Finance Officer

Job Description and Person specification

Keswick Ministries is seeking to appoint a Finance Officer whose primary role is to administer finances and accounting for all Keswick Ministries activities, including The Derwent Project and subsidiaries. There will also be some administrative support for the Events Delivery Team.

1. Keswick Ministries

Keswick Ministries is a small charity which has a far-reaching impact! A small Convention began in Keswick in 1875, but it has continued to grow and is now a vibrant summer event which runs for 3 weeks in the summer and attracts over 12,000 people.

Keswick Ministries now includes a Resources division, which produces a growing range of books and study guides in partnership with IVP, DVDs and CDs in partnership with Essential Christian, and additional media initiatives through Clayton TV and BBC Radio 4.

We also increasingly work with some 40 UK ‘Keswicks’ or Bible Weeks around the UK, seeking to build a UK Fellowship, as well as to network with other Keswicks around the world as part of the wider Keswick movement.

We have launched a new initiative, entitled the Derwent project, which involves purchasing land in the centre of Keswick for the development of an integrated site for the Convention, and for the construction of a Conference facility, that will become a venue for other teaching events at different times of the year. The plans include strengthening links with churches in Cumbria and the north of the country, as well establishing regular Bible teaching and training events to serve the UK churches as a whole.

2. Finance Officer

In light of the relocation of a key staff member who is taking up another position, a vacancy has arisen for a Finance Officer reporting to the Business Director. The Business Director is responsible for oversight of Events Delivery, which includes the growing annual Convention, Finance and compliance, HR and the Derwent project.

3. Application process

Applications: please complete an application form and send this, together with your CV and covering letter, to James Devenish, Business Director, by email please:

Application deadline: please ensure your application reaches James no later than April 30th 201 6 .

Interviews: following short-listing, references will be taken up prior to interview, and candidates selected for interview in Keswick.

Appointment: our hopes are that the successful candidate will be in post by July 1st, in order to gain experience of the annual summer Convention.

4 . Terms of appointment

The position is full-time.

The position is based in our Keswick office, currently at Skiddaw Street.

A salary in the region of ￡25,000-￡28,000 dependent upon experience, and a contribution to a stakeholder pension is provided by Keswick Ministries.

5 . Papers and further information

In addition to this Job Description, there is an Application paper and a document introducing Keswick Ministries. For further information about this post, please contact James Devenish, Business Director, by email please:

A. Job Description

Key areas of work:

Finance

· Management of book-keeping function and accounting for general fund and The Derwent Project.

· Management of monthly Sage routines. Monthly bank reconciliation and preparation of management reports and draft commentary.

· Preparation and submission of regular Gift Aid claims, quarterly VAT returns and annual tax returns, in liaison with the Treasurer and Business Director.

· Working with the Treasurer and Business Director on the preparation of annual report and accounts for Keswick Convention Trust and subsidiaries. Liaison with auditors.

· Oversight of Convention Finance function – preparation of spreadsheets and briefing notes; volunteer finance teams; Sage data entry, analysis and reporting.

· Assistance with the processing of payments – by cheque and on-line.

Events Delivery

· Assisting Events Delivery Manager in the year round planning of the annual Convention and other events;

· Assisting in the efficient and timely delivery of the events.

B. Person Specification :

The successful candidate will be/have:

· A committed evangelical Christian who is wholeheartedly in agreement with Keswick Ministries declared purposes, as outlined in the paper ‘Introducing Keswick Ministries’. It is a Genuine Occupational Requirement that the successful candidate be a committed Christian.

· Experience with Sage50 is preferable but not essential. Training in Sage50 will be offered where appropriate.

· A self-starter and team player who is able to work effectively under pressure of meeting deadline targets at different times.

? Good written and verbal communication skills

? Good interpersonal and telephone skills

? Accuracy and attention to detail

? Willingness to work flexibly, with possible additional hours, during the period of the summer Convention.