Ethical Property Company

ETHICAL PROPERTY COMPANY

Head of Finance, Oxford

Application Pack - July 2015

Contents / Action required / Page
About our company and Job description / For information only / 2
Application Form / Candidates to complete / 5
Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form / Candidates to complete / 9

Head of Finance, Oxford - Application Pack - July 2015

Head of Finance - Job Description

Job title: Head of Finance

Salary: £45,000 - £50,000 a year depending on skills and experience

Working hours: Full time, 37.5 hours per week

Location: Oxford (The Old Music Hall, 106-108 Cowley Road, Oxford, OX4 1JE) with regular travel in the UK

Closing date: 9am on Tuesday, 21st July 2015

Interview date: Wednesday, 29th July 2015, held at The Old Music Hall, 106-108 Cowley Road, Oxford, OX4 1JE

The Ethical Property Company

Ethical Property is one of the UK’s leading social businesses. We aim to ensure that commercial property supports the creation of a better world, through the provision of office and meeting space to charities and voluntary groups, retail space that supports small businesses and social enterprises and workshops for organisations in creative industries.

We own and manage 23 centres across the UK. We currently employ over 80 staff and support over 1000 organisations working in a wide variety of sectors.

Our centres are managed to minimise energy use, waste, car travel and the use of harmful materials while offering tenants modern, affordable and flexible space managed in a transparent and supportive way.

Whilst social and environmental values drive everything that we do, making a profit is an essential element of our model. Paying a dividend regularly and managing our properties so as to increase the long-term value of our shareholders’ investment is necessary to attract the capital we need to put our principles into practice.

Above all however, we are focused on providing space that facilitates the sharing of resources and the creation of a communal working environment, while removing the complexity and bureaucracy that often exists when renting property.

Plans for the future

Ethical Property has successfully come through the worst recession in 60 years, and has continued to pay a dividend every year. We have about half the empty space of our more traditional competitors. We are now experiencing more demand for space than we ever have done in our history, and the completion of The Foundry in London, our biggest project to date, has increased our profile.

We have ambitious growth plans; in the near term this is likely to include new projects in Manchester, Bristol, Cardiff and London. We plan to continue to improve financial performance, increasing dividends and share value, at a rate to enable the company to repay debt for the first time and invest in our long term future. We are planning a share issue in 2015 to raise funds for further significant growth. Our joint venture, Ethical IT, has doubled in size in two years and is continuing to achieve rapid growth.

It is therefore a very exciting time for Ethical Property, and we have considerable potential to expand.

Our commitment

We are serious about the commitment we make to our employees in providing an enjoyable, relaxed and productive working environment. Equally, we expect our employees to be serious about the commitment they make to the company, and their colleagues.

The Post

The Head of Finance reports to the Finance Director and will lead a team of 6 staff, managing all the day to day finances of the company, its UK associates and property management contract clients. You will play a significant role in the growth and development of the company.

Key tasks

Your responsibilities will include:

Budgets, Forecasts and reporting

·  Maintaining the business planning model for the whole organisation, ensuring it meets the needs of organisation;

·  Developing business plans for new properties, contracts and development opportunities;

·  Designing, organising and overseeing all aspects of the budget process, and ensuring deadlines are met;

·  Overseeing the production of the monthly management accounts pack;

·  Reviewing management information with the Finance Director and budget holders;

·  Overseeing the production and review of management accounts for Ethical IT LLP (50% owned JV) and Property Management Contracts;

·  Presenting financial information including at Board meetings of property management contract clients;

·  Leading the financial aspects of the annual rent and service charge review including developing reports and models;

·  Supporting and advising managers on budgeting, costs and profitability.

Financial Accounting

·  Reviewing Balance Sheet reconciliations and undertaking regular Balance Sheet reviews with the Finance Director;

·  Organising and overseeing the year end close process, liaison with auditors and dealing with all issues arising;

·  Overseeing the production and review of statutory accounts for Ethical IT LLP (50% owned JV) and Property Management Contract client bodies;

·  Maintaining up to date cash flow forecasts and treasury management;

·  Publishing clear timetables and duties and ensuring they are communicated to and understood by the Finance department and other employees;

·  Developing financial policies and procedures to meet the changing needs of the Finance department and its internal and external customers;

·  Supervision of all day-to-day accounting for the company, associates and property management contracts – purchase ledger, sales ledger, credit control, cash and bank, fixed assets;

·  Maintaining and up to date knowledge of relevant accounting standards, VAT and audit requirements.

Team management

·  Managing and developing the Finance team, ensuring they receive regular supervision, support and training;

·  Developing the roles and responsibilities of the Finance team as the company grows;

·  Working with the HR team for any recruitment in the team.

Systems

·  Assimilating and maintaining Super-user level knowledge of the financial software packages in use;

·  Being the department expert on the financial system;

·  Training non-financial employees in the operation of financial systems.

Other

·  Attending company-wide events such as the annual staff conference, and training sessions;

·  Any other tasks as delegated by the Finance Director in line with the role.

Person Specification

The successful applicant will be able to demonstrate that they have the following:

Essential knowledge and experience:

·  Experience of working as a Head of Finance/Financial Controller;

·  A recognised senior accountancy qualification;

·  Excellent spreadsheet skills;

·  Experience of managing and developing a team;

·  Experience of leading finance teams through the year end process;

·  Evidence of strong commitment to social and environmental issues and an understanding of what Ethical Property means by its triple bottom line approach;

·  Excellent IT skills, including the management and development of financial systems.

Personal competencies and skills

·  Collaborative leadership skills with the ability to demonstrate motivation and self-management and with strong team-work skills;

·  Able to establish strong credibility and inspire confidence with colleagues and external clients;

·  Customer-focussed approach to providing a finance service;

·  Thrives on change and understands how to manage a team through a period of change;

·  Able to make decisions based on appropriate analysis of the risks and opportunities involved;

·  A high level of personal organisation, able to effectively plan the work of the team, and communicate this;

·  Excellent communication skills.

Desirable knowledge, skills and experience:

·  Knowledge of property finance issues;

·  Experience of business planning and financial appraisal;

·  Experience gained within a multi-site business.

Contractual details

This is a permanent contract with a three month probationary period. The post is full time based on 37.5 hours per week. The salary will be £45,000 - £50,000 per annum, depending on skills and experience. The role is based in Oxford at our head office.

Benefits include 25 days holiday entitlement pro-rata for the first year in addition to all public bank holidays. We offer a 3% to 7% company contribution to a pension, a free company bicycle scheme with bicycle maintenance costs, childcare vouchers, season ticket loans, interest free personal loans, as well as other benefits.

Applications

Discover more about the company at our website, www.ethicalproperty.co.uk.

For an informal discussion regarding this role, please contact Penny Gardner, Finance Director on 07738 764341

If you think this role is for you please visit our website (http://www.ethicalproperty.co.uk/careers.php) and download the Application Pack, please email your application to

The deadline for applications is 9.00am on Tuesday, 21st July 2015

Interviews will be held on Wednesday, 29th July 2015 at The Old Music Hall, 106-108 Cowley Road, Oxford, OX4 1JE.

Application for: Head of Finance, Oxford

Application Process

The questions within the Application Form have been designed to gain the information we need in order to assess your suitability for this post against its job description and person specification. Decisions to short list candidates will be based on your answers to this form only.

We ask you to also complete our Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form, located at the end of the Application Form below, for easy access. This will not be used for shortlisting purposes, but for monitoring our Equal Opportunities Policy and to ensure that no intentional or unintentional discrimination is taking place in our recruitment process.

When completed, please return these forms to .

If you require, for any reason, to submit your application in an alternative format, please let us know (contact the HR department on 01865 403235 / 207827 or ). If you want to send your forms (Application From and the Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form) by post please address it as “confidential” to the HR Department, The Ethical Property Company, The Old Music Hall, 106-108 Cowley Road, Oxford, OX4 1JE.

Important Information

·  We use the person specification to shortlist candidates. Please ensure you make full use of section four of the application form to identify how you meet the person specification.

·  You must be eligible to work in the UK in order to apply for this role.

·  Please submit your Application Form and the Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form in the current Word document; we are unable to process applications in PDF format.

·  Please note that we do not accept CV’s or applications from recruitment agencies.

1) YOUR DETAILS

Full Name: / E-mail:
Day time phone number: / Evening phone number:
Full address:
Where did you hear of this post? Please delete as appropriate. / ·  Charity Jobs
·  Ethical Property Website
·  2MRecruitmentSolutions
·  LinkedIn
·  Other, please comment: / When would you be available to start work?

2) EDUCATION AND TRAINING

2.1) EDUCATION

Please start with your most recent exam/qualification and work backwards. Please note that if you are appointed we will ask to see proof of your qualifications, e.g. certificates. (You may add more rows to this section, to do this, right click anywhere in the bottom row, select ‘insert’ and then select ‘insert row below.’)

Dates / Name and Location of institution / Exams/qualifications gained and subject

2.2) PROFESSIONAL TRAINING AND COURSES ATTENDED

Please start with your most recent exam/qualification and work backwards. Please note that if you are appointed we will ask to see proof of your qualifications, training and/or accreditations where appropriate. (You may add more rows to this section, to do this; right click anywhere in the bottom row, select ‘insert’ and then select ‘insert row below.’)

Dates / Course attended / Exams passed or qualifications gained

3) WORK EXPERIENCE

3.1) EMPLOYMENT

Please start with your most recent employment and work backwards. (You may add more rows to this section, to do this; highlight the section, right click, select copy and then paste at the end of the table)

Name, location and size of employer / Dates employed from/to / Annual gross salary / Reason for leaving
Position and duties
Name, location and size of employer / Dates employed from/to / Annual gross salary / Reason for leaving
Position and duties
Name, location and size of employer / Dates employed from/to / Annual gross salary / Reason for leaving
Position and duties
Name, location and size of employer / Dates employed from/to / Annual gross salary / Reason for leaving
Position and duties
Name, location and size of employer / Dates employed from/to / Annual gross salary / Reason for leaving
Position and duties

3.2) VOLUNTARY WORK

Please describe any voluntary work you have done which is relevant to this post. Please start with your most recent experience and work backwards. (You may add more rows to this section, to do this; right click anywhere in the bottom row, select ‘insert’ and then select ‘insert row below.’)

Name / location / Position / Duties / Field / Dates worked from/to

4) PERSONAL STATEMENT TO SUPPORT YOUR APPLICATION

Please explain clearly how your work experience (both paid and unpaid), skills and training help you meet the enclosed person specification. (This section does expand).

5) WHY ARE YOU INTERESTED IN THE POST

Please explain why you are interested in this post and what has motivated you to apply for the position. Please include details of any additional skills, interests and experience which you feel may be relevant to your application with The Ethical Property Company and which have not been mentioned elsewhere on the form. (This section does expand).

6) FURTHER INFORMATION – RIGHT TO WORK IN THE UK

Permit to work
Are there restrictions to your residence in the UK that might affect your right to work in the UK?
Yes / No (delete as appropriate) If yes, please provide further information:
If you have selected ‘yes’ above, do you give us permission to contact the UK Visas and Immigration Service to carry out an ‘Employer Checking Service’ verification if you are successfully appointed to the role? Yes / No (delete as appropriate)

7) REFERENCES

Please provide details of two referees below. Please note that if you are appointed we will ask to check at least two references, one being your most current employer where possible. We do conduct thorough reference checks, from work ethics and skills to salary level and numbers of sick days and will need the name, relationship, phone and email for each referee. Please note, should you be successful to interview stage we would like to request these references in advance of the interview. Please indicate if this is OK or not.