Rutherford Cross is delighted to be retained by Venture Trust to appoint a Head of Finance. As a member of Venture Trust’s Senior Leadership Team, the Head of Finance has a pivotal role to play in developing and implementing our plans. Driving for impact and sustainability, role modelling our values and supporting our people to maximise their contribution in achieving our goals are all key components of the role.

You are responsible to the CEO and Venture Trust Board for the following services:

• Financial leadership, facilitating strategic and operational planning and delivery as part of our senior leadership team
• Strategic planning and management of our other key corporate services of HR and IT including managing our outsourced support contracts for both, and
• Company secretariat services and best practice charity governance support

Developing strong collaborative relationships across the charity, key priorities of the role including ensuring:

• The charity plans and delivers its services sustainably and transparently
• Key business functions comply with legislation and best practice (finance, IT, charity governance)
• Day-to-day corporate service functions run efficiently and effectively

Main Responsibilities:

The Head of Finance has responsibility to develop and maintain relationships, policies and processes which are in the best interests of Venture Trust and to maximise effectiveness to realise all strategic goals.

Shaping and Executing Strategy

• Work collaboratively to shape future organisational strategy and plans which drive impact and sustainability over time

Financial Information

• Production of timely financial information and reports (management accounts, cashflow forecast and reserves tracking) to inform ongoing management of service delivery and fundraising

Financial Planning

• Maintain our rolling 3-year financial strategy based on our full cost recovery business modelling tool to support the strategic plan with quarterly operational forecasts to reflect ongoing and planned activity

HR

• Plan, develop and implement strategy for HR management and development aligned to the organisation’s strategic framework and business plan (including recruitment and induction; performance management; pay and conditions; employment legislation; learning and development; retention and succession planning; employee engagement; morale and motivation and organisational development)

Internal Control Environment

• Ensure a robust control framework for finance, IT and HR which meets best practice, continually improving systems to meet evolving business need and technological opportunity

Governance

• Work in partnership with the Finance & HR Board Committee and Board of Trustees to meet our strategic objectives, identifying and reporting appropriate key performance indicators and ensuring all statutory and legal deadlines are met

Team Management

• Lead, coach and motivate the team to deliver a high-quality service for and with colleagues, suppliers and other stakeholders
• Develop annual workplans and targets for the team, including undertaking performance management and supporting development

Other

• Undertake any training and professional development as and when required.
• Be a member of the operations on-call rota to support Venture Trust’s delivery of programmes c. 5-6 times per annum
• Undertake any other reasonable duties, commensurate with the job title, as may be determined by your line manager
• Management and ongoing development of the 2 finance officers and 3 HR and Admin team members

Preferred Candidate Background

You will be a fully qualified accountant with a proven track record of robust financial management gained preferably within the charitable or third sector, although candidates from a commercial background with the passion and motivation to join will also be considered. With direct involvement in providing financial information and analysis to allow informed decision making you will also be an accomplished communicator able to build and maintain strong working relationships with a range of stakeholders.

Key Experience, Knowledge and Skills

• Relevant experience of successfully leading and managing teams encouraging a culture of continuous improvement and individual and team development
• Excellent track record in financial reporting and forecasting including; preparation and analysis of monthly management accounts, annual statutory accounts production and the preparation and monitoring of annual budgets / forecasts and long term financial plans
• Direct experience of presenting financial information to both financial and non- financial audiences coupled with the ability to ‘talk finance’ in a language that the business understands
• Demonstrable track record in establishing and developing strategic partnerships with external organisations including statutory and charity/voluntary sectors.
• Experience in successful project development and management and excellent organisational and planning skills, with meticulous attention to detail
• Excellent understanding of financial governance and risk
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy
• Previous experience of continuous improvement and developing robust financial controls, systems and procedures

Desirable

• Knowledge and experience of HR systems and HR policy and practice
• Knowledge and experience of information management and data security

Personal Attributes

• Commitment to Venture Trust’s mission and values with a desire to make a positive difference to the life chances of our clients
• Empathic and motivational leader who strives to get the best from their team
• Ability to lead on multiple projects simultaneously and achieve timely results
• Open-minded, values equality and diversity, acts with care, supportive of others
• Thoughtful and committed to learning, forward looking and solution-focused