Head of Finance and Operations

St Marylebone Parish Church is pleased to be partnering exclusively with Robertson Bell in our search for a Head of Finance & Operations to join our team on a permanent basis. St Marylebone Parish Church is a monumental Grade 1- listed building and a place of active and engaged Christian witness that has been creating, naming and shaping community for almost 1,000 years.

As Head of Finance and Operations you will lead the lay staff team and help establish and deliver a strong strategic vision for the parish church through providing strong leadership to the finance, administration and operations of the parish church day-to-day.

The Organisation:

Today’s parish church – the fourth to have served the parish – is not only home to a diverse worshipping congregation, but to a flourishing Centre for Psychotherapy and a long-established innovative NHS Primary Care Practice. In addition, there are two parish Academy schools, the Outstanding The St Marylebone CE School and the UK’s only Church Special School, The St Marylebone CE Bridge School.

The present Parish Church, erected between 1813 and 1817, is renowned for its world-class music and community engagement. Everyone is welcome here and the building is open 365 days a year. In 2024, St Marylebone Parish Church was named UK Church of the Year and the UK’s Best Church Open for Visitors by the National Churches’ Trust.

The key duties of this Head of Finance & Operations are as follows:

• Lead on the development and execution of financial strategy, financial planning, budgeting and cost control.
• Ensure that resources (money, people and property) are managed effectively and efficiently in support of the strategy, aims and objectives of the parish church.
• Manage the running of financial operations including the preparation of management accounts, cash flow forecasts, out-sourced payroll, tax returns, creditor payments and investments.
• Manage budgeting and planning processes, providing all appropriate financial data, and supporting budget-holding staff in all areas.
• Manage the preparation of statutory accounts and be the main contact with external auditors.
• Work with building and maintenance team to ensure that St. Marylebone’s parish church is well maintained, preserved and presented.
• Manage the administration associated with the PCC, monitoring actions and helping to prepare meeting agendas.
• Work with HR to lead the personnel function for all PCC employees.
• Support the Heritage, Events and Volunteer Manager in their efforts to bring in more and different visitors to the parish church.
• Work with the Building Manager to ensure that Health and Safety matters and security are managed effectively.
• Work closely with the Technology and Operations Manager to ensure that the IT, AV and other systems serving the parish church operate effectively.
• Work with the Community & Development Manager, to support fundraising activities.

The successful candidate will have:

• A full accountancy qualification, or equivalent qualification by experience.
• Previous experience within a Cathedral, Major Parish Church or elsewhere in the charity sector.
• Expert understanding and knowledge of SORP.
• Experience in budgeting and cost control, including provision of reports and analysis to an audience with different levels of financial literacy.
• Experience in managing and motivating teams.
• Confident financial leadership skills, capable of directing financial strategy and delivering highest quality financial management.
• Empathy and excitement for the parish church’s purpose, vision and priorities.

Candidates must live within a commutable distance from our offices in St Marylebone, although opportunities to work from home will be on offer for up to two days per week.

The deadline for applications is on Sunday 8^th September, but applications will be under continuous review in advance of this date, so apply today to avoid missing out!