Finance Director

New Start Highland; Inverness; On-site; GBP 125,000 - GBP 150,000; Full time

Job description

The post-holder will work closely with and report to the Chief Executive across the range of activities covered by the post.

Working Relationships

The post-holder will report directly to the Chief Executive, will have a close working relationship with the Leadership Team and Management Team and manage the Accounts Assistant.

The Finance Director will also provide a support service by working with the Management Team to help make financial decisions, attending the agreed schedule of meetings and liaising with colleagues as appropriate.

Key Results & KPI's

• Management reporting and insight
• Provide timely and reliable management information regarding financial performance.
• Produce monthly management accounts, including analysis of Income & Expenditure, Balance Sheet, and cash flow, reporting to Board and Leadership team.
• Prepare periodic financial statements including profit and loss accounts, budgets, cash flows, variance analysis and commentaries.
• Review accounts, investigate variance, provide analysis of differences and set recovery plans as appropriate.

Responsibilities

• Strategic finance and leadership
• Inform key strategic decisions and help formulate business strategies.Prepare annual budgets and provide periodic comparison of performance against budget.
• Analyse financial performance and contribute to medium and long-term business planning / forecasts.
• Offer professional judgement on financial matters and advise on ways of improving business performance.
• Business Partnering and performance improvement
• Act as a business partner to senior management, identifying risks, opportunities, driving performance improvements and embedding business partnering across the business.
• Liaise with other function managers to put the finances and accounts in context.
• Advise on the financial implications and consequences of business decisions.
• Planning, budgeting and forecasting
• Lead short and long-term financial planning, budgeting, and forecasting with a focus on our charitable and operational activities.
• Monitor spending in line with the budget.
• Prepare and update regular updates on Profit, Balance Sheet and Cash forecasts.

Key Tasks & Duties

• Governance, risk and internal controls
• Adhere to the values, policies and practices of the NSH with regard to people and systems.
• Review funder agreements, sales, and supplier contracts to optimise commercial benefit and minimise financial risk.
• Oversee the financial administration of all projects.
• Develop and maintain finance policies.
• Statutory reporting, audit and compliance
• Prepare the quarterly VAT return.
• Perform month end reconciliations for cash and bank, Accounts Receivable and Payable, VAT, Fixed Assets and general ledger in the finance system.
• Undertake re-forecasting in line with business needs.
• Review and submit monthly payroll.
• Monitor and evaluate financial information systems and suggest improvements where needed.
• Manage accounting processes, including payroll, statutory compliance, production of accounts, and the annual audit.
• Grants and funding.
• Contribute to relevant tender and grant application opportunities and work with stakeholders towards the completion of Grant claim forms.
• To monitor financial compliance in line with requirements of grants.
• Partner with teams to develop and monitor pricing frameworks, review project budgets, and support bids to enhance income generation.

Core Skills & Competencies

Knowledge

Essential

• A degree level qualification.
• Qualified member of an accountancy body or holder of an equivalent qualification.
• Sound practical knowledge of budgeting and forecasting issues and techniques

Desirable

• A knowledge of the Third Sector in Scotland.
• A thorough knowledge of tenders and tendering procedures.

Skills

Essential

• Ability to make decisions, work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to speak authoritatively and persuasively to a variety of influential audiences.
• The ability to form and develop constructive relationships at all levels.
• The ability to identify, record and report key financial management information in a clear, accurate and timely manner.
• Proactive organisational and planning skills.
• Strong IT skills.
• Excellent attention to detail.

Desirable

• The ability to generate new ideas and initiatives.
• A wide range of business skills.

Experience

Essential

• Demonstrable experience of working in management accounting or financial management relevant for the level of this post.
• Significant experience of delivering results at a senior level in a finance related environment.
• Experience in strategy development.

Desirable

• Experience of developing commercial revenues.
• Experience of Sage Intacct.

Approach

Essential

• A clear understanding of the organisation and willingness to live up to its values and aspirations.
• Strategic and analytical thinker, able to provide clear financial insight and advice to support organisational goals.
• Versatile and flexible.
• Able to demonstrate a high level of initiative and proactivity.
• Comfortable interacting with people from all backgrounds.
• Able to demonstrate a progressive attitude to learning and an ongoing willingness to adapt and change as the organisation evolves.
• A credible and visible leader and team member.