Finance Manager Jobs
Property Management & Resources Officer
The Vacancy
We are offering an interesting and varied opportunity to support the work of the Connexional Team and the wider Methodist Church in delivering its strategic plan to make the best use of its property portfolio in local communities across the country and centrally.
Working alongside the Director and colleagues within the Property Support team, you will be providing support and management to Connexional property, particularly focussing on the Connexional manse portfolio and its resident ministers. Alongside this, you will lead on the communications and resourcing to the District Property Officer network and other relevant networks, across the Connexion.
You will also be a central Property Support team member assisting team colleagues within their specific areas of expertise including Listed Buildings and the Church’s net zero strategy. This could be through the provision of proactive support of and input into, relevant forms of guidance, advice, communications, training and good practice.
You will also support the Director in the administration of property grants and application received for replacement Projects under Standing Order 973.
About You
We are looking for someone who wants to make a positive contribution to the work of the Property Support team and be equally comfortable collaborating in a team environment or under your own initiative. You will preferably have experience supporting a senior team within a property function and preferably have some experience in a property or project management type function.
As the role will underpin and contribute to supporting the team’s work with external colleagues, particularly the District Property Officer network, it is essential that you are comfortable in engaging with a range of stakeholders, and have excellent organisational skills, particularly in terms of resourcing and training.
The role will be very collaborative with team colleagues, and therefore experience and ability to plan, research and assimilate new information alongside the analysis and delivery of projects will be an essential quality.
We are a collaborative team and therefore welcome applications from those who wish to contribute to the work of the team in a positive and proactive way.
Our Culture, Values and Benefits
Thank you for considering joining our inclusive and welcoming team that strives for excellence and values employee wellbeing.
We value and support all those who join our team through a positive work-life balance augmented by generous annual leave (plus an extra 3 days over Christmas/New Year), TOIL, flexi-leave and an on-site Wellbeing Adviser service. We offer a generous occupational pension scheme, where the Methodist Church will pay double the employee contribution up to a maximum of 16% employer contribution.
The Methodist Church is an inclusive and supportive employer. We are actively committed to encouraging applications from people of all backgrounds. We welcome applications from people of Black, Asian and other Minority Ethnic groups. We also welcome applications from people living with disabilities.
Closing Date: 12 May 2024
Interview Date: 22 May 2024
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
The calling of the Methodist Church is to respond to the gospel of God's love in Christ and to live out its discipleship in worship and mission.
Head of Property
Canterbury, Kent
£50,242 - £57,778 pa plus excellent benefits
35 hours per week
The Head of Property is a crucial and pivotal role at the Diocese, as you will lead the strategic management of the Diocese’s assets, taking responsibility for maximising income and capital returns from assets, including property development on investment land and buildings.
Reporting to the Diocesan Secretary, you will oversee the management of the Diocese’s housing and the Glebe estate. You will ensure good quality clergy accommodation through strategic maintenance and planned enhancements, along with the sale, purchase and development of housing stock and glebe land as required.
Managing the Property Services Team, which oversees the management of all clergy and other housing within the Diocese, you will ensure maintenance and improvements are performed within agreed timeframes and budgets and provide an excellent and friendly service to clergy and their household. In addition, you will ensure maximised rental income from vacant housing and glebe land which is a key income stream for the Diocese.
As Head of Property, you will offer support to parishes and protect their interests by advising on decision making regarding their buildings, with a particular focus on enhancing utilisation and value, especially for church halls. You will also represent, protect and advance the interests of PCCs, Incumbents and Churchwardens, by partnering with them to provide high-level advice to parishes on the effective management of property matters, particularly in cases where the Diocese acts as custodian trustee on their behalf.
As a key member of the Diocesan Office and Senior Management Team (SMT), Diocesan Finance & Assets Committee, Diocesan Advisory Committee and Property Advisory Group, you will manage the property budget, taking part in budget reviews and budget setting in partnership with the Director of Finance and Finance & Assets Committee.
Professionally qualified with a relevant qualification and with significant demonstrable post qualification experience in a similar role, perhaps as a surveyor, you should have proven leadership experience with a focus on strategic property development and resource planning.
With experience of working in the property sector, ideally in asset management, residential property management and landlord and tenant relations, you should have a track record of driving maximum return from property and/or land assets, including experience of property disposals and purchases. Able to maximise income, you should also be adept at planning, managing and reviewing substantial budgets and exercising strict financial controls in a property environment.
Sympathetic to the overall Christian mission of the Church of England, including the Diocese’s schools, church communities and buildings, you should be prepared and able to travel regularly throughout the Diocese.
Previous experience with Charities or Not-for-Profit organisations is desirable but not essential.
The Housing and Land assets of the Diocese of Canterbury comprises operational and investment properties, almost all of which consist of ministry housing stock and a small amount of Glebe Land. Assets include circa 170 parsonage houses, the majority of which are occupied by clergy, establishing a unique relationship between the Diocese and church leaders. A minority of the stock (around 50 properties) which are intended for ministry but not currently used, generate substantial rental income. Notably, recent years have seen the move to ensure that we have the right properties in the right places for ministry as well as exploring development opportunities on existing properties that are due to be reviewed, sold or replaced.
Canterbury Diocese is the oldest diocese in England, stretching from Maidstone to Thanet, the Isle of Sheppey to the Romney Marsh. We have 350 miles of coastline with historic ports and seaside resorts, alongside rural communities, market towns and commuter-belt urban developments. Affluent areas often sit alongside pockets of major deprivation, offering an exciting and challenging mission context.
At the heart of all we do is a vision of transformation for ourselves and our communities: no one can encounter God and remain unchanged. In the Diocese of Canterbury, we want to increasingly become a Christian community transformed through encounter with Christ, growing and overflowing to transform and bless the families, homes and communities we serve: Changed Lives, Changing Lives.
Closing date: 6 May 2024, 11:59pm