Finance Director - Volunteer

Unseen Tours; London; Remote; GBP 200,000 +; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking social enterprise dedicated to empowering individuals affected by homelessness through meaningful work in tourism. This unique role offers the chance to shape the future of an organization committed to social impact while fostering personal and professional growth. You'll collaborate with passionate individuals, contribute to strategic decisions, and help enhance financial capabilities to support the mission. Your expertise will play a vital role in ensuring the organization's financial stability and compliance, making a real difference in the community. If you're ready to make an impact and join a youth-led initiative, this opportunity is perfect for you.

Benefits

Personal and Professional Growth

Free Participation in Tours

Networking Opportunities

Impactful Work Experience

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of financial regulations and compliance is essential.
• Experience in strategy development and execution is crucial.

Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
• Oversee financial management and fundraising efforts.
• Lead monthly finance meetings and contribute to quarterly director meetings.

Skills

Financial Regulations Knowledge

Strategy Development

Risk Management

Financial Planning

Understanding Financial Statements

Passion for Social Impact

Education

Recognised Accounting Qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA)

Job description

Essential Information:

- Work Location: Remote, with occasional meetings and socials in London (or online)
- Minimum commitment: 2 years
- Salary: This is a volunteer role, unremunerated
- Closing date: 9th February 2025
- Time commitment: Four board meetings per year (2 hours each), plus approximately 8-10 hours per month to support the running of the organisation through your skills and expertise
- Working with: CEO, other Directors and tour guides/experience providers

Unseen Tours is a London-based social enterprise on a mission to provide meaningful work opportunities in the tourism, events and cultural heritage sectors for individuals who have experienced homelessness, alongside other forms of discrimination and marginalisation. The majority of our ticket revenue is paid directly to our tour guides, with the rest reinvested back into the business.

Here's what's unique about our approach - the tours provide training and meaningful work opportunities for people affected by homelessness. Tour narratives include the guides' and experience providers' own experiences of homelessness and stories from their communities, making the process individual-led. Through our process, we build the guides' self-confidence, public speaking, storytelling and customer management skills. The conversations with customers on our tours reduce barriers by increasing understanding of homelessness that challenges negative stereotypes and prejudices through dialogue and storytelling.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Ensure the social enterprise complies with its governing document, legal and regulatory requirements, and key objectives with integrity.
2. Establish and uphold a clear vision, mission, strategic direction, and governance standards to achieve its goals.
3. Safeguard the reputation, values, and financial stability of the enterprise, including proper fund management and fundraising efforts.
4. Oversee the effective and efficient administration of the organisation and the performance of its leadership, including appointing and monitoring the CEO.
5. Contribute proactively to the organisation's mission through ideas, opinions, and connections, while fostering diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunities.
6. Understand and embrace the responsibilities, duties, and teamwork required as a Director to uphold the organisation's standards and commitments.

The above list of duties is indicative. Directors are expected to use any specific skills, knowledge or experience they have to help the Board make informed decisions.

Benefits of Joining Our Board:

1. Sense of fulfilment in knowing your work is having a significant impact on people affected by homelessness and leads to long-term, social impact.
2. Personal and professional growth within a cool and youth-led organisation with a unique concept.
3. Ability to shape the future of a socially responsible organisation that is ready for growth.
4. Learn new skills or find areas of interests outside your day-to-day activities.
5. Gain awareness about homelessness and intersecting issues affecting today’s society.
6. Build meaningful relations and connections with like-minded people who have a shared goal.
7. Bonus perk: join our walking tours and experiences for free and be the first one to test new tours and concepts (in exchange for your honest feedback!)

Role Description:

1. Lead the development and maintenance of robust financial systems to ensure compliance with financial procedures, statutory regulations, and obligations while effectively managing related risks.
2. Build and enhance the organisation's financial capabilities, providing leadership and guidance to strengthen financial performance and regulatory compliance.
3. Lead on the monthly finance meetings, and contribute to the quarterly director’s meetings.
4. Review monthly management accounts/financial information.
5. Compile annual budget and accounts with CEO and other directors.
6. Keep track of progress against budget targets in monthly finance meetings.

Please note that Management Accounts and our statutory Accounts are prepared by an external accountancy firm, so this will not be a key responsibility of the Finance Director.

Person Description:

We are looking for someone who has the following expertise and experience:

Essential skills:

1. Excellent knowledge of financial regulations and compliance.
2. Demonstrated ability to understand and engage in strategy development and execution, and understanding of business operating models.
3. Ability to work well with external accountants and other outside agencies.
4. Able to identify and mitigate financial risks through effective risk management strategies.
5. Experience with financial planning and long-term investment decisions - including funding applications, reporting to funders, supporting the development of our business strategy.
6. Ability to understand financial statements, reconcile budgets against financial metrics and critically assess accounts.
7. Passion for Unseen Tours’ mission and values.

Desirable skills:

1. Experience as a Finance Director or in a similar senior financial leadership role, and building confidence and credibility at that level.
2. Experience working in the tourism industry, social enterprise or charity sector, or with people with experience of homelessness.
3. Recognised accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).