of volunteers. You will ensure excellent management of charity’s finances and that adequate funding is in place to maintain all charitable activity, monitoring and evaluation. You will ensure that the charity maintains its reputation and develops its exposure and standing. 

About you

You will have strategic leadership experience and have previously led teams. You will have a strong understanding of charity governance and will have demonstrable fundraising knowledge and/or experience. You will be passionate about supporting older and disabled people and will have a strong understanding of their needs. You will be equipped to represent the Charity both internally and externally.  

JOB DESCRIPTION

Strategy and Operations

1. Develop, implement, and lead execution of the charity's annual operational plan and 3-year strategic plan.

2. Identify appropriate level of staffing, volunteering, ensuring that all staff and volunteers are appropriately interviewed, vetted, inducted, trained, developed, and supported to deliver against their objectives.

3. Ensure appropriate upkeep, security, and management of the charity’s premises, including all relevant contracts and payments.

4. Ensure that the charity’s IT systems are fit for purpose and compliant with relevant law.

People

5. Line management of seven staff members, and responsibility for staff and team development, cohesion and appraisals.

6. Recruit and support social club facilitators and appropriate consultants to provide additional resource to the charity as required.

7. Lead staff member for safeguarding, liaising directly with Hammersmith and Fulham Adult Social Care.

8. Ensure appropriate mechanisms and safeguards are in place to support up to 100 regular volunteers, and up to 100 additional corporate/student volunteers.

9. Ensure appropriate mechanisms and safeguards are in place to support up to 500 beneficiaries and additional attendees at FGN events.

Finance and Fundraising

10. Develop, implement, and lead charity’s financial and fundraising planning and management, ensuring that the charity operates at least at break-even, ideally with a small surplus.

11. Ensure that the charity has a diverse range of income across various streams, inclusive of (but not limited to) public sector, trusts and foundations, corporate income, events, and online giving.

12. Ensure that the charity is receiving value for money with all expenditure, ensuring contract review on a timely basis as appropriate.

13. Ensure appropriate cashflow projections so that expenditure does not exceed income in any one year unless pre-agreed with trustees.

14. Ensure that appropriate financial controls are in place so to protect charity and anyone handling money on behalf of the charity.

15. In conjunction with the finance administrator and hon. treasurer monitor all income, expenditure, accounts, funding investments and budgets.

Governance

16 Ensure compliance with charity and company law, inclusive of writing, presentation and filing of annual report and accounts and other Company Secretary duties.

17 Organise, attend, record and report at board meetings every two months, inclusive of finance and operations reporting and the regular cycle of governance reviews.

18 Plan, organise and attend AGM and annual strategy session.

19 Ensure appropriate level of risk management and insurance are in place for the charity.

20 Ensure all relevant policies, procedures and financial controls are in place, inclusive of annual review.

Communications and Impact

21. Represent and promote the charity in public, sourcing media opportunities as appropriate so to increase visibility.

22. Represent the charity on appropriate networks and forums so to develop stakeholder relationships and source opportunities for cross-partner collaboration.

23. Ensure positive, fit-for-purpose, internal and external communications, inclusive of monthly newsletters, social media presence and other marketing materials.

24. Ensure appropriate monitoring and evaluation of projects and develop relationships with academic institutions and/or research consultancies where possible so to elicit external perspectives and scrutiny of the charity’s work.

25. Build relationships with local stakeholders and businesses.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential requirements

1. Senior management experience within the charity sector or similar

2. Experience of working at a senior level with and under the direction of a board of trustees

3. Experience of successfully applying for grant funding, and/or other income generation  

4. Financial acumen including financial reporting

5. Experience of successfully delivering strategic plans

6. Experience in publicity and marketing

7. Experience in management of staff and volunteers

The post is subject to:

· right to work in the UK check

· satisfactory disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service

· two satisfactory references

Salary will be c. £54,000 and is set in line with NJC pay scales 2024/25.

Working hours are 35 hours over 5 days per week. The postholder will be based primarily on site but with the possibility of up to one day per week remote working by agreement.

Pension: there is a 5% employer’s pension contribution

You will receive 28 days of annual leave, and option to buy/sell three days annually. We have additional benefits, which include eye vouchers and cycle to work scheme.

Interviews will be held at Rosaline Hall, Fulham, London SW6 on 13 and 14 May. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. No recruitment agencies to apply.

The Finance Manager is responsible for the day to day operation, management & control of the finance function, including the completion of all finance tasks including financial & management accounting. Reports directly to the Executive Director.

The post holder will have ambition and enthusiasm to drive change in the department to meet the needs of an evolving organisation.They will need experience of working closely with budget holders and ensuring financial processes are embedded.

The Finance Manager is responsible for the day to day operation, accuracy and integrity of the financial accounting systems within the organisation. They are responsible for producing monthly accounts, undertaking variance analysis and implementing financial controls

Responsibilities

Annual Audit
• Overseeing the preparation of the annual audit pack and the statutory audit process.
• Management of the annual audit, liaising with BFT’s auditors.
Financial Planning
• Work as necessary with the Executive Director in drawing up annual company budgets, production budgets, annual operating plans and cash-flows, and long-term financial planning.

Monthly Management Accounts
• Report against annual budget on a monthly basis.
• Accuracy and completeness of data input
• Maintaining Purchase ledger and supplier information.
• Supplier payments.
• Petty cash payments, control, reconciliation and filing.
• Assisting on the export and creation of financial reporting.

Reporting and Accounts
• All financial accounting duties.
• Production of draft Monthly Management accounts for the Belarus Free Theatre.
Person Specification
They will be a good communicator, with the ability to work with a range of staff across all departments, have excellent analytical and spreadsheet skills, hands on experience as well as a formal accounting qualification (or part qualification) such as AAT or ACCA/CIMA.
Essential
• Full or part qualified ACCA/CIMA (or equivalent)
• Experience of Sage Line 50 and Sage payroll
• Excellent and proven IT skills including excel (vlookup, pivot tables etc)
• Accounts preparation to TB and Management Accounts
• A proven track record of managing finance in a small to medium sized organisation
• An understanding of Charity VAT, TTR and PAYE
• Experience of Charity Accounts and SORP
• A good communicator and advocate for the department
• Enthusiastic team player and internal communicator
• Efficient and methodical
• Accuracy and attention to detail
• Responsible and reliable
• Ability to work across tight deadlines and manage a diverse workload
Desirable
• Experience of dealing with transactions in other countries
• Experience of production and or project accounting
• Experience of charity and/or arts environment
• Experience of preparation of quarterly VAT return including partial exemption calculations
• 3 years managerial

Request our candidate pack for further details about Belarus Free Theatre and the responsibilities of the role. The Candidate pack is available in audio and BSL formats.

About Salix

We’re Salix Finance, but we’re not a bank.

Our mission is to enable, and inspire, public sector organisations to move towards net zero. We deliver government funding schemes to support councils, schools, housing associations, hospitals and universities boost their energy efficiency, reduce their impact on the environment, save money and to remove more households from fuel poverty.

As well as managing the funding schemes, we provide professional advice, expertise, and support to grant recipients throughout all stages of their projects. We also offer insight, intelligence, and influence by sharing knowledge and lessons learned from project delivery to help improve future schemes and policy development. We were created in 2004 and have been growing ever since. We now employ 200 people. We are committed and passionate about supporting governments to reach their ambitious net zero targets. We are proud and excited to be on the journey with them.

The Role

This role will support the Financial Controller to deliver a high-quality payments and cash management service. The role of the Cash and Payments Manager is to oversee the Operational Finance team (3 people) and be responsible for managing, monitoring, and reporting on all cash transactions. You will manage cash management systems and processes, recommending and implementing any improvements to current processes and controls.

You will review and approve bi-weekly supplier/expenses payment runs ensuring that there is sufficient cash available and review, sample check and provide second stage approval for payment run files on the banking systems to ensure accurate payments.

The postholder will have strong leadership skills, a positive attitude and will take pride in getting a job done to the highest standards.  You will have the personal motivation to work in a fast-paced environment and be responsive to changing demands. 

What you will need to succeed

• A strong background in transactional finance – particularly accounts payable
• Experience of managing a small team
• Experience of process improvement

What Salix can offer you?

• The chance to join an organisation at the forefront of decarbonising the public sector.
• £45,000-£50,000pa dependent on experience.
• 28 days annual leave (plus bank holidays) and up to 3 additional days during the Christmas period
• Hybrid working – 1 day a week in the London
• Contributory pension scheme (we will match up to 10% of your contribution)

Location: Southampton - Hybrid (1-2 days in office)

We are working with One Small Thing who are looking for an experienced Finance Manager with demonstrable skills within finance, the not-for-profit sector and housing to join their Hope Street team.

With offices in London and Southampton, One Small Thing is striving for positive change across the justice system by implementing small things in a big way.  They provide gender responsive, trauma-informed programmes within the prison and community sectors that consider the individual caught in a cycle of crime and incarceration, with the aim of humanising their experiences.

One Small Thing has a commitment to systemic change for women and their children in the justice system, which has inspired them to build Hope Street, a brand-new, purpose-built residential community-based service, designed in collaboration with women, for justice-involved women and their children in Southampton, offering them access to education, practical and therapeutic support in safe, respectful trusting environment.

Responsible for ensuring financial controls, processes and systems are updated and effectively implemented, the Finance Manager will create accurate, regular reporting ensuring adequate financial forecasting, as well as ensuring that the organisation remains financially compliant, and they will be instrumental within the organisation in supporting scale and growth at Hope Street.

This is an exciting time for the charity and an excellent opportunity for a skilled Finance Manager who:

· Holds an acounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or CIPFA) part or fully qualified or qualified by experience.

· Has strong budgeting/forecasting and at least two years financial & systems management experience, with experience of producing management accounts, budget planning and financial monitoring processes.

· Has experience of working in or with the not-for-profit sector and housing sector.

· Can demonstrate exceptional budgeting skills with experience of managing complex funding sources.

· Has highly developed interpersonal & team-working skills with a positive, flexible & can-do attitude, strong leadership & communication skills, with the ability to develop policies/procedures and convey complex financial control concepts to non-finance colleagues in both verbal and written format.

· Is resourceful, practical with an approach to problem-solving, with the ability to plan, prioritise and maintain efficiency during periods of pressure and high volume of work

You will have advanced knowledge of MS Excel, Sage Payroll software and of the benefits system, tax credits and universal credits.

Previous experience of the following would be an advantage, but is not essential as training can be provided:

· Knowledge of Charity accounts & SORP

· Knowledge of the Charity VAT landscape

· Knowledge of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central

Please note that there is a requirement for a DBS check for this role at Enhanced with Barred check level. 

For more information, please contact Louise Portnall, Recruitment Consultant, Charisma Charity Recruitment. Your application should be submitted through the Charisma website and include your CV and supporting statement.

We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, or other category protected by law.

Closing date for applications: 29th May 2024, please apply without delay to avoid disappointment

First interviews will be held on 3rd and 4th June 2024

Prospectus is delighted to be working with the Fidelity UK and International Foundations to recruit a Finance Manager
   
The Fidelity UK and international Foundations are independent grant-making Foundations, proudly supported by Fidelity International. The Foundations have four Programmes, which focus on supporting high-impact charitable organisations in the fields of: tackling disadvantage among children and young people; health and wellbeing; arts, culture and heritage; and environmental conservation.  Priority regions/countries for the Foundations’ work include: the UK, Republic of Ireland, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, India and Australia.
   
The Foundations’ approach to grant-making is distinctive, in that they focus on capacity building to strengthen the impact, effectiveness and/or sustainability of non-profit organisations so they can thrive and fulfil their charitable goals. More information about the Foundations and their approach to grant-making can be found on their website.

The role:

The purpose of this role is to ensure effective, efficient and accurate day-to-day financial management and financial controls for the Fidelity UK and international Foundations, including leading on management reporting, budgeting, forecasting and cashflow planning and delivering the annual reports and accounts for all four Foundations. The post holder will prepare all finance papers for Board and Finance and Investment Subcommittee meetings and will support the oversight of the Foundations’ investment portfolios. This role will also be responsible for managing all payments made by the Foundations, in addition to ensuring risk and compliance guidelines are adhered to at all times.

The person

The successful applicant will have a detailed knowledge of accounting principles, ideally with experience of the charitable sector, and a strong track record of day-to-day financial management in a comparable role. You will have strong analytical skills and be able to demonstrate both operational and strategic thinking. You will have a proficiency in accounting (with a relevant finance qualification) and will be able to evidence the successful production of annual accounts and monthly reporting, ensuring monitoring against budgets. Additionally, you will have strong analytical and reporting skills, exceptional attention to detail, excellent communication and presentation skills, and hands-on experience of explaining complex financial information clearly and concisely. Finally, you will have a high degree of humility and a collaborative style and will be able to pro-actively manage a diverse workload on your own initiative. 

This role represents a superb opportunity for the right person to play a key role in ensuring the successful running of a significant grant-making organisation that supports non-profit organisations across diverse themes and contexts.

As a specialist Recruitment Practice, we are committed to building inclusive and diverse organisations, and welcome applications from all sections of the community. We invest in your journey as a candidate and are committed to supporting you in your application. 
 

Organisation Summary

Earthed (part of Initiative Earth Charity) is an exciting start-up charity with a dynamic mission to promote ecosystem restoration and agroecology. Earthed enables access to skill-based courses led by teachers from around the world as well as access to engaged networks and the grants you need to start restoring your local ecosystems or growing your own food. It’s here for anyone, anywhere, who wants to restore the air we breathe, the water we drink, the land we farm and the food we eat.

As a growing organization, Earthed is at a pivotal moment, providing an excellent opportunity for a Finance & Operations Manager to contribute to meaningful environmental change and organisational development.

Role Summary

• Lead the financial management, including accounting, budgeting, reporting, and strategic planning.
• Oversee HR, administration, legal, and compliance, ensuring smooth operations.
• Work closely with senior leadership to align financial and operational strategies.
• Manage financial controls, procedures, and systems.
• Collaborate with various departments for effective budgeting and operational management.

Role Requirements

• Demonstrated accounting expertise in a growth environment.
• Proven financial management and accounting experience including budgeting, statutory reporting, and management accounts.
• Familiarity with the financial processes of a member-based organization.
• Understanding of charity compliance and a background in charitable organizations.
• Experience with CRMs and strong IT skills.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to manage multiple projects.
• A passion for ecosystem restoration and commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• Desirable: Qualified accountant, policy development, alternative finance, and contract management experience.

Job Title: Floating Support Team Manager

Assignment Duration: 2-3 months

Location: Borough of Hounslow, Office based East Hounslow

Pay: £18.00 - £22.00 per hour

Hours: Monday - Friday, 09:00-17:00

Overview:

We are seeking a dedicated Floating Support Team Manager to oversee a new service aimed at providing essential warp-around support to vulnerable residents in the Borough of Hounslow. This temporary role offers a unique opportunity to lead a team of 20 staff members with the assistance of two team leaders and another manager as their sister project. Delivering crucial assistance to individuals striving for independent living.

Responsibilities:

• Coordinate all team activities to ensure adherence to standards and objectives.
• Provide skilled leadership and management within a complex and challenging environment.
• Contribute to and implement the team's objectives, work plans, and performance targets.
• Improve service effectiveness through high-quality outcome-focused support.
• Maximise the contribution of team members to overall organisational effectiveness.
• Ensure adherence to financial procedures and controls.
• Manage and motivate employees, trainees, students, and volunteers, including conducting supervisions and appraisals.
• Support project and support workers in key-work, case recording, face-to-face work, group work, advice giving, and advocacy.
• Provide accurate reports and timely information to support funding applications.
• Promote best practices, including person-centred support planning and effective casework management.
• Maintain positive relationships with other teams and represent the organisation at external meetings as required.
• Monitor, record, report, and meet Key Performance Indicators set internally or externally.
• Participate in a 24/7 on-call system to provide emergency advice and support.

Qualifications:

• Good understanding of managing support services for vulnerable populations.
• Ability to manage a team working with challenging behaviours and diverse support needs.
• Experience in managing change processes while ensuring strategic service delivery.
• Understanding of outcome-based approaches and recovery models.
• Proven ability to sustain relationships with colleagues, funders, and service users.
• Knowledge of financial controls and sound financial management practices.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently while remaining accountable to management.

This is going to be a popular vacancy so please Apply as soon as possible if you are interested so you do not miss out!

Morgan Hunt is a multi-award-winning recruitment Business for interim, contract and temporary recruitment and acts as an Employment Agency in relation to temporary vacancies. Morgan Hunt is an equal opportunities employer, job suitability are assessed on merit in accordance with their skills, qualifications and abilities to perform the relevant duties required in a particular role.

Job Description

Summary of Job Purpose

The Business and Operations Lead plays a vital role in managing and developing the operational business functions of the organisation and supporting its charitable aims; working closely with the CEO to deliver and improve the organisation’s strategic planning, operational delivery, and budgeting/ finance processes. The postholder plays a vital role in ensuring that the day-to-day operations of the iHV run smoothly, with key functions:

• Leading iHV business and financial management, including accounting, budgeting, reporting, strategic planning and risk management.

o Work closely with the CEO, senior leadership team and our accountants to align financial and operational strategies.

o Manage financial controls, procedures, and systems.

o Collaborate with various departments, including external stakeholders, for effective budgeting and operational management.

• Leading iHV operations:

o Senior responsibility for administrative, legal, and compliance functions, ensuring smooth operations. This will include management of our Emsworth Office, IT and risks, supporting business planning and change management.

o Lead the operational change for a new Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system and website. iHV Project Lead working with the supplier, the Project Manager and a small team at the iHV to ensure that the project is delivered within the specified time, cost and quality parameters of the specification.

o Working closely with our part-time Head of HR, supporting the senior management team and line managers with HR matters, including recruitment.

o Line management responsibilities of designated staff in the corporate team, supporting business administration.

o Working with the CEO to ensure good governance of Board-related matters, collating Board papers and attending quarterly Board meetings.

Key areas of responsibility:

Business and financial management:

• Maintain and develop robust quality assurance processes for income and expenditure, working with our CEO and accountants, to ensure all financial and reputational risks are effectively managed.
• Ensure effective financial processes across the iHV, with systems in place for invoicing, managing iHV payments and standing orders, and chasing outstanding payments and debtors.
• Build departmental budgets, supporting leads with forecasting, budget tracking, monthly monitoring (management accounts are produced by our independent accountants) to inform workforce planning.
• Work with department leads to prepare budgets for tenders and project/ research grant applications, including determining when VAT is applicable.
• Process invoices, iHV card payments, direct debits, standing orders, expense claims forms and ordering of office supplies, with support from the Corporate Team Administrator.
• Support leads to manage contracting, invoicing and reporting to external funders in accordance with funder requirements. Ensure all new funding streams and other costs are accurately recorded by the accountants.
• Ensure management of the corporate member joiners to the organisation, including invoicing and setting up a process for re-invoicing.
• Work closely with the external accountants to provide information on monthly suspense, debtors, mis-postings and general queries in relation to iHV finance. Ensure the iHV’s reconciliation and remittance records are updated weekly.
• Ensure all financial documentation is available for scrutiny as required, including support for annual financial audit by independent auditors.
• Make recommendations, provide advice, and prepare strategic reports and briefings as required.

Operational Management and Governance:

• Support the CEO and department leads in managing human resources, risk management, quality assurance, operational change, and board functions.
• Support iHV business planning and the development of key objectives and priorities for the corporate Team (in partnership with the CEO and other leads within the corporate team).
• Oversee the operational needs of the Institute – supporting leads within the organisation with workflow mapping, business continuity and planning to support matrix working across the organisation.
• Recording and monitoring of business risks across the organisation to enable risk management, reporting to the Board and providing support in association with the CEO.
• Support the board, providing secretariat functions to board meetings, including ensuring all papers are provided on time, managing sensitive information, and taking board minutes.
• Work with the CEO to develop, coordinate and implement organisational policies throughout the Institute.
• Support the CEO with reporting to the Charity Commission/ Companies House and ensuring that the organisation’s charitable obligations are met. Work with external auditors to deliver the annual audits; and ensure that the relevant documentation is held in line with requirements, is available for external auditing, and the delivery of audit recommendations are tracked.
• Support Health & Safety risk management, ensuring risk assessments are in place, processes and policies are up to date, and staff are trained and informed with any changes.

Information Technology

• Management of robust administration and business support systems, including negotiation and management of IT agreements, subscriptions, licences and contracts as required, providing recommendations for improvements and efficiencies to the CEO.
• Facilities management of required IT and infrastructure to include details of equipment held and provision of Microsoft/ other required licences.
• Liaise and schedule work to be undertaken under external IT support contract.
• Lead operational change for new Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system and website – working with a dedicated project manager who has scoped our organisational requirements (almost completed), to finalise the invitation to tender (ITT), manage the procurement process, evaluate submissions with a small in-house change team at the iHV, and make recommendations to the board. The postholder will lead the project for the iHV, working with the supplier, the Project Manager and a small team at the iHV to ensure that the project is delivered within the specified time, cost and quality parameters of the specification and is robustly tested before launching.
• Information management and analysis to highlight issues/ risks and support decision making – work with Head of HR to ensure iHV compliance with GDPR.

Human Resources

• Management of our Emsworth office with line management responsibility for a small number of designated staff in the corporate team who support business management (currently the Corporate Team Administrator), supporting the delivery of team objectives within the iHV Business Plan.
• Support, motivate and develop staff, managing direct reports’ annual performance development review (PDR) and performance management, if required.
• Work closely with the Head of HR to make sure that good employment practices are universally embedded operationally within the iHV.
• Support staff recruitment and the induction of new staff; provide advice to staff on corporate policies and procedures and communicate changes.
• Support the Performance Development review process for the iHV, collating 360 feedback for iHV employees where requested, and maintaining records for annual PDR outcomes.
• Maintain oversight of the recording of annual leave with the Corporate Team Administrator, Head of HR, and department leads.
• Provide operational leadership and management for team awayday (leading a small team to plan this each year), to support team building and staff development.

Other:

• Have an excellent professional working relationship with colleagues to deliver corporate goals and objectives in line with iHV Vision and Values.
• Help at iHV conference and events, working with our Events Manager and overseeing the work of the Corporate Administrator to ensure that venues, travel, accommodation and materials are booked and delivered on time.
• To participate in all mandatory and individual training as required. To highlight their learning and development needs to the CEO on induction, at the annual PDR, and as needed, to ensure capability to deliver key role functions.

NB

▪ The above is only an outline of the tasks and responsibilities required of the role. You will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by your line manager.

▪ The iHV is an expanding and evolving organisation, as such the job description and person specification will be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the evolving needs of the wider team.

Person Specification

Qualifications (Essential)

• High level of numeracy, literacy, and IT skills.
• Degree in business administration or related field, or equivalent qualification/ postgrad evidence of additional training/courses undertaken.
• Programme Management qualification (PRINCE2, AGILE or equivalent).

Experience (Essential)

• Proven work experience as Operations/Finance Manager or similar role. Prior experience of strengthening organisational effectiveness.
• Significant experience of budgeting, financial management, contract management and forecasting.
• Experience of operational and staff management.

Experience (Desirable)

• Experience in the IT industry and/ or healthcare.
• Previous experience working for a membership organisation.
• Previous experience working for a charity.
• Experience of Charity Accounting

Skills, Ability, Knowledge (Essential)

• A self-starter with the ability to work on their own initiative, work within deadlines, managing multiple and competing tasks.
• Working knowledge and skills in the use of business and financial principles and systems.
• Excellent IT skills – experience of workingwith a range of IT systems and project software. Familiar with Xero, Stripe, PayPal, GoCardless, Asperato or related financial software systems including purchasing, invoicing, reconciliation, debt rectification and financial reporting.
• Outstanding organisational, strategic thinking and problemsolving skills – ability to anticipate and resolve problems before they arise and respond to sudden unexpected demands. The ability to analyse complex facts and situations and develop a range of options.
• The ability to communicate effectively, including excellent oral and written skills and the ability to negotiate on difficult and controversial issues including performance and change.

Skills, Ability, Knowledge (Desirable)

• Familiar with SalesForce, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems and their capabilities.

Personal Attributes (Essential)

• Commitment to teamworking, and respect and consideration for the skills of others. Personal drive, energy, and enthusiasm for new challenges.

Behaviours and Values (Essential)

• Commitment to and focused on quality, promoting high standards in all they do.
• Values diversity and difference, operates with integrity and openness.

Behaviours and Values (Desirable)

• Actively develops themselves and supports others to do the same.

Other (Essential)

• Ability to work flexibly to meet the needs of the role.
• Able to attend meetings and events around the UK as required.
• Flexibility in supporting other iHV administration requirements on occasions.

Other (Desirable)

• Interest in working in the charitable sector to improve children’s lives.

We are on an exciting period of growth and over the next few years we want to increase our reach, connectivity, and impact at a local, district and regional level. At the heart of our work is our vision to ‘#WeThinkActive - Everyone in Coventry, Solihull & Warwickshire to benefit from movement and enjoy sport and physical activity in safe and thriving communities’ and our mission, ‘We will use the power and potential of sport and physical activity to enable future generations to have healthier and more prosperous lives’. 

                                       . 
Our ambition and aspirations mean that we need to formalise and evolve the systems, process and procedures employed in all aspects of running the charity and Active Partnership.

To lead and manage this transition and growth we are looking to recruit an Operations Director to be part of Think Active’s Exec team.

The charity has a strategy and an annual business plan that together, highlights the ambitions, financial profile, goals, and future direction of the organisation. Our ability to implement this has been made possible through valuable Sport England funding.

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive you will lead the development and implementation of operational systems and plans that are integral to the successful delivery of our strategy and implementation of our business plan. 

The Task Ahead: Finance Manager

As The Difference moves from its early start-up phase into the delivery of our 2025-30 strategy, our programmes and sector-influencing work are expanding to reach more schools and to deepen our impact. Alongside this growth, our team - and the operational function which supports them - is also growing.

As Finance Manager, you will be a key member of the Finance & Operations team. You will hold end-to-end responsibility for the finance function, from reconciliations to budgeting. You will decide where and how our existing processes could be improved, as well as developing new systems that will underpin our work as a larger and more established charity. You will be supported by the Director of People, Finance & Operations, as well as our external auditors.

The Difference is still a small and growing charity. This means that our work is fast-paced, our roles are broad, and there is a culture of being reactive and flexible, as the needs of the organisation evolve. If this sounds exciting rather than daunting, then this could be the role and team for you!

Areas of Responsibility

The Difference is looking for a Finance Manager to lead our finance function in the following ways:

• Oversee our internal bookkeeping, payment, and accounting processes, and improve these systems ongoingly.

• Lead on budgeting and forecasting across the organisation, supporting teams to predict income and expenditure and make sound financial decisions.

• Lead on the production of management accounting information, including internal monthly management accounts, quarterly reports for Trustees, and financial reports for investors.

• Lead on The Difference’s audit process, with external auditors.

• Work with the Development & Impact Manager to update fundraising pipelines, and ensure the availability of high quality income projections for Trustees.

• Support accurate budgeting and reporting for grant funding, including tracking spend of restricted funds.

• Support business planning by working with teams to model potential future work - e.g. costs of expansion of an existing programme; modelling potential new programmes.

Person Specification

Essential – We are looking for the following skills, aptitude and experience; though you may be stronger in some areas than others:

• Values – Your experience evidences shared values with The Difference (see below) and a personal commitment to our mission to improve life outcomes for vulnerable people.

• Finance experience, operational and strategic – Experience across all areas of finance, from accurate invoicing, payments and record-keeping, through to setting and managing budgets, financial modelling and forecasting, and working with external accountants or auditors.

• Finance process development – Experience of developing finance systems; the ability to recognise how processes could be continuously improved, and enact this improvement.

• Leadership of self and others – Confident in identifying skills or information gaps within your team, and drawing on the expertise of others to address these gaps. Able to show how you've continually grown your own skills and those of your team members so that together you can efficiently cover workload and plan ahead.

• Proactive problem-solving – Ability to thrive in a fast-paced start-up environment and to problem-solve: from rolling sleeves up and diving into detail to working collaboratively to build capacity.

Desired – You are more likely to be successful in your application if you have one or more of the following additional experiences: 

• Accounting qualification and experience - Some form of accounting qualification and post-qualification experience.

• Early-stage charity/social enterprise experience – You may have specific experience growing charities or businesses for social good at the early or start-up phase.

• Experience of charity finances – You may have worked for or supported other charities, and have experience of working with philanthropic grants, charity accounting, and governance.

• Insight into schools – You may have experience working in the education sector, whether that’s through working for a business or charities that partnered with schools, or through working in a school yourself. 

Why Work for The Difference?

Schooling isn’t working for the children who need it most. Every week in England 109 children – equivalent to three full classrooms – are permanently excluded. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Since the pandemic, school suspensions have risen significantly, as has persistent absenteeism. 1 in 5 children are missing more than 10% of their time in school. Children who are excluded or persistently absent are much more likely to already be experiencing vulnerability or disadvantage. They are more likely to live in poverty, have additional learning needs, suffer mental health challenges, or experience a lack of safety outside school. Certain ethnicities are also disproportionately affected, notably Gypsy Roma Traveller and black Caribbean children. 

Exclusion and high rates of absence can have a dramatic effect on life chances. These young people are more likely to drop out of education or employment, become vulnerable to long-term mental ill health, or be at risk of criminal exploitation. The Difference believes that children and young people deserve better and that the education system has to change.

Our Organisation 

The Difference is a young education charity, founded to change the story on lost learning.  By 2030, we want rates of exclusion and absence to be falling nationally and for schools to be better equipped to support all children, including those who may be vulnerable. The Difference was born out of a year of research into school exclusions with think-tank IPPR. This research identified a lack of inclusion expertise in schools and proposed a new leadership development programme to fill this gap. In 2018, Difference founder Kiran hired the team who took this idea from concept to reality, beginning work with our first schools.

The Difference is now a 22-strong team delivering multiple school leadership programmes, alongside a growing research and policy arm. The team is supported by our Youth Advisory Board, made up of young people who have experienced exclusion and who provide their expertise and insights on how school inclusion work should be done. This work is needed more than ever. Effects of COVID-19, coupled with the spiralling cost of living, have substantially increased levels of vulnerability. Schools serving excluded pupils face under-funding. The Difference has had excellent early impact but there is work ahead to capture this, share learning with schools and policy-makers, and grow our capacity to lower exclusions across England.

Our Values

• High Expectations - We are ambitious for excellence from young people, colleagues and ourselves.  We don’t believe in writing off someone’s potential because of their identity or experience of crisis. 

• Strong Relationships - We prioritise genuine relationships over transactional interactions, and know that this requires deliberate relational practice. We see colleagues and partners as people first and their roles second; and know this greater trust allows us to take more risks, gain more feedback and have greater impact.

• Internalised Locus of Control - We work hard to reframe difficult situations to discover what we have within our power in terms of solutions. We take it upon ourselves to walk towards challenges and can take a high level of ownership and agency in our work/

• Pragmatism - We believe leadership means recognising current limitations and striving for improvements within and beyond them.  We develop consensus and chart new ways forward, challenging false and extreme positions like “zero exclusions” or “no excuses”.

• Scientific approach - We take a diagnostic approach to unpicking causes of problems. We are loud and proud of our failures, recognising failing fast and often is key to finding the best solutions. We test solutions and are willing to use data and feedback to make adjustments and choose new directions. 

• Not Squeamish about Structural Inequality - We believe patterns of inequality can and should be disrupted. We strive to be clear-eyed about these inequalities, and both the individual practice and system-changes required to address them. We push ourselves to overcome awkwardness in talking about this; and begin by acknowledging our own biases and blind spots.

• Asset-based - We work hard to avoid deficit thinking and aim to start with what’s strong, not what’s wrong. We are careful not to frame our colleagues and stakeholders - particularly young people and families – as victims but instead to recognise their agency.

• Wise selves - To both enjoy work and do their best, we want to make decisions and work with others in our “wise” - or regulated - selves. We also want to bring our compassionate self to those we work with, externally and internally, to support one another through challenging times. 

How To Apply 

To apply, please complete all sections of the application form by midnight on Sunday 19th May.

First round interviews will be held during the week beginning 27th May, over video call. Please indicate if you would not be available to attend an interview during this week.

If successful in this stage, second round interviews (including a task to be completed the same day) will take place on the week beginning 3rd June, at our office in Bethnal Green. 

We are committed to building a diverse team and strongly encourage applications from under-represented groups in the charity sector such as people from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities, people with experience in the care system, non-graduates and first-in-family graduates. 

As part of our commitment to fairer recruitment, all applications will be assessed with names and any protected characteristics redacted.

Recommended Reading 

If you’d like to understand more about The Difference and what we are trying to achieve, we would recommend the following:

• The research which underpins our organisation.

• Our latest Impact Report, sharing our work in 2023

The Head of Finance will lead on budgeting, financial management and reporting and work closely with the Chief Executive to provide effective financial direction to the Treasurer and the Board of Trustees.

You will provide financial leadership overseeing all aspects of the organisation’s finances and in ensuring that it complies with relevant legislation and principles. You will be responsible for efficient policies, procedures, systems and practices to support the smooth running of the organisation and will be proactive in developing new systems and processes to meet the needs of the British Deaf Association (BDA) as it grows. As Head of Finance, you will be responsible for coordinating and managing the financial planning cycles, governance, and management reporting process as well as managing relationships with external stakeholders/advisers ensuring value for money, contractual compliance, evaluation and quality assurance processes.

With prior experience of working with charities’ accounts as well as experience of Sage accounting system used at the BDA, you will manage the Finance team and provide excellent business service and support to circa 28 staff across the UK.

As a bilingual organisation with a working language of British Sign Language (BSL) and English, we will provide BSL training for the successful candidate.

For more information about the vacancy (which is also in BSL) please see our website.

To apply, please send your CV including details of two referees and a supporting statement (no more than two sides of A4/BSL video no more than 10 minutes) outlining the reasons behind your application. This should respond closely to the person specification, showing how you meet the requirements of the role.

Our diversity monitoring form should also be completed and returned.

We encourage applications from D/deaf people.

Timetable

Closing date: Friday 10 May 12pm (noon)
Preliminary interviews: Monday 13 May 2024