Job Description

We are looking for a Head of Finance who is excited to work at an organization which values the following principles:

1. Fairness, openness and decency: As the Head of Department with accountability for finance across the organization, your role will be to ensure that our financial policies, procedures and systems are robust yet workable – for our staff, for beneficiaries and other stakeholders. You will value ‘diversity’ in its widest sense, and will be an ‘enabler’, working with the CEO and Leadership Team to provide clear financial analysis and embed sound financial practice into day to day decision-making. You’ll provide proactive support and guidance to your colleagues, and will strive to make ‘finance’ a positive, empowering and engaging experience. You will be a fair, supportive and enthusiastic leader of your team, providing leadership and guidance on personal, professional and technical development.

2. Ensuring our programmes are helping to challenge injustice and inequality: We must use our organization’s financial resources in the best way possible to deliver maximum impact for our beneficiaries. As a key member of the Leadership Team, you will work with your colleagues to ensure that we develop trainings and programmes which are founded on sound financial principles and an informed understanding of costs and pricing. In close liaison with the CEO, you will be excited at the prospect of seeking and developing partnerships with funders which focus on effective, efficient and impactful use of funds, supported by clear and timely reporting. You will relish the opportunity to guide the Trustees in their strategic finance and business planning discussions, providing insightful management and monitoring information which highlights challenges and risks, as well as opportunities.

3. Balancing process and pragmatism: As a relatively small but ambitious and growing organization, we know that we have to make trade-offs about what to priorities. We need to mitigate and minimize financial risks where we can, and build a sustainable financial base, culture and systems to support our plans for the future. As an experienced Head of Finance, you will have a keen understanding of the critical balance between prudence, financial control, bureaucracy and the need for ‘audit trails’, whilst encouraging flexibility, responsiveness and innovation. Engaging your colleagues – especially those who are not primarily in a ‘finance’ role or confident about ‘finance’ – will be crucial in helping you to successfully address this part of your role.

4. Supporting a learning approach and encouraging innovation: We need to be nimble and keen to try new things, but also quick to understand if they are successful or not. You will draw on your expertise and creativity to actively seek opportunities to ‘do things better’ whether in relation to advising on financial governance and compliance, or through considering changes to the organization’s financial processes and systems. You will seek and value the views of your colleagues and key stakeholders, and will work collaboratively with the Head of Operations and other Leadership Team members to collectively address concerns and to continually look for opportunities to champion financial best practice.

5. Passion for our purpose: Whilst we believe that it is not crucial to have experience within any particular sector, it is important that every member of our senior team has a passion, and optimism, for our mission and ways of working. As Head of Finance you will be passionate about conveying Campaign Bootcamp’s story and call for action ‘through’ and ‘beyond’ the numbers – whether that’s in relation to the information on our website, reports for funders, regular management reports, or the annual statutory reporting process.

Role description:

Your role as Head of Finance will Centre on four key areas:

Helping the organization grow its impact by:

• Leading and developing the finance team (Finance Officer, and Finance & Business Support Manager) who are well-motivated, productive, and who are enthused to support their ‘non-finance’ colleagues to take ownership for the financial aspects of their roles. You will use your experience to ensure that the organization’s finance and related systems ‘enable’ growth in order to deliver maximum charitable impact.
• Advising and supporting the CEO, the Board and the Finance and Fundraising Committee through providing technical input and financial analysis, modelling and scenario planning to inform their decision-making. You will take a lead role – with the CEO and Head of Income Generation – in the development of the financial strategy and business plan to support the organization’s overall strategic priorities.
• Working with the Finance & Business Support Manager to produce timely, accurate, insightful and incisive management and forecasting information for staff colleagues and Board members. You will consider and implement the most effective way to portray financial and non-financial indicators which highlight and address organizational challenges and risks as well as opportunities.
• Working with the CEO and Head of Income Generation, you will seek and develop partnerships with funders which focus on effective, efficient and impactful use of funds, supported by clear and timely stakeholder reporting.

Providing strong, fair and insightful financial leadership which ensures we are a compliant and financially sustainable organization by:

• Sensitively and appropriately challenging financial systems and processes where you feel that they could be enhanced to improve efficiency and effectiveness. You will balance consideration of risk and compliance, with the needs of the organization’s staff and the circumstances of its beneficiaries.
• Leading – in conjunction with the Head of Operations – the development and implementation of the organization’s financial systems and controls. You will blend commercial knowledge with experience of charity best practice / requirements and risk management.
• Working with the CEO and Leadership Team to develop the annual budget and business plan, and managing the input of the budget into the accounting system. You will lead the organization’s re-forecasting process (2-3 times annually) and support colleagues with information for financial assumptions, scenario planning, coding, and cost / pricing structures – particularly relevant for the ongoing development of sustainable future income streams.
• Leading the relationship with the external auditors to ensure that the statutory audit process is efficient, cost-effective and extracts maximum value for the organization. You will guide the Finance & Business Support Manager in the production of the draft statutory accounts and you will ensure that the Annual Report and Accounts comply with relevant accounting and reporting requirements, particularly in relation to fund accounting, income recognition, cost allocations and other charity / SORP requirements. You will advise and support the Finance and Fundraising Committee and the Board as they develop, review and approve the Annual Report and Accounts, in order to discharge their responsibilities in this important area.

3. Ensuring our financial governance is fit for purpose, and is aligned with our mission, vision and culture by:

• Ensuring that the organization is compliant with all relevant financial, accounting, tax, VAT legislation and regulations; you will create time to ‘horizon-scan’ and research upcoming developments in financial, charity and governance best practice for discussion with the CEO, Leadership Team and Trustee Board to ensure that all responsibilities and obligations in this area are appropriately addressed and discharged.
• Overseeing particular areas of financial development, improvement or risk on behalf of the Board, as delegated through the CEO; you will develop and value regular liaison with the ‘Finance’ Trustee and Finance and Fundraising Committee.
• Providing financial and management information for the CEO, Board and Finance and Fundraising Committee on a timely basis, including KPIs and commentary; You will be expected to attend and present at the required meetings, and will be responsive to questions and suggestions, and requests for further analysis or information.
• Acting as a strong role-model to promote the culture, principles and values of the organization in a practical and visible way at a senior level.

4. Continually reviewing and improving how the organization runs by:

• Overseeing the day to day operation of the finance function, including the use and proactive development of the accounting system (currently QuickBooks), and implementation of other financial systems and processes throughout the organization. You will proactively engage with users to ensure that the financial systems continue to best support the organization’s needs and challenges.
• Supporting the Finance Officer and the Finance & Business Support Manager with the production of accurate and timely financial reports. You will act as a sounding board and quality control, and will support your team in resolving queries from their ‘non-finance’ colleagues.
• Encouraging increased financial awareness and understanding of financial matters, and appropriate ownership of financial and budgetary responsibilities by staff in other teams; in conjunction with your team, you will develop and implement tailored financial training and appropriate support structures for your ‘non-finance’ colleagues to help them deliver their objectives better.
• Engaging with the Head of Income Generation and their team to ensure effective use of the Salesforce and other fundraising systems. Together, you will agree mutual responsibilities to ensure clarity of tasks and prompt and accurate financial / fundraising / funder data and reporting thereof.

General

• Work in a sustainable manner with consideration of the natural environment.
• External customer service: answer the general Campaign Bootcamp phone via Circleloop and emails relating to fundraising via the charities inbox.
• Any other reasonable tasks as directed by your line manager.
• At all times adhere to relevant legislation including GDPR.
• At all times take personal responsibility for exhibiting behaviors in line with the person specification and the values of Campaign Bootcamp.

Person specification:

QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

Essential

• Recognized UK or equivalent accounting / finance qualification (for example, CCAB or CIMA) and full membership of the accounting / finance body
• Evidence of up to date and ongoing commitment to continuing professional and personal development which is relevant to this role
• Working knowledge of finance and reporting, accounting, tax, payroll, governance requirements / regulations / best practice as applicable to Campaign Bootcamp
• Working knowledge of financial policies, systems and controls which would be relevant for Campaign Bootcamp (refer to the role description)
• Experience of leading, motivating and developing staff in a finance team / function, and in a wider organizational context, to achieve results against team / organizational goals
• Experience of working collaboratively and proactively with colleagues at a senior management / leadership team level
• Experience of actively shaping strategic, financial and business planning in a commercial and / or charity setting
• Experience of successfully leading finance and / or systems projects and influencing change within the wider organization

Desirable

• Working knowledge of payroll systems, processing and regulations; ability to oversee a payroll function and liaise with an external payroll bureau
• At least 5 years’ experience of working in a not for profit / charity finance role, preferably at manager or equivalent level
• Experience of working effectively and proactively with Board members and Finance (or equivalent) Committees; ability to inspire Board level confidence in your work
• Experience of building and sustaining successful relationships with funders
• Experience of working in an organization focused on championing the rights of, and voice of, groups who may otherwise be viewed as disadvantaged and / or marginalized

Benefits:

• 5% employer pension contribution, 28 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays and additional closure days in December

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Competent at using accounting software, such as QuickBooks or equivalent online / Cloud-based packages in a physical and virtual (remote working) office environment. Competent at using IT packages such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint in a physical and virtual (remote working) office environment. Proficient at developing and producing timely, insightful and incisive financial and management information, including financial and non-financial Key Performance Indicators, and adapting this for all levels of staff, and for Board members. Excellent communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex financial information and requirements to non-finance colleagues. Strong leadership skills; proven ability to develop teamwork and build trust and commitment within your team and across other departments. Ability to effect positive change through consultation with, and effective influencing of, staff at all levels within an organization – especially non-finance staff. Highly developed personal and interpersonal skills; demonstration of tact, teamwork, diplomacy and high standards of integrity. Ability to develop and lead relationships with external auditors, in line with budget and within Board reporting deadlines [Desirable – for this to be in a not for profit / charity context]. Ability to build effective relationships with, and inspire the confidence of, funders. Passionate about promoting equitable opportunity in the workplace and / or service delivery, and in the wider society. Awareness of how systemic injustice operates in our society; tangible commitment to progressing and achieving sound practice in relation to inclusion and diversity in their widest sense. Ability and desire to be a strong internal role model, and enthusiastic ambassador for Campaign Bootcamp.