Title: Chair of the Diocesan Board of Finance
Location: The DBF’s offices are located at St John’s House, The Rock, Bury.
The DBF Chair is a key role in Manchester Diocese, providing leadership in developing the diocese’s overall financial strategy for the Bishop’s Council and Diocesan Synod to consider, in support of the diocese’s vision. This involves close co-operation with the Diocesan Bishop and the COO/Diocesan Secretary along with Bishop’s Council and Diocesan Synod. The executive functions of the DBF are carried out by the COO/Diocesan Secretary, the Director of Finance and Corporate Services and other employees of the DBF. The DBF Chair is not expected to engage in the day-to-day management of the organisation.
The DBF Chair is accountable to Diocesan Synod through the Bishop of Manchester. The Bishop’s Council, which is chaired by the Bishop of Manchester, has a number of specific roles including acting as the trustee body for the DBF. The appointee would become a member of Diocesan Synod, to be co-opted if not already a member.
The position of the DBF Chair is voluntary and requires significant commitment which can be expected to average 5-10 hours per week including meetings, preparation and emails. Expenses will be reimbursed.
The appointment is for an initial term of three years, and is renewable to a maximum of nine years. The next Chair of the DBF will be formally appointed for the next triennium which runs from 1st January 2025 to 31st December 2027.
Key purposes
- To help shape the ongoing vision, values, strategies and policies of the diocese in partnership with clergy and lay colleagues.
- To provide financial leadership at diocesan and board level, supported by the COO/Diocesan Secretary and the Director of Finance.
- To ensure the effective stewardship of the diocese’s finances, including a key oversight role in:
- developing the financial strategy of the diocese to underpin its vision
- developing the annual budget
- setting and collecting Parish Share
- asset management and investment
- the provision of appropriate terms and conditions of service for DBF employees
- To facilitate dialogue between parishes, mission communities, deaneries and the Board to ensure a mutual understanding of their respective needs.
- To develop the skills of Board members of the Board so they can effectively contribute to its work, including induction, financial planning and oversight, risk management and compliance.
- To be part of the team representing the diocese in national financial discussions.
Appointment and Accountability
The DBF Chair:
- is elected by the Diocesan Synod for a three-year term, on the nomination of the Diocesan Bishop, and is accountable to the Bishop.
- chairs finance business at Bishop’s Council which meets up to six times a year.
- chairs the Finance & General Purposes Committee which meets up to six times a year and a number of associated committees including the Audit & Risk Committee and the Investment Committee.
- is a member of the regional and national DBF Chairs’ group.
- undertakes responsibilities to the DBF element of Diocesan Synod.
The COO/Diocesan Secretary is accountable to the Diocesan Bishop and the DBF Chair, and liaises regularly with the DBF Chair. The Diocesan Bishop and DBF Chair jointly undertake the COO/Diocesan Secretary’s annual appraisal.
The Director of Finance is line managed by the COO/Diocesan Secretary but also has an accountability to the DBF Chair.
Specific responsibilities
- To ensure there are strategic financial plans to achieve the diocese’s priorities.
- To ensure the DBF’s strategies are communicated in such a way that deaneries and parishes have confidence in the way that resources are being collected, marshalled and applied.
- As the lead finance trustee on the Bishop’s Council, to oversee the provision by the COO/Diocesan Secretary and officers of the DBF of: financial control and delegation; appropriate financial reporting; financial and asset management; and budgeting and forward planning.
- To support the COO/Diocesan Secretary in their leadership and management of all those employed by the DBF.
- To take ‘Chair’s Action’ to approve or otherwise delegated urgent matters which would normally be dealt with by the Board or its Committees on behalf of the DBF.
- To be involved as appropriate in the diocese’s disciplinary, capability and grievance procedures.
- To represent the diocese publicly, building the wider reputation of the diocese, by explaining to diverse audiences the progress the DBF is making in its mission and financial position.
This role description provides a guide to the duties and responsibilities of the post and is not an exhaustive list. The postholder may undertake other relevant duties appropriate to the post and this role description may be amended over time, in consultation with the Bishop and the DBF, to meet the needs of the diocese.
Key Relationships
- The Bishop of Manchester, The Right Revd David Walker
- The Bishop of Middleton, The Right Revd Mark Davies
- The Bishop of Bolton, The Right Revd Matthew Porter
- The COO/Diocesan Secretary, Helen Platts
- The Director of Finance and Corporate Services, David Weldon
- The Director of Land and Property, Darren Bamford
- The Archdeacon of Manchester, The Venerable Karen Best, The Archdeacon of Salford and Bolton, The Venerable Rachel Mann and the Archdeacon of Rochdale (currently vacant)
- The Chair of the Property Committee (currently vacant)
- The Diocesan Registrar, Donna Myers
- The Chairs of the Houses of Clergy and Laity, The Venerable Rachel Mann and Yvonne Mackereth
- The Vice-Chair of the MDBF, Philip Geldard