Job description
Find out more about this fantastic opportunity
Would you like to work for a large charity? An investment fund? A pension scheme? A housing association? All of the above? This role could be for you!
JOB TITLE: Head of Financial Planning & Analysis
GRADE: 1 (MRS)
LOCATION: Church House, Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3AZ
ACCOUNTABLE TO: Director of Finance
ACCOUNTABLE FOR: Finance Business Partnering team
KEY RELATIONSHIPS: Senior managers and budget holders, Finance team, external auditors, Head of Financial Accounting & Ops, Director of Finance, Deputy Director of Finance, Commissioners Management Group and Chief Officers.
Overview
The National Church Institutions (NCIs) are national administrative bodies that work together to support the mission and ministry of the Church of England. Their activities are hugely varied, ranging from management of a multi-billion-pound investment fund, to a grant-giving charity, a housing service for retired clergy and the administration of four multi-employer pension schemes.
The Finance department is a shared services function working across the NCIs to provide a comprehensive, cost-effective finance service to each organisation, and helping to co-ordinate joint projects where appropriate. The Finance team is undergoing significant change, in-step with the changing needs and ambitions of our NCI clients. This is a new post with a key role to play in developing the Finance function, helping to further embed Finance Business Partnering across the NCIs and to bring a greater level of consistency, efficiency and quality to financial reporting and planning processes.
Finance Team Structure
Post introduction
We are seeking a dynamic, self-motivated, CCAB qualified finance professional with strong people management and leadership skills, to lead a team of 4 Finance Business Partners and 5 management accounting staff to provide a high quality strategic business partnering service to each of the NCIs, underpinned by excellence in core financial reporting and planning activities.
You will ensure the delivery of timely and accurate financial planning and reporting processes, maintaining consistent service levels and developing enhanced reporting packs incorporating relevant analysis appropriate to the needs of each NCI (e.g. dashboards, KPIs etc.). You will work with other members of the Finance team to implement appropriate technology solutions to improve the efficiency and quality of reporting and planning processes.
You will also act as Lead Client Director for the Church Commissioners, developing strong relationships with the Commissioners Management Group, understanding the business and providing meaningful financial insight and advice to support the delivery of strategic and operational objectives. As a member of the Senior Finance team you will also work collaboratively with the Finance Director, Deputy FD and Head of Financial Accounting & Operations to ensure high quality seamless Senior Finance support to each of the NCIs.
You will have excellent interpersonal skills, able to build effective relationships with a wide range of stakeholders. You will also have highly developed analytical skills, and be able to provide value-added strategic decision support to your internal clients. You will be passionate about delivering best practice and growing a high performing team. You will also promote collaborative working across the Finance department to ensure high standards of service for our customers.
Key responsibilities
Financial planning, reporting and monitoring
Lead on Financial Planning, Reporting & Analysis across the NCIs:
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Leading, motivating and managing the Finance Business Partnering team to provide a consistent and high-quality financial planning and analysis service to all NCI clients
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Promoting a client-focused business partnering approach within the team
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Ensuring the delivery of timely, insightful and accurate financial reporting to each of the NCIs, in accordance with an agreed timetable
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Developing and rolling out best practice, high quality management reporting in response to the operational and decision-making needs of each organisation including identifying risks and opportunities to the delivery of financial plans
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Setting and managing the timetables for the production of phased budgets and regular reforecasts for the NCIs, ensuring consistency of approach and alignment with strategic planning processes
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Ensuring that standardised, robust templates are in place to support the budget and forecast processes (including staff cost analysis), developing and using appropriate technological solutions to streamline these processes and maximise effort on ‘value-add’ activities
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Defining financial reporting and modelling standards across the NCIs
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Driving an agenda of continual improvement and innovation, keeping pace with developments in best practice and promoting excellence, efficiency and standardisation in financial reporting
Church Commissioners Lead Client Director
Act as Lead Client Director for the Church Commissioners:
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Member of the Church Commissioners Management Group (CMG), providing support to the Chief Executive on financial matters pertaining to the Commissioners
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Ensure the delivery and appropriate presentation of the Annual Budget and Triennium Spending plans for the Church Commissioners
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Oversee the production of appropriate, high quality financial information and analysis for Church Commissioners’ Assets Committee and other sub-Committees as needed
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Work with the Deputy FD to support the Commissioners’ long term financial planning processes (including the actuarial review and production of information for Assets Committee and other key stakeholder groups)
Financial management and accountability
Improve financial management and accountability across the NCIs:
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Responsible for the relationship with Financial Accounting and Operations team working collaboratively to ensure that monthly, quarterly and year end close is complete and all necessary transactions are recorded accurately and on time
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Acting as Senior Finance representative on various Project Boards as required
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Ensuring the provision of financial support for relevant project activity (including pan-NCI projects) as appropriate – leading the team to develop financial analysis for business cases, preparing project budgets and forecasts, and reporting against them
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Developing and delivering a programme of financial training and support to non-finance colleagues to help improve financial literacy and accountability across the organisation
Other support for the Finance Function
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Deputise for the Director of Finance as required, working across the Finance function to promote continuous improvement and drive efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of departmental objectives
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Contribute to building the performance of the team, supporting development of individuals, planning and delivering goals and targets, and communicating effectively
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Promote effective working relationships with key internal and external stakeholders, the latter including wider Church bodies, as well as Investment Managers, Bankers, External Auditors and other key suppliers
The main duties and responsibilities of your post are outlined in your job description. This list is not exhaustive and is intended to reflect your main tasks and areas of work. Changes may occur over time and you will be expected to agree any reasonable changes to your job description that are commensurate with your banding and in line with the general nature of your post. You will be consulted about any changes to your job description before these are implemented.
