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Director of Finance

Job Title: Director of Finance
Department: Finance
Reports to: CFOO
Direct Reports: 4 direct reports (9 members in the team)
Grade and Salary: Managing Director – £100k – £110k pa
Contract: Full time
Location: Hybrid / London, EC1Y and homeworking

The Opportunity

Better Society Capital (BSC) is the UK’s leading social impact-led investor. Our mission is to grow the amount of money invested in tackling social issues and inequalities in the UK. We do this by investing ourselves and enabling others to invest for impact too. Since 2011, we have helped the social impact investment market grow twelve-fold to over £10 billion. This capital has financed social purpose organisations tackling everything from homelessness to mental health and fuel poverty. FCA regulated, BSC established the Schroder BSC Social Impact Investment Trust (SBSI) in 2020 and is the portfolio manager and manages its £83m portfolio. BSC is about to implement its next five-year strategy from 2026, which will offer new opportunities.

This senior position is responsible for leading and managing Better Society Capital’s (BSC’s) Finance team, with responsibility for processing of financial transactions and delivery of high standard value-add financial information, ensuring compliance with all regulatory and corporate standards while driving financial excellence. The role is a trusted business partner to our Executive Committee (ExCo) and Chief Financial & Operating Officer (CFOO) on a range of strategic finance matters with extensive interface with BSC’s Board and its Audit Risk & Compliance Committee, external and internal auditors and treasury managers. The post also forms part of BSC’s Senior Management Team, giving a cross-organisation role.
We are looking for an enthusiastic individual with extensive experience as a leader of a Finance Team with strong fundamental investment accounting knowledge, someone with a passion for leading and developing high performing teams, driving excellence and a desire to provide service that delights

The focus is also to manage the BSC Finance team on all financial responsibilities including transaction processing, monthly reconciliations and management accounting, year-end audit management and annual financial statements, budgeting and forecasting, private investment asset valuations, cash flow management, FCA reporting, tax & VAT returns. Alongside this, the position will support any new business development initiatives and projects. The role ensures that effective financial controls and procedures are maintained at all times.

What You Will Do

Team Leadership and Operational Excellence

  • Lead, mentor and develop a team of 9 finance professionals, instilling cohesion and growth in a hybrid environment.
  • Ensure the team delivers accurate, timely, and efficient financial reporting, processing and control.
  • Maintain and enhance financial systems, policies and processes to support operations.

Accounting, Reporting and Valuations

  • Ensure accurate processing of all financial transactions, including investment drawdowns, distributions, accounts payable, employee expenses, credit card transactions.
  • Oversee internal and external reporting, including management accounts, statutory reporting and Board/Audit Committee materials.
  • Lead the annual external audit and financial statement process and maintain strong auditor relationships.
  • Manage the six-monthly investment portfolio valuation cycles (including private assets valuations) and ensure alignment with guidelines and internal policy.
  • Ensure accounting for returns generated by BSC’s social impact investments is consistent and robust.
  • Develop and implement financial policies, systems and strong financial controls that reflect BSC’s current and future requirements.

Financial Planning and Strategic Insight

  • Lead on the long-term financial planning processes, including P&L forecast, quarterly liquidity forecasting, investment returns and departmental spends.
  • Provide strategic insights and scenario analysis to ExCo, Board, CFOO and other colleagues.
  • Monitor and manage BSC’s liquidity including liaison with portfolio managers.
  • Advise the Investment and Legal teams on operational financial aspects of investment deals and other projects, including taxation issues.
  • Support development and implementation of BSC’s 5-year strategy and business planning.

Oversight of SBSI

  • Ensure the Finance team provides effective support for SBSI’s accounting and transaction processing.
  • Oversee delegated finance responsibilities in BSC’s role as Portfolio Manager of SBSI.

Tax, FCA, Internal audit

  • Stay current with all applicable accounting, tax and regulatory standards, guidance and laws.
  • Act as the key point of contact for internal audits involving finance.
  • Management and planning of BSC’s taxation obligations (principally Corporation tax, VAT, PSA).
  • Ensure FCA compliance and timely submissions of regulatory returns (RegData, ICARA and IFPR disclosures).
  • Maintain adequate controls to ensure compliance with Client Money / Client Assets regulations.

Projects and Systems

  • Lead the development and optimisation of financial systems and tools.
  • Undertake strategic and operational finance projects that support organisational development of BSC and the finance function.