Division/Department / Chief Executive’s Directorate
Location / Primarily based at our Head Office in Aylesham, Kent, but also required to work from any of our other EKH sites within the Local Authority partner offices as and when required
Job title / Head of Finance
Reports to (job title) / Chief Executive
Grade / Politically Restricted Post / No
Disclosure Register / No
JOB PURPOSE
Toberesponsible forthefinancialmanagementofEastKentHousing,ensuringthatthereare robustsystemsandprocessesinplacetosafeguardthefinancialsecurityoftheorganisation.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES
- Provide professional support (for example, financial modelling, options appraisal and business planning) for new initiatives and opportunities to enable informed decision-making
- Carry out professional and technical research to ensure that all financial management activity and reporting is in line with current best practice and legislation/regulation.
- Ensure that financial reporting is accurate, relevant and timely to support effective decision-making and meet statutory responsibilities.
- LeadonallmattersrelatingtothefinancialmanagementofEastKentHousingensuringthatthe organisation hasrobustandfitforpurposefinancialandbudgetary systems,including:
-thecreationandmonitoring ofbudgets,
-managingtheorganisation'scashflow,
-Managementofthebankingarrangements
-Maintainingandreportingofthecompanyaccounts
-Ensure that the Board, Management Team and Managers have accurate, accessible and timely financial information in order to discharge their fiscal responsibilities
-Report to the Board on financial matters, providing financial advice as appropriate and highlighting issues of concerns and weaknesses in controls
-Ensure that EKH has appropriate financial standing orders and regulations including suitable systems for ordering goods and services and paying suppliers
-Promote good financial and accountancy practice in the organisation, ensuring compliance with the appropriate regulatory codes
-Advise on taxation issues, seeking external advice where required
-Maintain good working relationships with accountants and senior officers in the partner councils
REQUIRED ATTRIBUTES
Knowledge
Required knowledge & Experience
- Have a comprehensive understanding of the requirements of good corporate financial management
- Have a good understanding of accounting standards applicable to a limited company.
EKH Values and Competencies / Grade M – Manager competencies
Skills
- Ability to explain financial processes and procedures to non-financial colleagues and present financial information in a manner that is understandable to non accountants
- Good negotiating skills and an ability to communicate effectively with senior officers and external organisations
- Ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines.
- Excellent interpersonal skills with an ability to persuade and influence others
- Excellent IT skills including word, financial packages and report writing
Experience
- Significant experience in working within a financial environment including experience of a wide range of financial activities (budgets/projects etc)
- At least twoyears staff management experience (desirable)
Qualifications
- Professional accountancy qualification –ACCA, CIPFA or similar
JOB DIMENSIONS
Annual budgetary amounts / AnnualBudgetarySum: Responsible for reporting on the whole EKH budget (£8M) but own budget of £150k
Number of staff reporting to the job holder / FTEStaff: One-FinanceManager and one Procurement Manager and one Finance Officer (indirect report)
Any other relevant statistics
NATURE OF CONTACTS
Internal
- Senior Managers and the Finance & Audit Committee at EKH
External
- External Audit: Lead officer and principle contact at senior partner level
- Bank: Lead officer and principle contact at senior manager level
- HMRC: matters of VAT and other tax issues, requiring explanation of company obligations and seeking the correct professional advice
- Councils: Primary contact with councils’ finance teams
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