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Role Profile

JOB TITLE:  Finance Director

LOCATION:  The Diocesan Office, St Nicholas Church, Boley Hill, Rochester, ME1 1SL

GRADE: Grade 11 – £67,146 – £71,470

REPORTING TO:  Diocesan Secretary

 

PURPOSE OF JOB

To lead and manage the finance function of the Rochester Diocesan Society and Board of Finance ensuring the function provides the strategic financial management services needed to equip the Board, other Diocesan bodies and parishes, to further the mission and strategic priorities in the Diocese, and manage its financial affairs well, and in compliance with legal and accounting standards, and best practice.

As a key part of the Diocesan Office and Operational Management Team (OMT), lead the financial management of the Diocese ensuring that the financial assets of the Diocese are managed to best effect and that revenues are sufficient to ensure that resources can be deployed in support of the Diocesan strategic aims, policies and activities. As well as the staff team relationships the Finance Director will work collaboratively with the Chair of the Board of Finance, a key working relationship.

The Finance Director will contribute to the overall success of the organisation by effectively supporting the implementation of the Diocesan strategic aims, policies and activities.

The Finance Director will manage a small team of professional and administrative staff.

 

PRINICIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

  1. In support of the Diocesan Secretary act as the Diocese’s principal financial officer, proposing and implementing strategies for a sustainable system of longer term financial planning, sound annual budgeting and effective financial management, and budgetary control. Develop and contribute to the communication and dissemination of financial matters to deaneries and parishes, by all appropriate means, and in person where necessary.
  2. Develop and build strong relationships at all levels, with clergy and lay people as required, recognising that parishes are critical to the performance and the financial health of the diocese as a whole.
  3. Manage the Parish offer system, ensuring that offers are appropriately calculated and communicated and that responses are reviewed and followed up. This will include leading the Parish Offer review panel and considering amendments to the system.
  4. Ensure that the accounting records for the charity are kept accurately and up to date. Ensure that statutory accounts are produced to an agreed prompt timetable. Revise and simplify statutory reporting formats where possible. Manage liaison with the Diocese’s auditors.
  5. Develop modern financial management accounts and management information which will contribute to the financial management of the charity, to include enhanced information on parish offers and clergy costs and also non-financial Key Performance Indicators. Use of data and analysis to be presented in a useable format that can be shared, having understood what data would be most helpful.
  6. Manage cash-flow reporting and forecasting including projections of capital flows.
  7. Ensure that clear budget responsibilities are established, and that review processes are put in place to monitor performance.
  8. Prepare and present annual budgets for the DBF, working with the budget review group and various committees and diocesan staff to prepare budgets for consideration, ensuring budget holders ‘own’ their budget and are held to account for spending.
  9. Lead, manage, and motivate the Finance Team, delegating where appropriate, carrying out regular reviews, ensuring the provision of training as necessary seeking to continuously improve our systems and services in line with legislative requirements and best practice.
  10. Develop processes to review and understand issues being experienced by parishes, so that parishes can be further supported by the Diocese in order to improve financial performance.
  11. Proactively manage the financial assets ensuring close scrutiny of cash flow (mainly affected by the collection of the Parish Offers and expenditure related to capital projects) and monitor appropriate interest rates, advising on reassignment of funds if necessary ensuring that the investments and reserves policy are adequately reviewed each year implementing change as necessary.
  12. To be accountable for the finance services provided by the Team to the parishes and Diocese ensuring that regular diocesan management accounts are prepared, supervision of income through the parishes is prompt and challenged where necessary, payroll and other expenditure is processed, diocesan trust funds are supervised and that all our practices are completed to the highest standard with training to parishes as appropriate.
  13. Ensure that all statutory and HMRC returns are filed accurately and on time.
  14. Take responsibility for ensuring that the year-end audit is carried out properly and that risks are identified, evaluated and highlighted to Operational Management Team (OMT), Finance Committee and Board as appropriate.
  15. Represent the Diocese to the Church Commissioners, central church bodies and the charity commissioners in respect of financial matters.
  16. A key member of Diocesan Office and Operational Management Team (OMT), actively participating in the Diocesan Finance, Investment and Investment Property Committees, participating in Bishop’s Council and attending and participating in Diocesan Synod meetings whilst ensuring that the Diocesan Secretary is briefed and kept up to date on any financial issues that may impact on Senior Management and regulatory compliance.

 

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

  • Experience of working at a senior level, strategically managing the financial health of an organisation ideally in the faith or wider voluntary/charity sector.
  • Experience of planning and leading organisational change in a financial context.
  • Fully qualified member of one of the UK’s recognised accountancy bodies eg ACA, ACCA, CIMA or CIPFA.
  • Previous experience of managing a finance department.
  • Ability to adapt in a changing environment demonstrating both autonomy and collaboration skills needed to advance the diocesan mission.
  • Excellent written and verbal communications skills and strong numeracy, including facilitation and stakeholder engagement skills and experience.
  • Excellent organisational and planning skills.
  • Enthusiasm for the Mission of the Church and an understanding and sympathy with Christian values.
  • Some knowledge of the structures and mission of the Church of England, its organisational structure, breadth and dynamics, and the financial implications from ecclesiastical legislation.
  • Attention to detail as well as being able to develop the strategic vision.
  • Ability to relate well to members of the Church at all levels.
  • Ability to present reports clearly and authoritatively to senior figures in the Church.
  • Able to read figures and run processes where figures are challenged.
  • Experience of Charities or Not-for-Profit organisations is desirable but not essential.
  • Understanding of UK taxation framework as it relates to charities, including Income Tax, Gift Aid and VAT is desirable but not essential.

 

COMPETENCIES

Achievement Drive – A desire to meet or exceed standards, welcoming feedback, and continually seeking to improve.  It includes staying focused on goals over an extended period of time.

Relationships – The ability to understand the perspectives, feelings and concerns of others and initiate, build and maintain relationships in a mutually beneficial way.  Recognise one’s own feelings and those of others and manage emotions effectively.

Persuasiveness – The ability to convince others of a view, conclusion, position etc. Communicating in an impactful way, tailored to one’s audience.

Problem Solving – The ability to investigate and breakdown a problem or situation into its component parts, identifying implications and the key underlying issues and establish possible solutions.

Independence – A demonstrated belief in one’s capability to select an appropriate approach to a situation.  It includes confidence in one’s judgement or opinion and showing resilience in adversity. Know when to seek the support and advice of others.

Adaptability – The ability to adapt one’s behavioural style or method of approach where necessary to achieve a goal.  Responds to change with a positive attitude and demonstrates a willingness to learn new ways to accomplish objectives.

Teamworking – The willingness and ability to work co-operatively and collaboratively with others toward a shared goal, contributing actively to the team. Builds positive relationships and a sense of pride within the team.