Role description
Director of Finance
Location: In line with contracts of employment all roles at Make-A-Wish are Reading based, however we operate a Hybrid working model and employees need to be comfortable travelling to Make-A-Wish Reading hub at least once per month at their own expense.
Salary: £96,920
Contract type: Permanent
Line manager: CEO
Direct reports: Finance Business Partner, Finance Business Partner, Governance Officer & Exec Support
Role purpose
As the Director of Finance, you will guide the development and implementation of our financial plans and operational strategy. The post holder will model and ensure the embedding of a business partnering approach, to support a working environment and internal operating systems that deliver against our strategy. You will be experienced in building and developing finance teams. You will join a dynamic senior leadership team that fosters collaboration, innovation, and excellence in all aspects of our work.
We are looking for a visionary leader with a proven track record of strategic financial management, business partnering experience and a passion for making a positive impact. The ideal candidate will possess strong interpersonal skills, a commitment to building effective relationships with stakeholders at all levels and across a range of contexts, a keen eye for detail, a strategic mindset, a desire to drive meaningful change and an ability to coach and develop the team.
Key responsibilities
Strategy and planning
Provide strategic leadership on financial strategy and management. Leadership of a KPI framework that demonstrates the achievement of measurable outcomes across Finance & Governance.
Advise and support the CEO and Board on all financial matters, including risk management.
Oversee the organisation’s finance systems, policies, and processes.
Oversee operational activities, such as procurement, and relevant policies and procedures, ensuring alignment with organisational goals.
Provide inspirational leadership to foster the development of high-performing teams guided by strategic objectives and a shared sense of purpose.
Manage a team of approximately 4, providing managerial support and guidance to the team with a willingness to support with operational activities as and when required.
Contribute to the organisation's overall development and operational management as an integral member of the Senior Leadership Team.
Leadership and management
Be a role model to the organisation by acting in line with Make-A-Wish values: Be Magical, Be Inspiring and Be Inclusive and the culture of the organisation.
Provide effective line management, coaching and leadership to direct reports.
Work closely with the People Team, to lead the team and wider organisation with integrity and to establish and maintain a trusting, inclusive and productive environment.
Work with the People team to develop roles, responsibilities and structures aligned to delivery of the strategic plan.
Continue to prioritise improvements in the outcomes of the quarterly Pulse Survey (Culture Amp), working collaboratively with the People Team to improve colleagues’ engagement and wellbeing.
Take ownership for your personal development to ensure you develop this role to its full potential enabling us to reach more children.
Financial innovation
To lead on the development of financial systems and processes in a way that can support innovation across the organisation e.g. the use of GIK and restricted funding as part of fundraising propositions.
To equip and enable employees and volunteers to make financial decisions that are consistent with the execution of the strategic plan.
Financial control and business partnering
To work with the Finance Business Partners to ensure we have the appropriate processes and systems in place to inform financial decision making across the organisation and to provide a means of effective control.
To ensure we have the skills and systems in place to support an effective Finance Business Partnering approach.
To ensure we have an effective approach to cash planning and management.
To ensure we have efficient reporting and forecasting systems that enable us to make informed financial decisions.
Governance development and compliance
Define and promote a governance strategy that supports delivery of the strategic plan.
Coach the Governance Officer to enable them to develop Governance in a way that supports the successful execution of the strategic plan e.g. enabling volunteers and wider networks to make decisions on behalf of the organisation.
To ensure we are compliant with regulation, legislation and the Make-A-Wish International affiliate license agreement.
Hold the position of Company secretary.
Be the responsible person for Gambling commission and Anti-Money Laundering Officer.
Risk
To be the strategic lead for risk for the organisation.
To lead on the development of the strategic risk register and risk appetite framework in a way that in fully integrated with strategic plans, supported by the extended leadership team.
To work with the Operations Director to ensure that risk is appropriately represented within operational planning discussions.
Trustee engagement
To work closely with the Chair of the Finance & Performance Committee to inform discussions into F&PC and to ensure appropriate recommendations are made to the board.
To ensure trustees are appropriately informed, in line with F&PC terms of reference, via financial reporting systems.
To attend and proactively contribute towards board meetings.
As a Make-A-Wish colleague, you will also need to:
Actively support our wishgranting through voluntary activity to support Make-A-Wish. We encourage all colleagues to become Wish Makers.
Have a practical understanding of the Make-A-Wish values: Be Magical, Be Inclusive and Be Inspiring.
Strengthen relationships between different members of the Make-A-Wish community to ensure everyone works in collaborative and inclusive way.
Attend organisational meetings, like symposiums and town halls.
Keep yourself informed about things going on across the organisation by making use of internal communications channels, e.g. Teams, Wish Wisdom (our colleague newsletter).
Keep yourself informed on the strategy and plans of the organisation in order to be able to fully contribute to them through your role.
Actively listen to other people, particularly those with views that are different to your own.
Embed the principles of our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Charter within your role.
Be open to collaboration and working across different teams to help the organisation achieve its strategic objectives.
Be able to work independently in an agile environment, understanding that different people across the organisation have different working patterns.
Be able to work with your colleagues and other members of Make-A-Wish community as one team, united in a common vision and mission, and support organisational efforts of reaching every child by, for example, answering phones when other teams are busy, supporting activities happening across the organisation, etc.
Person specification
To be successful in this role you will need:
Essential criteria
Accountancy qualifications, preferably CIMA, ACA and ACCA, and a clear understanding of Charity Fund accounting (SORP 2008 and the Charities Act 2003)
Extensive experience in financial management and interdepartmental budgeting in a senior leadership position (preferable charity/non-for-profit).
In-depth understanding of the complexity of overseeing and managing finances, particularly in contexts of conflict and including banking, tax, cash-flow management, exchange rate fluctuations and impact on budgets and forecasts, financial reporting, legal compliance, and transferring of funds to community-based organisation.
Senior leadership or previous Director of Finance experience with an understanding of costing funding bids and ensuring financial reporting systems meet under requirements
Experience of engaging and working with diverse funding streams including commercial contracts and Trust and Foundations and multiple currencies and geographic jurisdictions,
Experience of working with a business partnering approach to achieve with others joint goals.
An understanding and experience of project management delivery across an organisation, including an ability and willingness to undertake 'hands-on' tasks, such as preparing budgets, cash flows and other financial planning, management and control processes if required
Operational experience in overseeing and supporting IT systems, especially in financial systems development.
Experience working with a Board of Trustees and other governance levels of an organisation.
A track record in proven line and stakeholder management skills with the ability to work collaboratively and effectively with others to deliver shared results.
Experience in communicating effectively across cultures and with diverse audiences, both verbally and in writing.
Skills and abilities
Excellent strategic thinking, analytical and problem-solving skills to support the smooth running of finance within a complex organisation.
An entrepreneurial mindset focused on influencing organisational development and change and raising team performance in pursuit of MAW strategic objectives.
Proven ability to lead, manage, inspire and motivate staff at all levels.
Excellent written and oral communication skills, including experience in communicating effectively across cultures and with diverse audiences.
Ability to cope with a rapidly changing environment and handle high levels of pressure and multi-tasking including switching between strategic and operational activities as required.
Personal qualities
Commitment to the vision, mission and values of MAW.
Commitment to and compliance with MAW.
Commitment to respect and value equality and diversity and understanding of how this applies to own area of work.
Active listening and effective communication with colleagues working in diverse contexts.
Commitment to own continuing personal and professional development.
