PETERBOROUGH ADULT LEARNING SERVICE
CITY COLLEGE PETERBOROUGH
Financial Controller
OVERVIEW OF THE ROLE
The role forms part of the College senior leadership team with primary accountability and responsibility for vision and leadership of all finance and facilities functions. The successful candidate will join a small team of dedicated hardworking and committed staff and be able to work flexibly within the working week and year.
Strong leadership skills and the ability to motivate others will be essential as the College continues to expand its quality provision and meet targets. The ability to work as part of a team and to be self-motivated is essential.
ESSENTIAL PERSONAL QUALITIES OF THE POSTHOLDER
The successful applicant will be a dynamic individual with considerable inter-personal skills, will be customer focussed and will seek to have a detailed understanding of the market in which we operate. Our new colleague will be clear-sighted, able to meet challenges head-on, and will have the ability to identify new opportunities and to develop those opportunities, exploiting them to the best advantage for our students, the local communities and our Service. He or she will be charismatic, with an outgoing personality, and will possess the ability to interact with people at all levels. A strategic forward thinker, with a positive “can do”, “will do” approach, together with the ability to lead and motivate others is essential.
Pat Carrington
Principal / Head of Service
June 2017
PETERBOROUGH ADULT LEARNING SERVICE
CITY COLLEGE PETERBOROUGH
JOB DESCRIPTION
Financial Controller
PCC Section: / City College Peterborough (CCP)/ Peterborough Adult Learning Service (PALS)Department (s): / Finance
Job Title: / Financial Controller
Grade: / TBC (circa 45K)
Responsible to: / Principal / Head of Service
Responsible for: / Finance Manager
Direct reports: / 2
Indirect reports: / 8
Accountable for
a budget of: / £150,000
Accounting for a budget of: / £7m including projects & acquisitions
JOB PURPOSE
To be a member of the Senior Leadership Team, leading the finance and facilities of the College.
To ensure sound financial governance for the College and Charity that underpins outstanding success and positive outcomes for learners, stakeholders, employers, partners and the local economy and community.
Working with the Principal and Vice Principals supporting overall responsibility for the leadership and development of the College, ensuring it delivers its mission and values and is responsive to the changing local, regional and national landscape and priorities.
Strategic leadership responsibility for the departments, staff and budgets within business support areas of finance and facilities, which includes planning, budgeting and complying with all contractual, compliance and audit standards.
To be the College lead on finance and facilities (including premises and Health & Safety).
Main Duties and Responsibilities
1. To be a pro-active member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), sharing with the other members of the SLT responsibility for deputising for the Principal/Head of Service in their absence or as required.
2. To ensure, with the other members of the SLT, that CCP is able to plan for, budget for and successfully respond to the local community, businesses and economy’s needs.
3. Take a lead, with other members of the SLT, in developing strategic partnerships across the City, regionally and nationally and to represent the College at City-wide strategy meetings and regional/national events.
4. To identify and maximise funding and other income opportunities and, as appropriate, lead on funding bids and projects for the College and the City of Peterborough, its residents, communities and businesses.
5. To provide leadership and inspiration to the College to ensure the full involvement of the wider College team in their own personal performance and in individual learner success.
6. Oversee, with the Vice Principals and Assistant Principal Quality, the production of the College Self Assessment Report and ensure accurate and comprehensive evidence of performance is presented together with an effective Quality Improvement Plan with regular evaluations and new action planning for improvements.
7. To lead and manage staff within own departments, ensuring the College Balanced Scorecard (BSC) is implemented (where appropriate) and complete for monitoring as the College performance management system, and carry out regular appraisals of performance and maintain the Investors in People and Matrix IAG Standards within the department and across the Service/College.
8. Set strategic targets to ensure the Service’s and funders’ objectives are met, including contract values and Minimum Standards. To monitor progress towards, and achieve, all targets both internal and external as set out, for example, in the BSC.
9. To plan and set department budgets, in agreement with other SLT members and to monitor and manage them.
10. Oversee effective internal and external audits of systems and procedures.
11. Meet regularly with the Principal and SLT to review departmental and cross college financial performance to ensure financial stability is maintained for the whole Service/College.
12. Keep abreast of new national, regional and local initiatives and developments and funding and other income opportunities.
13. Lead on the preparation the College’s annual budget and present to the Governing Board for consideration and approval.
14. Ensure timely and effective support for the Governors, attending meetings and providing general support to ensure the effective conduct of their business in accordance with the articles of governance and financial regulations policy.
15. Provide financial expertise and advice to the Principal/Head of Service, Governing Board and SLT on financial management.
16. Ensure the College and Charity have appropriate finance and payroll records and funding systems and records which are operated and managed in compliance with agreed policies, timetables, accounting, audit and legislative standards.
17. Ensure accurate, timely financial reports for the College and Charity, including budget v actuals, forecasts, balance sheet, year on year comparisons and KPIs are presented to the Principal/Head of Service, Governors, Peterborough City Council and other stakeholders as required.
18. To ensure the College and Charity comply with PAYE, NI, pensions, VAT, Corporation Tax and other relevant legislation
19. Oversee the tendering for and monitoring of College service contracts including insurance policies to ensure best value for money.
20. Keep up to date with, implement and advise on funding methodology and provide accurate management information to allow effective running of the business.
21. To ensure that the City College responds in a timely and accurate manner to requests for financial and learner record returns for stakeholders including Ofsted, City Council and Funders.
22. Ensure an accurate costing system is maintained to provide the management team with accurate information on existing and proposed courses.
23. To provide relevant data to support the submission of bids for external funding, identify funding sources, and where appropriate prepare funding bids.
24. Responsibility for the overall management and maintenance of the buildings, grounds, fabric and furnishings of the College. Through regular contact with the Facilities Manager the post holder will monitor and oversee:
· that proper maintenance and repair of the College is carried out and progress monitored.
· relationships with external agencies delivering services to the College and all aspects of tendering.
· the quality of work by contractors, site staff and cleaning staff, reporting to Governors as appropriate.
· the work of on-site contractors and arrange for estimates for work.
25. To share duty sessions with other senior staff, including evening sessions when appropriate.
26. Other duties or responsibilities as determined by the Principal/Head of Service or Governing Board, as deemed appropriate.
27. With other members of the SLT Actively champion the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults
28. Assist in working towards the College achieving an Ofsted Grade 1.
29. Meet the minimum requirements of Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
VARIATION CLAUSE
This is a description of the post as it is constituted at the date shown. It is the practice of this Service/College to periodically examine job descriptions, update them and ensure that they relate to the job performed, or to incorporate any proposed chances. This procedure will be conducted by the appropriate Manager in consultation with the post holder.
In these circumstances it will be the aim to reach agreement on reasonable changes, but if agreement is not possible management reserves the right to make changes to your job description following consultation.
FLEXIBILITY CLAUSE
Other duties and responsibilities expressed and implied which arise from the nature and character of the post within the Department/Service mentioned above or in a comparable post in any of the Organisation’s other sections or departments.
Description prepared by: Pat Carrington Date: June 2017
(Principal / Assistant
Director Skills and Employment)
PETERBOROUGH ADULT LEARNING SERVICE
CITY COLLEGE PETERBOROUGH
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Financial Controller
PCC Section: / City College Peterborough (CCP)/ Peterborough Adult Learning Service (PALS)Department (s): / Finance and Facilities
Job Title: / Financial Controller
Grade:
Responsible to: / Principal / Assistant
Director Skills and Employment
Responsible for: / Finance Manager, Facilities Manager
Direct reports: / 2
Indirect reports: / 8
Accountable for
a budget of: / £150,000
Accounting for a budget of: / £7m including projects & acquisitions
Date: / June 2017
Completed by: / Pat Carrington
ATTRIBUTES / ESSENTIAL CRITERIA / DESIRABLE CRITERIA
KNOWLEDGE / · A detailed knowledge of financial and budgetary management and control
· A sound knowledge of accounting standards
· Familiar with Health & Safety legislation
· Funding for education and training e.g. SFA ,EFA and other appropriate bodies and income streams
· Familiar with reporting framework for education funding / · Knowledge and understanding of current issues relating to young people's and adults' education and training
· OFSTED
· Knowledge of the local labour market and other local needs and priorities.
SKILLS & ABILITIES / · Excellent negotiating and interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate complex information to managers, colleagues and the Governing Board.
· The ability to support and promote change within a complex organisation.
· Ability to identify work priorities and manage own and others’ workload to meet deadlines whilst ensuring the lower priority work is kept up to date.
· Display consistent & meticulous attention to detail in a fast paced environment.
· Ability to show sensitivity and objectivity whilst dealing with confidential issues
· Ability to problem solve
· Ability to analyse and interpret complex information and make recommendations
· Highly competent IT user including Excel, Word and specialised financial and management information systems
EXPERIENCE / · Minimum of 4 years' direct experience of management at a senior level
· Successful experience of leading a team, in setting and achieving objectives and performance management
· High level and successful experience of managing computerised accounting and management information systems
· Extensive use of Microsoft Office packages / · Working in an educational setting
· Ofsted
· Bid writing
EQUALITY
/ · Candidates must demonstrate proven success in meeting equality objectives, understanding of, acceptance and commitment to the principles underlying equal opportunitiesSAFEGUARDING
/ · Candidates must demonstrate the understanding of, acceptance and commitment to the principles underlying the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adultsCUSTOMER CARE
/ · Proven knowledge, successful implementation and understanding of effective customer careQUALIFICATIONS / · Degree
· CCAB qualified or able to demonstrate and evidence experience to this level / A Management Qualification of degree level or above
PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES / · Is able and willing to travel within the locality and to attend occasional events outside Peterborough
· Hold a current driving licence and access to own vehicle
· Flexible working day, week and year to meet the requirements of the Service/College
· Participation in professional development and training
Specification prepared by: Pat Carrington Date: June 2017
(Principal / Assistant
Director Skills and Employment)