DEPARTMENT:Director of Finance & Infrastructure

DEPARTMENT:Director of Finance & Infrastructure

PART 1: JOB PROFILE

DEPARTMENT:Director of Finance & Infrastructure

JOB TITLE: Head of Finance

UPDATED:July 2014

  1. MAIN PURPOSE OF JOB

The post holder will run a small but very busy Finance team. The post holder will play a key role in supporting Samaritans to manage its financial position and to support its future development.

The post holder will support and, on occasion, deputise for the Director of Finance

  1. POSITION IN ORGANISATION
  • Reports to Director of Finance
  • Line management of Finance Team (Currently 4 posts)
  • Member of ‘Heads of Team’ group, working closely with Directorate
  1. SCOPE OF JOB
  • Manage a team of four people dealing with all financial aspects for the charity and its trading subsidiary, Samaritans Enterprises.
  • Support the Director of Finance in providing high quality financial support to the organisation and external bodies.
  • Responsible for internal and external audit functions.
  • Finance lead on interaction with 13 Regions and 201 branches in the UK and Republic of Ireland.
  • Liaison with Investment Managers and Banks.
  • Responsibility for VAT, Gift Aid and other compliance issues.
  • Finance lead on projects such as pension’s auto-enrolment, internet banking rollout to Regions, and reconciliation of new donor income system.
  • Supporting the Director of Finance in annual budgeting and reforecasting process.
  • Support the organisation with financial information for new funding bids, legacy income, and grant income streams.
  • Managing improvements to finance processes
  • Supporting budget holders by providing information and advice to help them manage budgets
  • Financial input to strategic planning
  • General duties of a Samaritan’s staff member

4.DIMENSIONS AND LIMITS OF AUTHORITY

  • To provide first line support and advice for staff on all Finance related matters
  • Line manages the Finance Team
  • Supporting the Director of Financewith all major initiatives along with the day to day running of the Finance Department
  • To cover for the Director of Finance on occasion

5.QUALIFICATIONS

  • Educated to degree level or equivalent
  • Membership of a professional accountancy body

6.KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

  • A qualified accountant with at least 2 years’ post qualification experience
  • Excellent communications and interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain positive relationships with colleagues and volunteers at all levels.
  • ICT skills including use of MS office (especially Word and Excel) email and databases
  • Well organised with good practical skills and the ability to deal with all aspects of the finance role. The team at General Office is small and therefore a wide range of skills will be required.
  • Flexible attitude with the ability to “muck in” and accept that priorities may change at short notice
  • An individual who preferably has an understanding / knowledge of charity or not for profit organisations
  • Good knowledge of the charity SORP (Statement of Recommended Practice)
  • Demonstrable project management skills

7.PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

  • A commitment to excellence in service provision.
  • High level of trust and integrity.
  • Resilient and independent with strong personal drive.
  • Confident communicator with excellent relationship management skills.

PART 2: DUTIES & KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Direction and Reporting

  • Supporting the Director of Finance in ensuring the Finance Department meets the strategic and operational needs of Samaritans by providing regular financial management.
  • To contribute to the achievement of Samaritans strategic aims, participating fully as a “Head of Team” in the development of overall strategy and championing the delivery of the Finance Team Plan.

Statutory compliance on all financial matters.

  • To ensure compliance with the requirements of the law and of all regulatory bodies on all financial matters.
  • To lead on the year-end audit and production of statutory accounts and other returns. Including production of the financial element of the Annual Report and other cooperation with the Planning Manager as required ensuring the prompt delivery and high quality of this document.

Internal financial support and advice to budget holders

  • To produce timely and meaningful information to budget holders including analysis, forecasting and the promotion of corrective action.
  • To work closely with the Planning Manager in preparing an annual budget for the charity and ad hoc financial forecasts.
  • Perform a key liaison role with other Heads of Team and budget holders around performance management, consistency of financial reporting and on the development of new business.

Development of relationships and provision of financial advice

  • To build and maintain our reputation with key external stakeholders, including Samaritan branches, with regard to financial matters.
  • To provide support and advice to the staff Directors and the Board of Trustees on any financial issues, with a particular emphasis on supporting fundraising activities.
  • Main interface with HM Revenue Customs and the charity’s auditors, both internal and external.

Staff Management

  • To proactively manage and support the finance team to ensure provision of comprehensive financial services to the charity. To mentor and develop team members, to ensure their personal development, whilst ensuring the team’s delivery of excellent service and responsiveness to change.

Develop financial systems

  • To lead on financial systems development and support including the continued development of the Exchequer finance system and related sub systems. Critical emphasis will be placed on the transparency and availability of data in formats suitable for budget holders.
  • To ensure that satisfactory systems of internal control are maintained by the charity

General duties of a Samaritans’ staff member

  • Contribute to the effective and efficient running of the General Office as appropriate.
  • Participate, as appropriate, in staff forums and meetings.
  • Adhere to all Samaritans’ Polices and Procedures.
  • Represent the General Office appropriately across the movement and Samaritans to the wider community as appropriate.
  • Treat all colleagues, volunteers and members of the public with dignity and work within and adhere to Samaritans’ equal opportunities statement and polices.
  • Carry out any reasonable requests made that are within the broad remit of the role

Signed by employee: ______Date: ______

This job description is a statement of requirements at the time of writing and is not contractual. It should not be seen as precluding future changes after appointment to this role.

Top View