Clifton Diocese - Head of Finance

Clifton Diocese - Head of Finance

HEAD OF FINANCE CANDIDATE INFORMATION PACK

Dear Applicant,

Thank you for taking the time to find out more about the appointment of Head of Finance with the Clifton Diocese.

The Head of Finance leads the finance department to provide financial administration of the Diocese, ensuring that charity and company law and appropriate accounting standards are complied with. You will be responsible for ensuring that the Diocese’s accounts are prepared, presented and that appropriate budgetary controls are both in place and implemented. The finance team are responsible for a wide range of accounting responsibilities including: preparation of statutory accounts, payroll, audit, preparation of annual budgets and invoicing administration. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, and as part of the senior leadership team, you will be an experienced finance professional (ACA, ACCA, CIMA accredited) possessing strong stakeholder management skills. Responsible for leading eight finance professionals, you will act as mentor whilst ensuring the development and training of team members. The Head of Finance will further develop a customer centric service delivery culture by way of strong stakeholder engagement and continued process and system improvements. A highly personable approach is vital to success in the role, owing to regular and continued liaison with parishes, colleagues, clergy, suppliers and as a key interface of the Diocese. The Head of Finance appointment offers the opportunity to have a direct impact on the lives of the clergy and community through effective business administration on be - half of the Diocese. The role provides a diverse range of responsibilities with opportunity for operational improvement and development.

CONTENTS 4 Clifton Diocese 6 Job Description 12 Person Specification 14 Working for us 16 Application Process

CLIFTON DIOCESE

The Diocese of Clifton is the Roman Catholic diocese covering the West of England and includes the City and County of Bristol, covering 4,215 square miles, stretching from Stow in the Wold in the north to Minehead and Watchet in the South. The most north-westerly parishes are in the Forest of Dean, while Marlborough near Swindon is one of the most easterly. Other cities and towns include Bath, Wells, Cheltenham, Gloucester, Salisbury, Taunton and Weston-Super-Mare.

There are 107 parishes within 13 deaneries serving a Catholic population of around 190,000.

JOB DESCRIPTION HEAD OF FINANCE

Reports To

Chief Operating Officer

Organisation

Roman Catholic Diocese of the Clifton

Purpose of the job To provide a professional and effective financial service to the Bishop and Trustees of the Diocese of Clifton. The Financial Administrator / Head of Finance leads the team of staff within the Finance Department to provide financial administration of the Diocese, ensuring that charity and company law and appropriate accounting standards are complied with. The role is responsible for ensuring that diocesan accounts are prepared and presented and that appropriate budgetary controls are in place and implemented. Providing financial support and advise to the parishes, departmental heads and the Chief Operating Officer is also a key requirement.

Candidate Brochure 7

JOB DESCRIPTION HEAD OF FINANCE

Key Accountabilities Financial Accounting and Controls

• Preparation of consolidated statutory accounts for the Diocese and ancillary companies and charities as required by charity and company law. These accounts encompass 107 parishes and other diocesan agencies and connected trusts as well as central diocesan departments. Supporting the parishes in implementing accounting, reporting and monitoring practices appropriate to the size of the parish. • Develop effective and efficient financial systems and controls which deliver both statutory and management reporting and to maintain effective financial controls throughout the Diocese. • Administering the Diocesan investment portfolio of bank deposits and longer term stock market investments. Providing a secretarial function to the Investment Committee. Identifying and advising on appropriate deposit taking organisations and the spread of deposits. • Manage approximately 250 bank accounts in the group banking system, ensuring cash availability and placing bank deposits as required. Ensuring banking facilities are in place for parishes and that appropriate banking facilities are made available across the Diocese with appropriate controls.

Management Accounting and Budgetary Control • Lead the preparation of annual budgets for the central diocesan departments, monitoring outturns and reporting results to the Finance Committee and Trustees as appropriate.

• Calculation and application of the parish share including consultation with the Council of Priests and parish treasurers.

• Advise, support and train Parish Priests, volunteer treasurers and Gift Aid Secretaries and parish finance committees to ensure that appropriate accounting practices are applied at parish level.

Projects • Advising on and accounting for capital projects undertaken by Diocese, parishes and schools. Regulatory Returns • Oversight of all necessary returns to the Charity Commission, Companies House, HMRC and other regulatory organisations for all Diocesan legal entities. Priests’ Welfare • Advise on financial provision for sick and retired priests, assess future requirements and ensure that liabilities are appropriately provided for.

Team Leadership Lead a team of eight staff who provide accounting services and financial support to

the parishes and diocesan departments which include: • Payroll – running a payroll for c.160 employees.

• Parish support – provision of advice and support in all aspects of parish finances. Internal audit of parishes. Candidate Brochure 9

JOB DESCRIPTION HEAD OF FINANCE

• School project finance – ensuring that school capital projects are accounted for and delivered on budget. Claiming grant appropriately and promptly.

• Gift aid – operating a central system for accounting for donations made to the parishes under gift aid, recovering tax relief and ensuring parishes comply with HMRC audit requirements.

• Purchase, sales ledger and cash book administration – ensuring invoices are paid and raised in a timely fashion and that bank reconciliations are completed and reviewed regularly. Undertaking cash requirement forecasts to ensure availability of cash for parish and diocesan requirements.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience • Strong financial, analytical and numeric skills • Experience of managing an accounts office • Leadership and people management skills

• Knowledge of accounting and regulatory requirements relating to charities • Experience of budgeting, planning, management reporting and cash planning • Knowledge of investments • Excellent IT skills including Microsoft Office • Excellent attention to detail • Ability to deliver to strict timetables whilst being responsive to ad hoc requests for support

Key Contacts Internal • The Bishop of Clifton • Trustees generally and specifically chairs of sub-committees • Priests and Deacons • Heads of Departments • Parish volunteers • Peer groups across other dioceses

External • Professional Advisors • Suppliers • Regulatory bodies

Qualifications • Qualified accountant with current membership of an appropriate accounting body • Car owner with current valid driving licence

Candidate Brochure 11

PERSON SPECIFICATION HEAD OF FINANCE

Candidates do not need to be practising Catholics but should be sympathetic to the aims and values of the Catholic Church. Experience and skills in the following areas should be demonstrated:

Relevant Experience • At least 5 years relevant experience in an accountancy role, at least 3 of which should be in a supervisory or managerial role • Relevant professional qualification, e.g. ACA, ACCA, CIMA

• Effectively communicate, record and report • Work as part of a team • Work on own initiative • Lead and support the team of Finance staff • Manage relationships with external professionals such as auditors, bankers, investment managers • To clearly explain complex financial >Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18

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