The Place, the UK’s premier centre for contemporary
dance, is where dance is going next
For over forty five years The Place has been a driving force for contemporary dance in England and Europe, and it remains one of the world's key resources for dance development. We are a home for dancers and dance-makers, nurturing artists from the earliest stage to mature world-class talent.
The Place’s work is divided into strands of activity:
- Theatre and Artist Development: presenting around 150 performances a yearin our 287 seat theatre,from UK and international artists and providing extensive professional development support for dance artists
- Richard Alston Dance Company: an internationally renowned touring company led by Richard Aston
- London Contemporary Dance School: a world-leading dance conservatoire training around 180 students at undergraduate and postgraduate levels
- Creative Learning Partnerships: researching and delivering dance education and outreach projects and developing and sharing expertise, knowledge and insights
- Recreational and Prevocational Dance: providing opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to participate in dance, and progression opportunities to realise talent.
Our mix of activities creates an ecosystem for contemporary dance unlike any in the world, whilst the strong interdependence of our different strands of activity, co-existing within a single organisation, yields huge added value, both artistically and financially. The Place’s holistic, 360-degree range of activity creates a fertile artistic environment in which great dance can be developed and experienced by everyone.
The Place has a vital role to play in dance development in the UK. It is uniquely placed to enhance the sector’s ability to support independent dance artists. We provide the space and conditions they need to take the creative risks that keep the art form alive, and help them attain greater profile and integration within the UK and European dance communities.
The Place’s plans for the future build upon our history of achievement, underpinned by our flexible business model that draws on a range of public and private funding sources and self-generated income, enabling us to continually adapt our activity to meet the changing needs of the dance sector at all levels.
The Place currently employs 100 full and part-time staff – dancers, teachers, producers and administrators – and works with nearly 300 casual staff. Our annual turnover is in excess of £6.5million, with approximately two-thirds of our income from statutory funding, and one-third earned and fundraised income. The Place’s building, which incorporates 11 dance studios together with our theatre, is fully accessible to disabled people, and The Place has a firm commitment to equal opportunities for staff, students, artists and users of our building and services.
We are committed to developing new and enhanced ways of engaging participants and audiences whilst continuing to focus strongly on building a sustainable future for dance as the UK’s leading supporter of dance artists. Through all of our work we will continue to transform and enrich lives through dance and to shape where dance is going next.
The Place
Head of Finance
Job description
Role
- To provide and lead the effective financial management of The Place and to lead and manage the Finance team (currently 5 people).
- To be responsible for the financial control of The Place including overseeing the timely and accurate delivery of financial information and effective controls and procedures.
- To ensure an accessible finance function to all business partners including providing expertise, advice and support to budget holders and the senior management team.
Responsibilities
Financial
1To have overall control and responsibility for The Place’s accounting function and to provide an operationally efficient finance function. This includes accountability for maintaining and developing accurate accounting records, an effective internal control framework, policies and procedures
2To prepare statutory accounts and be the main contact during the audit process.
3To work with the Management Accountant and Director of Finance and Business Operations to drive the budgeting and forecasting processes for the Place
4To oversee the payroll function, including:
- Ensuring absolute accuracy in processing all permanent and casual staff
- Ensuring all adjustments, including tax, pension and salary sacrifices, are processed accurately
- Administering the payment of pension contributions of all staff
5Deliver and oversee the delivery of timely and accurate management accounts alongside the Management Accountant
6To manage The Place's tax obligations, including compliance and the accurate reporting and payment of VAT, PAYE, National Insurance and Corporation tax.
7To issue payments and invoices in respect of artists and companies appearing in the Robin Howard Dance Theatre and in respect to Richard Alston Dance Company.
8Ensure, through working with the Finance Assistant, that invoices are issued and managed effectively for all students who attend London Contemporary Dance School and the Centre for Advanced Training.
9Provide financial advice and expertise to other teams so they can manage their budgets and external contractual obligations. The Place benefits from a variety of funding sources including statutory, public and private institutions in both the arts and education sectors.
10To prepare and monitor cash flow forecasts for The Place.
11To maintain control over the cash balances of The Place, including short term cash investment, currency accounts and petty cash.
12To oversee capital expenditure plans for The Place.
13To drive the continuing development of a customer-focused approach within the finance team to better supporting business partners and other teams
14Support the Director of Finance and Business Operations as necessary
Managerial
15Lead and develop the Finance team to deliver the above, providing excellent coaching, guidance and support and to help staff to reach their full potential
16Line manage the Management Accountant, Financial Accountant and Finance Officer
General
17Any other duties which may reasonably be requested by the Director of Finance and Business Operations
Reports to:Director of Finance and BusinessOperations
Responsible for:Management Accountant
Financial Accountant
Finance Officer
Payroll and Expenses Accountant (temporary role)
Person Specification
The Head of Finance will be a qualified accountant, conversant with SORP 2015 and with professional experience of the arts and/or educational sector.
Essential / DesirableQualified accountant with demonstrable understanding and experience of financial management within the arts and/or educational sector / Previous experience and understanding of the particular financial aspects of working in the arts and education sectors
Full understanding of SORP 2015 and its impact for an arts and education charity / Experience in preparation of statutory accounts using SORP 2015
Experience and understanding of payroll processing and management, with an up-to-date knowledge of PAYE and NI legislation. / Experience of differing tax regulations and stati relating to casual staff, freelancers and dancers
Experience and understanding of coordinating budgeting and forecasting processes / Designing and overseeing organisational budgeting and forecasting
Experience of continuous development of internal controls, financial policies and procedures / Up to date knowledge of VAT as it effects the arts and education sectors
Demonstrable experience and understanding of managing and developing staff / Experience, understanding and appreciation of how to manage a dynamic and changing environment
Overseeing the production of regular management accounts and investigation of variances against budget and forecast
Computer literate (The Place uses MS Office and Outlook, Pegasus Opera and Integrated Business Systems) / Ability to maximise the benefit from The Place’s current technology and drive development of systems across the Place
Clear communicator with both financial and non-financial stakeholders
A self-starter and team player, who is resilient, quick to learn and committed to continued professional development
Commitment to The Place, its aims and its ethos / Interest in contemporary dance
Salary/Holiday/Contract/Benefits
The salary will £45,000 p.a.
This is a full-time contract for an initial 12 month period with a possibility of a permanent role. Normal working hours are 40 per week including a one hour lunch break each day. Start and finish times are flexible but the Administration and Finance Office is open between 8am – 6pm.
There will be a six month probationary period where the notice period will be two weeks. Following the completion of this the notice period for this role is three months in writing from either party.
Five weeks paid holiday is offered each year (of which one week may be on dates determined by The Place e.g. Christmas shutdown) plus public holidays and bank holidays.
Benefits include access to Stakeholder pension scheme, interest-free season ticket loan (after satisfactory completion of probationary period), theatre ticket allowance, free access (subject to availability) to Place evening classes and subsidised cafe and bar prices. We also operate a salary sacrifice scheme for the purchase of bicycles and childcare vouchers. We also have subsidised yoga and Pilates classes and a staff choir.
Handover/Start Date
There will be a handover with the existing post-holder in March in order to be up to speed by 1stApril. Please detail your availability for this in your supporting statement.
How to Apply
If you are interested in applying for the post of Head of Financeplease complete and return the application form, which can be downloaded from our website or obtained by
Completed applications (comprising of completed application form and monitoring forms) (no CV’s) should be returned (preferably by email) by: 12 NoonMonday 25January.
Laura Naldrett
HR and Administration Manager
The Place
17 Duke’s Road
London WC1H 9PY
Fax: 020 7121 1142
Please ensure any attached sheets have your name and the post you are applying for clearly stated.
Interviews will be held onFriday 29 Januaryat The Place. Please state in your supporting statement if you are not available on this date.
The Place is committed to equality and diversity and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. Monitoring information is collected and processed separately to applications, if you do not wish to disclose this information please return a blank monitoring form.
The Place is an equal opportunities employer and we are keen to ensure everyone applying for employment has an equal experience when attending an interview. Should you have any queries about, or wish to make us aware of any support required to attend an interview or to work at The Place, or would like this pack in alternative format, please contact Laura Naldrett, HR and Administration Manager who will be happy to discuss this with you in confidence on 020 7121 1002 or email:
We apologise that we are unable to respond to every application individually. If you have not heard from us by Friday 5 Februaryplease assume that your application has been unsuccessful. Thank you for your interest in The Place.
Jan 2016
Date as download
Dear Candidate
Re: Application for post as advertised on the website
In accordance with our Equal Opportunities Policy I attach a form for you to complete and return to help us in monitoring our recruitment. Please would you complete and return the monitoring form along with the job application form, by the required closing date.
Email -
Yours faithfully,
Laura Naldrett
HR and Administration Manager
Please return this tear-off section indicating where you saw this position advertised.
Position: Head of FinanceAdvertisement : ______
Website (name): ______Other:______
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Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form
The Place is committed to a policy of equality of opportunity in its employment and personnel practices. It aims to ensure that every employee or job applicant receives equitable treatment on the grounds of his/her gender, marital status, sexual orientation, race, religion, ethnic or national origins and nationality (including citizenship), age, disability, HIV or AIDS status and trade union membership.
The Place wishes to monitor the effectiveness of this policy and to prevent any job applicant being disqualified by conditions and requirements which cannot be shown to be justified. It is therefore important that you provide the following information by ticking the appropriate boxes. This information will remain confidential to the HR manager and will not be disclosed to those who are shortlisting and appointing to the vacant position.
Surname/Family Name………………………………………………………………
First Name(s) ………………………………………………………………
Post applied for………………………………………………………………
Gender Male Female
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Ethnic origin (if other, please specify)
A White
English Scottish
Welsh
Northern Irish
Irish
Other White origin ……………………………
B Mixed
White and Black Caribbean White and Black African
White and Asian
Other mixed origin ….………………..
CBlack, Black British, Black English, Black Scottish,Black Welsh or Black Northern Irish
Caribbean African
Other Black origin …..…………………..
D Asian, Asian British, Asian English,
Asian Scottish,Asian Welsh or Asian Northern Irish
Indian Pakistani
Bangladeshi
Other Asian origin ……………………………….…
E Chinese, Chinese British, Chinese English,
Chinese Scottish,Chinese Welsh or Chinese Northern Irish
Chinese Other origin ……………………………………………….
FOther ethnic group(please specify)
.………………………………………………………………………......1
Age
16-25 26-35 36-45 46-55 56+
Do you consider yourself to have a disability?
Yes No
Your answer should take into account the definition of disability given in the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 which is: “A physical or mental impairment which has a substantial or long term adverse effect on the (person’s) ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities”.
Thank you for completing this questionnaire.
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