Finance Director Flexible Hybrid NEW

Finance Director

Core Job Purpose:

We are seeking an experienced accountant with several years at a senior level and a good team player, to oversee the finance function of the charity and social enterprise with the following areas of responsibility:

• Overseeing the finance function of FCW to ensure regular accurate financial monitoring and reporting, annual accounts and overall corporate governance for the charity.
• Being accountable to the FCW Board for all finance matters, the risk register and the Treasurer’s Report.
• Producing the monthly management accounts and annual accounts on a timely basis.
• Ensuring a robust financial management system is in place to keep the organisation secure and meeting its legal obligations.
• As part of the Senior Management Team (SMT), advising on finance and governance to inform strategic development and project planning
• Working with the SMT to develop the annual budget and monitor performance against that budget during the year.
• Maintaining relationships with financial contacts, insurers, auditors, statutory bodies, HMRC and the bank.
• Maintaining a cash flow forecast and reporting to the Executive Director (ED), Chair and the Treasurer on whether the charity has sufficient funds to be a going concern and to deliver on all its commitments.
• Assisting the fundraising team with grant applications and reporting by preparing grant specific reports and budgets.
• Working with the ED on salary levels and managing the payroll process including pension payments
• Supporting strategic decisions for the future of the Charity in conjunction with senior colleagues

Principal Accountabilities for the Core Job:

1. Daily monitoring of the cash position to manage cash flow and be alert to irregular transactions.
2. Oversee the book keeper who processes purchase invoices and prison invoices and manage the payment process with the book keeper.
3. Produce the monthly management accounts in a timely manner.
4. Produce the annual accounts to the statutory level and liaise with the auditors over stocktakes and audit process.
5. Process the monthly payroll in line with the bureau’s timetable, check it for accuracy, answer staff queries and make sure the Employment Allowance is claimed.
6. Prepare the quarterly VAT returns and liaise with HMRC and keep a watching brief over sales VAT procedures.
7. Advise the Board on charity governance matters, including Board training where needed, and attend all Board meetings.
8. File the statutory accounts and statements in line with Companies House and Charity Commission deadlines.
9. Keep trustee information up to date at Companies House, the Charity Commission and on bank mandates.
10. Work with the SMT to produce the annual budget for Board approval.
11. Work with ED on annual salary reviews.
12. Process purchase invoices and prisoner pay invoices, and manage supplier payments.
13. Prepare and post accounting journals.
14. Bank cheques received and manage petty cash.
15. Negotiate the annual insurance renewal and make sure cover is adequate
16. As a member of the SMT, share responsibility for the delivery of outcomes on the business plan with consideration for meeting targets promised to our funders.
17. Produce the Treasurer’s Board Report and review and maintain the Risk Register for presentation to the Board ahead of each meeting
18. Such other duties as are required by the charity from time to time

Core Job Context:

Fine Cell Work (FCW) is a dynamic and original charity which transforms prisoners’ lives through training them to do high quality, creative work. We work in 32 prisons training and paying men and women to do skilled craftwork in their cells and on sewing and embroidery machines in workshops. The prisoners’ handmade products are sold to the public and to designers, artists and heritage organisations, many of whom commission bespoke pieces. Customer demand for these products continues to grow. Demand from prisons is also on the rise. The hand-stitchers earn a third of proceeds from sales and are encouraged to save for their families and themselves after release. The public gain a beautiful and memorable product which shows there is hope in our prisons.

Fine Cell Work has created the largest workforce of hand-embroiderers in Europe. It is the only British charity providing social enterprise and earned income for people in prison. The charity has increased the number of prisoners worked with every year since its inception nearly 30 years ago. The charity’s model is sustainable; a third of its income comes from sales of prisoners’ work.

In 2017 the charity opened a textiles workshop, the Clothworkers Studio, in London providing employment support to ex-prisoners. This has been very successful with only a 2% reoffending rate (against a national average of 46%) and with over 30% of participants going into work (against a national average of 17%).

Fine Cell Work has an office and workshop in Battersea which are run by a team of 18 staff supported by approximately 150 volunteers yearly, 95 of whom teach in prisons.

The following knowledge and skills have been identified for the role:

Essential knowledge and experience:

• A professional accounting qualification such as ACA, ACCA or CIMA
• Knowledge of the Charities SORP and statutory accounting requirements
• Experience of dealing with senior colleagues and Board members.
• Experience of working within a small organisation which involves multiple duties and varied knowledge
• Ability to use a suitable accounting package to maintain the Charity’s accounts
• Experience of cash flow forecasting and budgeting

Essential skills:

• The ability to act as ambassador and role model and advocate for FCW when necessary
• Ability to think in a commercial manner for the benefit of the charity
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to both work as part of a team and have the knowledge to advise the team
• The ability to prioritise a varied workload and work to deadlines
• Be able to clearly communicate financial matters to non-financial colleagues
• Excellent IT and Excel skills

Desirable knowledge, skills and experience:

• Experience of a retail environment
• Experience of applying for grant funding
• Able to clearly articulate information to donors
• Experience of cost reduction and restructuring

Personal qualities:

• Qualities to guide and work with a team
• Personable, self-motivated and dynamic
• Confident and able to demonstrate a high level of initiative and autonomy
• Authoritative, knowledgeable, calm, flexible and adaptable
• Able to deal with ambiguous/challenging situations and practice patience
• Commitment to aims and ethos of Fine Cell Work

To apply

Please send your CV with a cover letter, to victoria@finecellwork.co.uk, outlining why you would like the role and how you think you are a good fit for the job. 

Closing date: Friday, 11th December at 23:30