Head of Finance

Head of Finance Access The Foundation for Social Investment Reporting To: Director of Finance & Operations Date Closes: Friday 12 th July, 2024 Careers4Change is delighted to support Access - The Foundation for Social Investment in their search for a Head of Finance, reporting into the Director of Finance and Operations (which we were recently delighted to manage the recruitment process for too). Role Purpose: This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced finance professional to join the team at Access The Foundation for Social Investment at a critical stage of our work. With a refreshed strategy, expanded team and extended life we are looking for someone to lead on the delivery of an effective and efficient finance function, including accounting, payments, treasury and supporting aspects of governance and operations. About Access The Foundation for Social Investment We want to see a social investment ecosystem that works for all charities and social enterprises and through our programmes and our advocacy work, we ensure that charities and social enterprises can access the finance they need to sustain or grow their impact. We target those most in need of patient and flexible investment through: Funding enterprise development and blended finance programmes in England. Sharing knowledge and data and translating it into practical insight that others can use. Mobilising others who share our goal of making capital work for communities. Since 2015 Access has been tasked with distributing over £160m from the Dormant Assets scheme, Government and the National Lottery Community Fund. As a wholesaler we work with several dozen partners to deliver programmes around England, including social investment funds, social enterprise support organisations, network organisations, and grant management bodies. We expect to make grants of over £30m this year. We are a relatively small but collaborative and dedicated team of 13. Key Responsibilities: Finance Maintain financial systems that record and report on financial activities and provide information and projections to allow strategic and operational decision making. This includes management accounts, budgets and forecasts and reports on activity, for both the operational costs of Access as well as the fund reporting for the programmes run by Access. Working with the Business Support Officer, execute payments, invoicing, bookkeeping and banking activities, bank reconciliations, quarterly balance sheet reconciliations, maintaining up to date computerised records and maximising use of the software system (Twinfield). Ensuring appropriate financial controls are in place. Manage the relationship with Access external and group auditors and manage the year end process, external audit, preparation of annual financial statements and sign-off from relevant stakeholders. Treasury Management Review deposit options among our Social Banks to provide an optimal balance of liquidity risk management and return. Manage cash and investment drawdowns from the Endowment and Capital Preservation Funds to meet the cashflow requirements of Access s programmes. Support the Director of Finance and Operations in managing the relationship with Rathbones, the asset manager for our (diminishing) spend-down endowment. Governance Provide advice to the Director of Finance and Operations of any legal responsibilities prevailing upon the organisation. Support the Director of Finance and Operations in managing the Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee (ARCC), and Endowment Investment Committee. HR & Supporting Team Development Line management responsibility for the Business Support Officer, including regular 1-2-1 s, performance reviews etc. Manage the outsourced payroll service, relationship and payments to HMRC and maintain responsibility for all contractual documentation with employees (including data protection requirements). Manage the workplace pension scheme and other benefit schemes contributing to the total remuneration package of employees. Operations & Programme Support Support the production of financial data for key reporting requirements, including those as specified in the contracts with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and National Lottery Community Fund. Working closely with the Director of Learning and Advocacy and Access s Learning Partners, lead on the use of financial data across the organisation, both in the collection, analysis, subsequent storage and dissemination of the information. Provide financial reports as required for other purposes including for Board meetings, and other ad hoc purposes. Together with the Business Support Officer, manage papers for a variety of committee and board meetings. Manage the grant drawdown process across the Access programmes, in conjunction with the Programme Managers. Manage key procurement processes from advertising through to contracting and the production of grant agreements. Skills and Experience: The skills and key personal attributes we are looking for include: Extensive knowledge of accounting principles and systems with relevant accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA or equivalent preferred). Knowledge of statutory and legal requirements, ideally relating to a charitable organisation. Substantial experience of working at a similar level, demonstrating involvement in setting direction, policy, processes and controls and in providing professional expertise, advice, and guidance. Proven ability to work on own initiative, prioritise competing demands and work to deadlines. Strong attention to detail, with good financial and general administrative skills. An understanding of the importance of and evidence of the ability to communicate financial and other complex information in a way that is easy to understand to non-financial users. Strong IT skills, especially with sound experience of the MS Office Suite and relevant accounting packages. Good inter-personal skills to communicate clearly and effectively at all levels (both internally and externally), with strong written and literacy skills. An ideas person who is confident to suggest and implement changes. A committed team player who happily goes the extra mile. The role is based in Access s offices in Central London and with some dedicated time together as a team each week (currently Tuesdays). Outside of this shared time, Access anticipates a significant degree of day-to-day flexibility in terms of where team members will work, depending on both personal preference and the needs of their role. If you are interested in applying for this excellent opportunity, please send your CV and a full page Cover Letter via the Apply Now button below which will take you through to the Careers4Change website. #J-18808-Ljbffr