The opportunity

Job title: Financial Controller

Department: Finance

Direct reports: Senior Management Accountant, Purchase Ledger Supervisor, Finance Officer and Finance Assistant

Reporting to: Director of Finance and IT

Purpose of role:

This role leads a busy finance function, charged with ensuring sound financial management and control for the Trust, delivering this through improving and embedding policies and processes via an engaged business partnering approach.

The post-holder will need to develop successful relationships with a wide variety of stakeholders, developing and producing effective management information to support decision making, and actively engaging across the organisation to support delivery of the Business Plan.

Key responsibilities

Statutory Accounts production and statutory reporting

Manage the production of annual statutory financial reporting to key stakeholders, including the management of the annual external audit process
Be the primary liaison with external auditors and manage the production of information to meet audit requirements, including preparation of supporting schedules and draft report and accounts, under appropriate standards and to the required timetable
Produce going concern assessments, covenant compliance certificates and responses to key audit findings, in liaison with the Director of Finance and IT, in order to report to the Board in a timely manner

Financial management and reporting

Produce timely, high quality monthly management reports for budget holders, managers, Trustees and other key stakeholders
Contribute to and coordinate the production of the annual budget and 3-year Business Plan each year, as well as the longer-term financial plan
Support the Director of Finance and IT in producing reporting and analysis for the Trustee Board and the Finance and Audit Committee, and participating in meetings, as required
Ensure that all Budgets, Business Plans and forecasts are accurately input and maintained in the charity’s finance system and provide reports and analysis as necessary
Manage the reporting to external stakeholders, including appropriate financial institutions, and support the Director of Finance and IT, as Company Secretary, as required

Financial control and monitoring

Ensure timely and accurate recording of all financial transactions are undertaken, for all ledgers, including fixed assets and investments
Develop highly efficient processes and optimise the use of the charity’s finance system (currently Open Accounts) and its link with other systems (e.g. Pyramid, the charity’s housing system), as well as other applications, such as the organisation’s purchasing system
Manage the sales ledger function to ensure the timely collection of monies due to the Trust and completeness of sales invoicing
To develop highly efficient financial systems and processes, integrating with wider management information systems as appropriate, and to develop and maintain effective internal audit and internal control processes
Operate as system administrator for key systems, ensuring limits are appropriately set, and control processes are appropriately developed

Treasury management

- Report on and manage cash flows, and cash flow forecasting, for the organisation in an efficient and effective manner, determining cash requirements and putting in place appropriate plans to manage working capital
- Manage the relationship with the primary lenders to the Trust, monitoring the loan redemption profiles, security requirements, periodic revaluations and tracking and reporting to ensure continued covenant compliance
- Ensure processes are in place to manage financial transactions, including procurement-to-pay processes, issuance and management of payment cards, petty cash etc.
- Support the development and maintenance of the Trust’s long-term (10 year and 30 year) financing plans, assessing key risks and sensitivities

Governance and compliance

To be the primary liaison with external agencies, such as banks, insurers, auditors, system providers and other third-party advisors, including tax authorities such as HMRC.
Oversee preparation of all VAT returns and submissions and maintain an up to date knowledge of VAT issues which affect the Trust. Ensure partial exemption calculation, monitoring and application processes are maintained and assess the VAT position of any proposed new activity

Relationships and management

Assist in developing the financial management skills of the Trust’s employees, and in particular the quality of forecasting and financial interpretation
To provide leadership of the Management Accounting, Purchase and Sales Ledger and treasury management functions, developing teams to deliver excellent performance

Other activities

To manage the financial management support provided to our sister organisation, the Varrier-Jones Foundation, overseeing processes and controls, and presenting financial reporting to the Committees and Trustee Board
Fundraising / bid support. Provide financial input in to proposals to be submitted to potential donors, advising and guiding Fundraising and Business Development teams to ensure effective costing and pricing
To comply with the safeguarding requirements of the organisation

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

Management and supervisory responsibilities

Operate as part of the Leadership Team of the Trust, working with colleagues to ensue delivery of the Trusts vision and mission
To line manage the Management Accountant, Purchase Ledger Supervisor, Sales Ledger Supervisor and Cashier, ensuring annual goal setting and bi annual reviews are completed, monthly 1 to 1s are undertaken and recorded and appraisal reviews are completed within the required timescale
Ensure good relationships are built with other areas of the organisation, developing a business-partnering approach to help develop financial management skills across the Trust
Identify areas for team development and manage periods of team absence. Support and develop the Finance Team to reach its full potential with a collaborative and customer focused approach
Create and nurture a strong team ethic.