Director of Finance, Risk and Assurance

• Be part of the executive team reporting to the CEO
• Maintain governance and management practices across Nacro

About Our Client

At Nacro we believe passionately that everybody has a right to a second chance, where everyone can fulfill their potential.

Our core belief is that a good education, a decent job and a safe place to live are what everyone in our society deserves. For those who end up in prison, it's the start of new chance, not a road to nowhere.

We all know that having somewhere to live, a job, good health and connections mean someone is much less likely to commit a crime. Sadly, a growing number of people who enter prison are homeless; thousands have mental health problems, drug addictions, are unemployed and/or have bad experiences of the education system. For far too many this stays the same when they're released. This isn't inevitable.

As a society we believe that there should be consequences for those who break the law, but we also believe that those who end up in contact with the criminal justice system should be given the support they need to be able to turn their lives around after serving their sentence.

Nacro sees that by removing the barriers and giving the right support, thousands of people have the chance to rebuild their lives and their families, and to contribute to our communities.

We believe that everyone should have the best chance at a second chance.

In the next year, Nacro is likely to reach a turnover of c£100m. This is a growth of over one third in three years. In order to prepare the organisation for the challenges of delivering the new strategy we have created two new roles (this role and a Director of Technology and Data).

Job Description

PURPOSE

Ensure that Nacro operates in compliance with its own governance standards, regulations and legislative obligations and has effective controls in place to manage and mitigate risk, including financial sustainability and commercial prudence.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Subject to Trustee approval, to be the Company Secretary of Nacro and ensure compliance with statutory requirements and best practice in constitutional and governance matters.
• Oversee the implementation, and maintenance, of the governance framework.
• Operate effective contract management processes from bid through to contract end, ensuring key performance metrics and financial targets are realised during deliver, and that appropriate decisions are made about retendering/re-pricing.
• Ensure an effective risk management framework exists, and is actively scrutinised by the Board and acted upon by the Executive Leadership Team (ELT).
• Ensure that the necessary policies and controls are in place to manage risk, and to ensure compliance with all regulatory and legal obligations that apply to Nacro's operations, including Health & Safety, Safeguarding and Data Protection.
• Ensure that the Board and ELT are provided with accurate, timely financial information to support effective decision-making.
• Ensure that the organisation's finances are well-managed, and that procurement costs represent value-for-money and cost-savings are identified where they exist.
• Lead on strategic financial planning for the organisation including the strategic review and appraisal of Nacro's activities and new business propositions.
• Work with the Chief Executive and ELT to develop short, medium and long term financial strategic objectives and to manage Nacro's cost base to achieve this.
• Work with the Chief Executive and ELT to ensure that Nacro achieves the levels of surplus income necessary to build up Nacro's working capital and asset base.
• Lead on the preparation of the annual business planning and budgeting process in consultation with the Chief Executive and ELT, ensuring that the objectives of Nacro's financial strategy are fully integrated into Directorates' business plans and financial targets are achieved.
• Ensure accurate and timely accounting at all times and the preparation of annual published accounts to time and to the satisfaction of the Board and external auditors.
• Manage working relationships with internal and external Auditors, legacy Defined Benefit pension scheme Trustees, banks and regulatory bodies as required.
• Lead on sustainability through tools such ethical and impact based decision-making, remaining focused on environmental, social and good governance (ESG) standards that service users and staff will benefit from.

The Successful Applicant

• Fully qualified accountant (CCAB) with significant post qualification experience at board level
• Knowledge and understanding of the issues affecting service delivery within the public services and charities context, including compliance and regulatory issues
• Experience operating in a contract services environment, where pricing relates substantially to people costs
• Experience establishing governance, risk and controls frameworks and driving compliance with these
• Experience and/or qualified Company Secretary (desirable)

What's on Offer

This permanent role pays a salary of £100K.

This is a hybrid role with regular attendance required in the London and Birmingham offices.

Closing date 1st March 2025.

Contact
Rochelle George
Quote job ref
JN-012025-6653632Z

Where specific UK qualifications are required we will take into account overseas equivalents. All third party applications will be forwarded to Michael Page.