Head of Financial Control and Operations

Salary: £63,356 per annum

Location: Flexible working with regular travel to London as and when required

Hours: 37.5 per week

Contract: Permanent

Closing date: 21st July at 11:30pm

Interview date:  Interviews will be held week commencing 29th July (1st Stage) and 5th August (2nd Stage).

Please note we reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

Are you a qualified accountant (CCAB, CIMA or overseas equivalent) with an excellent understanding of effective financial controls that enable a charity to deliver its purpose? Then join Shelter as Head of Financial Control and Operations and you could soon be playing a leading role at the heart of our Finance team.

About Shelter

A home is a fundamental human need, as essential as education or healthcare. Yet millions of people across Britain struggle on a daily basis with homelessness, bad housing conditions, soaring rents, discrimination and the threat of eviction. So, we are striving for change, with individuals, in communities, across society, and leading the way to a safe home. We need ambitious, best-in-class individuals who are passionate about our cause to join us at this exciting time. This is your chance to play a part in the fundamental change we are striving to achieve.

At Shelter we are united by our purpose to defend the right to a safe home. Our enemy is the social injustice at the core of the escalating housing emergency. We believe that to win that fight, we must be representative of the people we are here to help and those who support our movement for change. In all our people decisions, we take pride in being inclusive, fair, equitable and transparent.

We have committed to combat racism both within and outside Shelter and welcome you on our journey to becoming a truly anti-racist organisation.

About the team

Our Strategy Enablement directorate brings together four core enabling support functions -  HR Delivery, Tech & Data, Governance, Planning & Property and Finance where this particular role sits. The Finance team consists of thirty two people, working as a team of experts to safeguard resources and support decision making across Shelter. The Finance team strives to ensure Shelter is financially sustainable in order to achieve Shelter’s vision of a home for everyone. If you’re craving a new challenge, this role could be just the job.

About the role

As the Head of Financial Control and Operations (FC&O), you’ll be managing a highly engaged team of fourteen with three direct reports who are supported to drive their own development. This role has a critical remit within our wider Finance team, managing our Supporter Income, Accounts Payable Team and Financial Control team. We’ll count on you when it comes to maintaining robust financial controls, including compliance with laws, reporting standards and regulations. You’ll support your managers and their teams in ensuring we steward our resources carefully.

You’ll be working closely with our Assistant Director for Finance, assuring Shelter’s leadership that we have a financial control capability that meets the needs of our organisation.  You’ll form part of our Finance Leadership Team, working with your peers and the Assistant Director in leading the finance function, ensuring we deliver the Finance plan within budget and provide our people with a work culture in which they can succeed and thrive.

About you

You will be an experienced finance professional and chartered accountant, with experience of year-end processes, including accounts production and external audits, and have a good understanding of charity finance including the laws, regulations and taxation that come with this. You’ll need a strong control mindset, with experience and understanding of effective financial control frameworks.

You’ll have great people management skills and experience, not only in leading your team to success but also with knowing how to influence and challenge peers at all levels to ensure that we work collaboratively and manage Shelter’s financial resources effectively.  Excellent time and project management skills are also required, including the ability to work to competing deadlines and prioritise asks when circumstances change.

Add in, excellent attention to detail with a high-level of numeracy and good MS Excel skills, as well as strong experience of using accounting software (Unit 4 Business World is desirable), and it’s clear you have exactly what we’re looking for.

How to apply

Please click ‘Apply for Job’ below. You are required to submit a CV and a supporting statement. The supporting statement should include responses to the ‘About You’ points in the job description. Please write what you think gives sufficient detail, but do please limit yourself to 800 words overall. Please provide specific examples following the STAR format.

Any applications submitted without a supporting statement will not be considered. 

Benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits, including 30 days of annual leave, enhanced family friendly policies, pension and interest free travel loans. Our employees also have access to a tenancy deposit loan, payroll giving, cycle to work scheme and an employee assistance programme.

Shelter helps millions of people every year struggling with bad housing or homelessness through our advice, support and legal services. And we campaign to make sure that, one day, no one will have to turn to us for help. We’re here so no one has to fight bad housing or homelessness on their own.

To find out more about the role and the benefits of working for Shelter please visit our website. Apply to be part of our team and be the change you want to see in society.

Safeguarding is everyone's business. Shelter is committed to protecting the health, wellbeing and human rights of those we support, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. All our staff will be expected to observe professional standards of behaviour and conduct their work in line with our Safeguarding Policies.

Shelter does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruitment agencies nor accept the fees associated with them