The opportunity

Job title: Director of Finance

Department: Executive Team

Reporting to: Chief Executive

Office base: Huntington

Thank you for your interest in the role of Director of Finance with Papworth Trust. This is an exciting time to join us as we implement our operational strategies and enhance our systems and processes through our digital pathway.

We are looking for someone who has the passion and drive to support us to achieve our goals of delivering and growing high quality services, sustainable homes and services.

We are embracing digital optimization across the Trust and are introducing a new finance system which we are confident will support efficiency, accessibility and empowerment to all our colleagues.

The finance team has experienced significant change recently, and we are looking for a candidate who has strong people skills as well as sound technical, operational and strategic knowledge and skills. A successful candidate may be someone who has operated at a Head of Finance / Financial Controller level for several years and is ready to take the next step or an existing Finance Director who is looking for their next opportunity to make a difference.

Being able and willing to work collaboratively with Executive colleagues, and team members within their respective department is paramount. At the Trust we pride ourselves on our culture, which is a culture generated through positive teamwork, an understanding and ability to delve into the detail of our respective areas of specialism, an ability to operate strategically and a willingness to engage and support in wider Trust activities.

Although a medium sized organization, there are complexities which require robust oversight of all financial activities. Any interested candidate must be able to demonstrate their experience of how they have assured the CEO and the trustees of confidence in their data, having an eye to long term financial planning and risk management, sound financial leadership and an ability to be an effective business partner and promote a business partnering culture. Candidates must be able to analyse financial risks, support, contribute to and produce business cases and ensure that there are robust controls in place to safeguard the Trust, beneficiaries and colleagues. 

Job Purpose

As an effective member of the Executive Team, work collaboratively with the Chief Executive, Board, and colleagues to lead the efficient delivery of the Trust’s Finance function to support the effective delivery of our services to customers and the organisation’s internal support services. 

As part of the Executive Team to deliver great quality services, meet our strategic objectives and the needs of our customers and tenants whilst ensuring the Trust is a compliant, sustainable, ambitious, dynamic, and a successful organisation, championing disability awareness in all aspects of the work.  

Main Duties

Executive Team

• Contribute to the formulation and development of the Trust’s strategic direction, role model the Trust’s values, behaviours and desired culture and champion our customers’ voice to influence and shape the Trust’s delivery of great services.  
• As part of the Executive Team, to ensure that the Trust meets its statutory, regulatory, legal and professional requirements, remains financially viable and demonstrates value for money.
• As an effective member of the Executive Team adapt to the organisational needs and business priorities, anticipating and responding to sector changes and market intelligence, ensuring planning and forecasting assumptions are fit for purpose and inform our business plan.
• Provide support to the Board and Executive Team in creating the Trust’s long-term Finance strategy, ensuring planning and forecasting assumptions are fit for purpose and inform our business plan.
• Reporting to the Board, Committees and Executive on the finance performance, providing assurance and oversight of any risks and opportunities for improvement or growth.
• Proactively develop networks to support the effective co-ordination and delivery of respective departments, with organisations, agencies and partners.
• Maintain and update professional knowledge and provide advice and assistance to colleagues as required. 

Financial Management

• Provide stakeholders with the information they need to make well informed decisions on the financial management of the Trust.
• Ensure an effective financial management and control framework is in place to make the best use of funds available.
• Ensure the successful delivery of Papworth Trust’s financial strategy and targets.
• Act as the prime source of advice to the Board and Executive Team on all aspects of financial management, data analysis, stewardship and governance.
  
• Work closely with the Executive Team and Leadership Team to provide high quality information, analysis and decision support, empowering budget holders to be fully engaged and understand / manage their budgets effectively.
• Present accounts and wider financial information to Board in ways which supports understanding, is transparent and timely.
• Ensure compliance with all necessary accounting standards, ensuring that all audit requirements are achieved.
• Ensure financial probity and control in a complex and changing environment, whilst providing leadership and support transformation and change throughout the organisation.
• Formulate and develop the Papworth Trust’s financial strategies, ensuring integration with the Trust’s service and operational planning, and assessing risks and opportunities, to deliver Papworth Trust Mission and Vision.
• Steer the organisation towards achieving excellence in financial management by ensuring that systems and processes are based on accepted good/best practice and embedded throughout the organisation.
• Encourage continuous improvement and organisational development, particularly ensuring that those with governance and management responsibilities have the financial and planning capabilities necessary to deliver their roles effectively.
• Develop financial forecasting and projections for both revenue and capital which incorporates detailed input from service areas.
• Maintain and update a long-term financial model / tool which can be used to assess future cash and investment requirements and future liabilities.
• Ensure business plans are supported by a resource allocation and budget setting process which enables the financial and risk implications of policy decisions to be understood, analysed and the options properly evaluated.

Leadership and Management

• Lead and inspire change and a high-performance culture, which drives continuous improvement and efficiencies across not only Finance but across the whole organisation.
• Work with Directors and managers to plan and deliver cost effective services to current and future customers, delivering a comprehensive and expanding range of services to meet customers’ needs and aspirations in the context of market demand.
• Work closely with the Head of Finance to deliver strategic objectives, driving efficiencies and a collaborative working approach in Finance Team.
• Translate strategies into workable plans for the Finance department, to ensure a focus on compliance, high performance and best practice.
• Embed a customer first approach within the Finance Team, supporting staff to feel empowered to deal with issues at the first opportunity.
• Provide motivational leadership, management and support to line management and their teams, ensuring clarity of direction, effective communication and development of personal potential.
• Set, achieve and be accountable for departmental performance targets including benchmarking performance externally which is communicated to respective teams, departments and stakeholders where appropriate.

Budgetary, Financial and Regulatory

• Develop and maintain budgets, identifying and reporting short and long term financial challenges and opportunities with a financial or delivery impact.
• Work with the Executive Team to ensure an effective approach to procurement and contract management, with a robust monitoring framework to ensure compliance with agreed standards for probity and due process.
• To drive value for money across all areas of the Charity, promoting data driven decisions.

Safeguarding

• To safeguard the health, well-being and safety of the customers we work with some of whom may be classed as vulnerable people or adults at risk.

• In the event of a risk to a customer become apparent or if concerns arise about a vulnerable person's welfare, to immediately report these concerns in line with the appropriate policy and procedure.

Health and Safety

• Ensure an effective approach to health and safety across the directorate with robust monitoring and reporting to embed a strong culture of compliance and assurance.
• To lead health and safety within your team, setting clear examples of good practice, ensuring they report accident and near misses.
• To work within the organisations health and safety policies and procedures.

In addition to these responsibilities, all employees are required to carry out such other duties as may be reasonably required. 

Person Specification

Values

Skills