Exeter Cathedral is seeking a qualified Chartered or Chartered Certified accountant to lead the strategic financial management and governance of the charity and its subsidiary operations. Reporting to the Dean, the successful candidate will oversee all aspects of the Finance Department, including statutory reporting, annual budgeting and the development of medium-term financial plans. This senior leadership position requires significant post-qualifying experience to ensure robust internal controls, manage treasury and investment policies, and provide expert guidance on taxation issues such as VAT and Gift Aid. The role demands a resilient professional capable of influencing senior leaders and managing a dedicated team to support the wider mission of the Cathedral.
Salary circa: £62k - £70k
Duties and responsibilities
These include and are not limited to:
Finance, Accounts and Reporting
- Overall responsibility for the operations of the Finance Department.
- Responsibility for managing the annual statutory reporting and audit process in conjunction with the appointed auditors to ensure statutory accounts are produced within required deadlines.
- Supporting the Dean, management team and Chapter, to develop a medium-term financial plan.
- Leading the annual budgeting process and ensuring appropriate rolling forecasts are updated and monitored, reporting impact and recommending appropriate action.
- Providing an accurate and timely financial service to the Cathedral, including setting and monitoring of budgets, forecasts, cash flow analysis, providing management and financial accounts, ad hoc reports, information, advice and support to inform decision making at all levels.
- Ensuring management accounts are properly prepared which accurately reflect the Cathedral’s activity and aims, and that variances from budget and other issues arising are investigated and resolved.
- Researching, evaluating and appraising opportunities and projects as appropriate and making suitable recommendations.
- Ensuring the beneficial and secure use of IT and software to optimise efficiency, performance, security and accuracy of financial records.
Taxation (including payroll operations)
- Remaining abreast of all taxation issues affecting the Cathedral, taking external advice when appropriate, and making recommendations to mitigate any potential impact or to maximize possible benefits.
- Giving strategic advice and guidance on the tax implications of the Cathedral’s plans and projects, particularly VAT and Gift Aid.
- Ensuring systems accurately account for VAT, are compliant, efficient and that returns submitted are accurate and timely.
- Ensuring payroll operations are compliant, efficient and that returns submitted to HMRC and pension providers are complete, accurate and timely.
- Ensuring payroll procedures, records and controls are robust and secure.
Treasury Management
- In conjunction with the Cathedral’s Finance Committee, considering and proposing suitable investment and cash management policies for approval by Chapter.
- Implementing policies to ensure funds are held securely and to maximize returns on surplus funds.
Risk, Strategy, Compliance and Controls
- Overall responsibility for the maintenance and development of robust finance policies, procedures, systems and controls and ensuring these are:
- being followed consistently;
- effective, efficient and protect the Cathedral against fraud and other misuse of funds;
- understood and followed throughout the organisation.
- As part of the risk management team, considering and reporting on all relevant financial risks and making recommendations for mitigating action.
- Assisting Chapter in the development and review of overall policies, strategy and their implementation.
- Remaining abreast of regulatory issues affecting the financial reporting aspects of the Cathedral, taking external advice when appropriate, and making recommendations to mitigate any potential impact or to maximize possible benefits.
- Ensuring all financial and non-financial data held by the department complies with all relevant data protection regulations.
- Taking the lead in protecting the organisation against fraud or misuse of charitable funds.
Staff management
- Leading and managing the Finance Department staff team in their roles and encouraging their development.
Other responsibilities:
- Negotiating contracts and asset finance agreements.
- Managing relationships with banks, pension companies, investment advisers and other professionals.
- Handling regulatory matters and returns with the Charity Commission, acting as company secretary to any subsidiary companies of the Cathedral.
- Liaising with and supporting the Finance Committee and Audit and Risk Committee.
- Any other role which may reasonably be required.
Key Skills and Attributes
Essential Experience, skills and knowledge:
- A qualified Chartered or Chartered Certified accountant;
- Significant post qualifying experience and in-depth professional knowledge acquired through experience;
- Strong leadership and management skills;
- Ability to provide strategic influence on financial planning and decision making within an organisation;
- Understanding of company, charity and cathedral finances including governance, accounting and reporting requirements, particularly fund accounting;
- Experience of developing and implementing systems and policies, including managing change and engaging with senior leaders;
- Ability to interpret financial and other data and communicate this to key decision makers and a wider audience;
- Developing, managing and monitoring budgets;
- A good understanding of treasury and cash management;
- Experienced in the preparation and delivery of both statutory and management accounts and reports;
- Commercial experience and awareness;
- Excellent IT skills and willingness to embrace new technology and software;
- Experienced in managing and leading a team.
Personal Qualities:
- Ability to build strong relationships, negotiate and influence;
- Excellent, clear communication skills, both written and oral;
- Ability to manage conflicting demands and priorities, high levels of pressure and critical decisions;
- Determined and resilient;
- Prepared to be ‘hands on’ when needed;
- A demonstrable respect for equality and diversity;
- Empathy with the core values of the Cathedral;
- Organised in approach;
- Innovative and entrepreneurial spirit.
Desirable
- Experience of working in a church or Cathedral environment;
- Experience gained within an organisation with multiple activities and income streams.
