Head of Finance and Business Services

UK Electronics Skills Foundation (UKESF); Ashton Keynes; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dynamic Head of Finance and Business Services to lead their financial operations. This pivotal role involves overseeing financial strategy, compliance, and operational efficiency within a growing charity. The successful candidate will manage grant funding, ensure robust financial controls, and provide strategic insights to the executive team. With a focus on charity finance and project management, this position offers the chance to make a significant impact on addressing the skills shortage in the UK’s Electronics sector. Join a passionate team dedicated to making a difference while enjoying competitive salary and flexible working arrangements.

Benefits

Flexible Working

Competitive Salary

Pension Contributions

Support for Accountancy Qualifications

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant with experience in charity finance and grant reporting.
• Strong financial management and budgeting skills essential for this role.

Responsibilities

• Oversee financial planning, budgeting, and compliance with charity regulations.
• Manage grant funding and ensure effective financial reporting to stakeholders.

Skills

Charity Finance

Financial Management

Budgeting

Financial Reporting

Grant Management

Financial Analysis

Cash Flow Management

Education

Qualified Accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA)

Tools

Xero Accounting Software

Job description

The UK Electronics Skills Foundation (UKESF) is an educational charity that collaborates with industry and academia to tackle the skills shortage in the UK’s Electronics sector. We are seeking a hands-onHead of Finance and Business Servicesto lead our financial operations and business services ensuring strong financial management, compliance, and organisational efficiency.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a fast growing and impactful charity, playing a key role in shaping our financial strategy while ensuring robust financial controls and compliance, and the effectiveness of our business services.

AsHead of Finance and Business Services, you will be responsible to the CEO for overseeing all financial aspects at the UKESF, including financial planning, budgeting, reporting, and risk management. A key part of the role is managing grant funding and ensuring compliance with reporting requirements from grantors (e.g. UKRI and Innovate UK). Also, responsible for management of key business services including management information, resources and technology.

This role is ideal for aqualified (or part qualified) ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA)with experience incharity finance, grant reporting, and financial project management. You will provide strategic leadership while also being hands-on with day-to-day business and financial operations, including managing budgets, payroll, support services, overseeing AP and AR and financial reporting usingXero.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Financial Strategy & Management

• Contribute to the development of UKESF’s financial strategy, business services and resource strategies.
• Oversee financial planning, budgeting and forecasting, ensuring effective resource allocation and efficient provision of business services.
• Provide financial insights and advice about business services and resources to support strategic decision-making by the Chief Executive and Board of Trustees.
• Prepare accurate financial and management reports including budget and monitoring forecasts for the Board, senior leadership, and funders ensuring timely reporting.
• Ensure compliance with charity financial regulations, including SORP and fund accounting.
• Lead ongovernment grant reporting, ensuring compliance withUKRI, DSIT, and Crown Commercial Officerequirements.
• Track and report on multiple funding streams, ensuring accurate project financial management.
• Oversee statutory accounts preparation and the annual audit process.
• Manage and develop strong financial controls and risk management processes.
• Monitor cashflow and report regularly to CEO any concerns

Grant & Project Finance Management

• Manage delivery contracts and, grant funding, ensuring compliance with financial and reporting conditions are met.
• Develop project budgets and financial models for funding applications.
• Review and monitor ongoing projects cost
• Monitor grant expenditure and prepare financial reports for funders.

Day-to-Day Financial and Business Operations

• Oversee business services contracts, procurement, financial controls, payroll, pensions, VAT, and gift giving processes and liaising with relevant agencies as appropriate.
• Ensure efficient financial administration, including reconciliations and expense management.
• Through Cashflow monitoring manage bank balances utilising investment accounts where appropriate to maximise revenue. Manage financial systems and reporting usingXeroaccounting software.
• Manage IT support contract ensuring Cyber Essential standard compliance.

Governance & Leadership

• Act as the key financial and business services advisor to the Chief Executive and Board of Trustees.
• Produce reports and financial insights.
• Develop and implement financial and business services policies and procedures.
• Support team on all routine finance and business services tasks.
• Manage external stakeholders and contractors.

ABOUT YOU

Essential

• Qualified or part qualified accountant(ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA or equivalent).
• Knowledge ofcharity finance, including SORP, fund accounting, and financial governance.
• Expertise infinancial and management accounting, including reconciliations and cash flow management.
• Experience inbudgeting, financial and resource planning, and project costingsfor multi-stream funding.
• Proficiency inXeroaccounting software, including financial reporting, bank reconciliations, and payroll.
• Strong financial analysis skills, with the ability to present financial information to non-financial stakeholders.
• Experience in preparingstatutory accountsand working with auditors.

Desirable

• Experience working in asmall charityor organisation with multiple funding streams.
• Experience managing and reporting on grantfunding, for instance from UKRI and Innovate UK.
• Experiences of business services e.g. management information, resource management and management of business services contracts.Experience supporting governance processes and working with trustees.
• Experience of Government Contracts through Crown Commercial Service
• Experience of successful implementation and rollout of new CRM systems.

WHAT WE OFFER

• Flexible workinghybrid working.
• The opportunity to play akey leadership rolein a growing and impactful charity.
• Competitive salary and pension contributions.
• A chance to make a difference in addressing the UK’sElectronics skills shortage.
• Support to complete accountancy qualifications.

To apply, please submit your CV and a cover letter outlining your suitability for the role.

If you have any questions or would like an informal discussion, please contact us.

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