Job Title:Finance & Administration Director

Job Description

Location:The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire, The Manor House, Broad Street, Cambourne, Cambs, CB23 6DH. Regular travel around the three counties, and occasionally to London and elsewhere, will also be required.

Accountable to:Chief Executive

Salary:£50-60,000 per annum, dependent on experience

Hours:37.5 per week. This post involves some evening and weekend work, for which time off in lieu may be taken. There is potential for a shorter working week to be considered for a suitable candidate.

Transport:You will be required to provide your own car, but will be reimbursed for business-related mileage (currently 45p per mile for cars over 1000cc)

Employment subject to:Satisfactory references and a six-month probationary period.

About The Wildlife Trust BCN

The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire is a registered charity (and a company limited by guarantee), whose mission is to

conserve local wildlife, by caring for land ourselves and with others;
inspire others to take action for wildlife; and
inform people, by offering advice and sharing knowledge;

We are among the largest and most effective of 47 Wildlife Trusts across Britain and we are a major contributor to the national work of the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts. We currently manage 126 nature reserves covering 3,945 hectares, we run three education centres, and advise planners and land-owners on wildlife and ecology. The Trust’s turnover in 2013/14 was £6.9 million and, because it is a leading partner in the Great Fen Living Landscape, this included a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund of £1.8 million. Trust land holdings have increased markedly, bringing its capital assets to £17.7million, of which 60% is classified as heritage assets. The Trust has a new 5 year plan in which it is promoting eight other major Living Landscape schemes.

The report and accounts are posted on the Trust’s website at Annual reports.

The work of the Trust is guided by a Strategic Development Plan, which has been revised in 2015. The Trust is managed and directed by an Executive Board of four Directors.

The Trust is a voluntary organisation, but the working culture of the Trust encourages a professional approach with a commitment and enthusiasm for nature and its conservation. Mutual respect and teamwork are highly prized among both staff and volunteers. In all its dealings the Trust tries to be fair but firm and in all its activities it aims to be environmentally responsible. Systems, processes and bureaucracy are kept to the necessary minimum for effective performance.

The Chief Executive reports to the Trust’s Council of 14 Trustees, who are elected annually from the membership (presently standing at over 36,000). Council and its two Committees (Conservation, Education & Community, and Resources) meet quarterly. There are over 100 staff, with main offices in Bedford, Great Cambourne and Northampton, and over 1,000 active volunteers. The Executive Board consists of the Chief Executive, the Director of Living Landscapes, the Finance & Administration Director and the Director of Marketing, Fundraising & Communications. Reporting to the Directors is a team of senior managers, comprising the Head of Fundraising, Communications Manager, Head of Education & Community, Conservation Managers, Conservation Monitoring Manager, Management Accountant, and HR & H&S Manager.

Finance & Administration Director

Job Description

The Finance and Administration Director will report to the Chief Executive. The successful candidate will have strategic and operational responsibility for the accounting and control of the Trust’s finances; the administrative base of the Trust; and will provide professional advice to Trustees, Chief Executive and staff on matters of financial and resource management. The post will line manage the Management Accountant andthe IT Manager. The Finance & Administration team comprises 6 posts.

Main purpose

The role of the Finance & Administration Director is to develop, as part of the Executive Board, the Trust’s financial base from which it can achieve its strategic goal of increasing its gross unrestricted revenue from £3million to £4million by 2020.

Main objectives

manage the accounting and control of the Trust’s finances;

provide an administrative foundation for the delivery of the Trust’s objectives and business plan;

provide professional advice to Trustees, Chief Executive and staff on matters of financial and resource management;

be an effective member of the Executive Board charged with delivering the overall financial budget and operational outputs of the Trust; and

represent the Trust professionally and effectively to a wide range of audiences.

Key responsibilities

management and control of the Trust’s budgets and management and financial accounts;

managing the information required for the preparation of audited accounts in compliance with the requirements of the Charity Commission and Companies House;

managing the relationship with auditors and other financial and investment professional advisers;

managing the operation of finance and administration staff to ensure the most effective administration of income streams;

financial risk management;

maintaining and developing systems for project administration and forward planning;

providing financial expertise to colleagues in planning income-producing and major expenditure projects;

ensuring that all staff understand the importance of sound financial management and systems in delivering the Trust’s work;

oversight and advice to colleagues and Trustee in respect of the financial aspects of charity law, taxation and investment;

managing an efficient and effective procurement system to ensure that the best possible deals are achieved with goods or services being delivered as effectively and as sustainably as possible;

managing the buildings that the Trust owns or leases;

oversight of major capital assets such as vehicles to ensure that all legal standards are being met and the equipment is replaced at the right time.

collating and editing quarterly reports for the Resources Committee and presenting these to Committee and Council;

oversight of the periodic review of the Trust’s Business Plans;

seeking and encouraging staff to seek new opportunities to improve the effectiveness of the Trust in providing resources to achieve its objectives;

working with The Wildlife Trusts nationally or regionally on shared agendas to bring new ideas to the Trust and to share best practice from this Trust;

go about duties in a resource-efficient way and minimise impacts to the environment wherever possible; and

present a positive and welcoming image of the Trust to everyone.

the highest standards of staff recruitment, welfare and motivation;

oversight of the delivery of IT throughout the Trust;

This job description cannot cover every issue or task that may arise within the post at various times and the post-holder will be expected to carry out other duties from time to time which are broadly consistent with those in this document. This job description does not form part of the contract of employment.

Finance & Administration Director: Job-holder profile

Competencies

Experience and Qualifications / Qualified accountant with one of the CCAB bodies or equivalent.
Valid current driving licence (& vehicle available for business use).
Extensive experience in finance at a senior level;
Managing staff and contractors.
Tendering and outsourcing professional and commercial services.
Some experience in oversight of IT functions
Knowledge / Proven knowledge of regulations affecting the Not for Profit sector.
Understanding the range of accounting and financial control systems the Trust might use; proven track record of effective financial management.
Understanding the importance of adequate resources to delivery of the Conservation agenda.
Considerable ability to think strategically and apply financial rigour.
Treasury knowledge including alternative methods for investing funds.
Interest in wildlife and environmental issues.
Up to date knowledge of basic HR principles and awareness of IT marketplace (desirable)

Skills

/ Excellent oral and written communication skills to engage a variety of audiences.
Excellent interpersonal skills, ability to motivate staff and volunteers to build a professional and efficient support team.
Excellent negotiating and persuading skills.
Proven ability to work in a team of skilled and committed staff.
Excellent administrative, project management, financial and organizational skills, with the ability to prioritise workloads.
Drive, determination and discipline to set and to reach or exceed highly ambitious targets.
Computer proficiency – from basic office packages to advanced business software.
Work with other people / An accomplished team player, with a good sense of humour and tact, able to work calmly under pressure.
Able to use 1 to 1 meetings to develop staff skills and manage performance.
Communicate / Able to draft concisely and precisely to tight deadlines.
Produce concise and persuasive well-written papers, identifying the key issues clearly, examining options and proposing a suitable way ahead.
Deliver results / Highly resourceful, creative, with proven problem-solving ability.
Flexibility in working hours including evening and weekend working, to get the job done.
Sound judgement with a confident and pragmatic approach.
Drive, determination and discipline to set, attain and surpass ambitious plans.
Enthusiastic and self-motivated, willing to adapt and excel.
Learn and apply / Recognise, anticipate and eliminate or mitigate business risk.
Apply business improvement tools to evaluate policy strategically; establish or advise on new policies and procedures.

The Wildlife Trust BCN has assessed all roles to determine the competency level required to fulfil each job. For more information or to see the full competency framework, contact the HR Manager.

Terms and conditions:summary for candidates

The following terms and conditions are typically offered to The Wildlife Trust BCN staff on fixed-term or permanent contracts, and are set out here for your information only. Terms and conditions may vary according to circumstances and this summary does not form part of any subsequent employment contract.

Probationary period:Six months with a review at three months. During the probation period the contract may be terminated with one week’s notice.

Annual leave:28 days annual leave (three of which are non pro rata and are fixed and must be taken between 25th December and 1st January) and bank holidays per annum (pro rata for part-time staff and those working less than a year).

Pension:Contributory pension. The Trust contributes 4% salary. The employee will be enrolled into the Trusts preferred pension scheme after 3 months continuous service.