Job Description
Job Title
Chief Financial Officer (Fractional/ Part Time – 2 days per week)
Reporting To:
Chief Executive Officer
Responsible For:
Head of Finance; Finance Officer
Contracted Hours:
2 days per week (14 hours). Flexibility in how these are arranged across the week by agreement
Salary:
£62,500 FTE
Location:
Pottergate, Norwich. Hybrid policy in place
Main Relationships:
CEO, COO, Board of Trustees, Finance & Audit Committee, Senior Leadership Team, external auditors, funders and statutory commissioners.
Main Purpose of the Job
To provide experienced, strategic-level financial leadership to Voluntary Norfolk on a fractional basis, working closely with the CEO and Board of Trustees to ensure the organisation’s financial health, governance and long-term sustainability.
The CFO will act as the senior finance professional within the organisation, line managing the Head of Finance and Finance Officer and providing the strategic oversight, challenge and direction that underpins sound financial decision-making at all levels.
A key early priority for the post-holder will be to review current finance systems, processes and reporting, and to lead the organisation’s transition from Sage 50 to a modern, cloud-based finance platform that supports greater efficiency, visibility and scalability.
Main Duties
Strategic Finance and Board Support
- Provide strategic financial advice and insight to the CEO and Board of Trustees, enabling informed decision-making on organisational priorities, investment and risk.
- Attend and present at Board meetings and the Finance & Audit Committee; ensure trustees receive timely, clear and accurate financial reporting.
- Support the development and delivery of the organisation’s 3-year financial strategy, including income diversification, reserves policy and long-term sustainability planning.
- Advise on financial risk, including scenario modelling, sensitivity analysis and early warning indicators.
- Ensure the organisation maintains appropriate financial controls, governance frameworks and compliance with charity accounting standards (SORP).
- Lead on the annual accounts process, liaise with external auditors and timely submission to the Charity Commission and Companies House.
Financial Management and Reporting
- Design and review prepared monthly management accounts, budget monitoring reports and cash flow forecasts, ensuring these are accurate, timely and presented in a format suitable for senior and board-level audiences.
- Lead the annual budgeting and reforecasting process in collaboration with the CEO, COO and budget holders.
- Ensure robust financial reporting across all income streams, including statutory contracts, grants and commercial income, with clear attribution of cost and contribution.
- Provide financial input into funding bids, contract negotiations and service-level reporting.
- Work with the Head of Finance and Finance Officer to maintain a strong day-to-day finance function, offering guidance, quality assurance and professional development.
Systems, Technology and Process Improvement
- Conduct a thorough review of the current finance systems (Sage 50), reporting processes and internal controls, identifying strengths, gaps and improvement opportunities.
- Lead the selection, procurement and implementation of a cloud-based finance system to replace Sage 50, managing the migration process and ensuring minimal disruption to operations.
- Develop and embed improved management information and financial reporting frameworks that support the leadership team and board to make data-driven decisions.
- Champion continuous improvement across finance processes, aligned with the organisation’s adoption of Lean as an operating philosophy.
- Ensure appropriate data security, access controls and system governance are in place across all financial platforms.
Leadership and Line Management
- Provide effective line management to the Head of Finance, setting clear expectations, supporting professional development and conducting regular 1:1s and appraisals.
- Build a high-performing finance team with a culture of accountability, accuracy and continuous improvement.
- Act as a professional point of escalation for complex financial matters and a source of guidance and mentorship to the finance team.
- Deputise for the CEO on finance matters where required and appropriate.
- If within skillset, manage the HR administrator in their role.
All Voluntary Norfolk Post-Holders are Responsible for:
- Working to the policies of Voluntary Norfolk.
- Promoting equal opportunities and respecting diversity within all aspects of their work.
- Complying with Health and Safety regulations.
- Carrying out additional duties where appropriate, which may be allocated from time to time by the CEO.
- Demonstrating positive behaviours that reflect well upon Voluntary Norfolk and enhance the performance of the organisation at all levels.
Personal Specification
Essential (E) / Desirable (D)
The person appointed to this post would normally be expected to meet the following:
Experience and Qualifications
Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent) E
Demonstrable experience operating at CFO or equivalent senior finance leadership level E
Experience of working with or within the charity/voluntary sector, including familiarity with charity SORP E
Proven track record of providing financial advice and challenge at board level E
Experience of managing and developing finance teams E
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Strong working knowledge of finance systems; experience of leading system migrations or implementations E
Experience of cloud-based finance platforms (e.g. Xero, Sage Intacct, QuickBooks Online, Access Financials) D
Ability to translate complex financial information into clear, accessible language for a non-finance audience E
Experience of budgeting, forecasting and financial planning in an organisation with multiple income streams E
Attributes
Comfortable operating on a fractional/part-time basis, managing priorities across limited days E
Other requirements
Commitment to Voluntary Norfolk’s values and the mission of the voluntary and community sector E
