Senior Finance Business Partner

About the position

The successful candidate will be a senior finance professional with significant experience working to deliver high quality financial management information in a complex, international environment.  The purpose of this role is to contribute to the sound financial management of the organisation by producing accurate and timely budgets, forecasts, and management accounts. The role will also produce financial reports for donors, be the point of contact for donor audits and serve as a resource for staff seeking to understand the donor compliance requirements.  The post holder will act as a senior business partner to budget holders across the organisation and provide analysis and commentary on financial performance and position to a range of users including the Senior Leadership Team, donors and the Board. 

The successful candidate will come either from a similar position in another charity and will have experience of delivering high quality financial management information and reports for both internal and external (donor) stakeholders. Strong interpersonal skills, attention to detail, flexibility and tenacity are essential requirements of the post-holder as these will enable the successful candidate to communicate with both with finance and non-finance staff around the world. This is an exciting opportunity to become part of a growing, highly regarded organisation doing incredible work around the world.

This position will be supported by a Finance Officer that is shared with and line managed by the Program Finance Manager.

Responsibilities 

Financial Reporting

• Lead the annual planning, budgeting, forecasting, and management reporting cycles for the global organisation in line with parameters determined by the Senior Leadership Team and Head of Finance

• Act as business partner to all budget holders in the preparation and review of annual budgets including accurate recording of costs allocated to restricted funds

• Work with the Human Resources department to prepare the staffing budget and monitor staff costs across the organisation, providing insights to management

• Produce the consolidated organisational budget and accompanying commentary for discussion with the Head of Finance and Managing Director, Finance and Administration and approval by the Senior Leadership Team and the Board

• Lead the forecasting process twice a year – supporting budget holders to update the forecast outturn for their departments for the full financial year and producing consolidated organisational forecasts and accompanying commentary for review by the Head of Finance and Managing Director, Finance and Administration and for approval by the Senior Leadership Team and the Board

• Produce monthly management accounts and accompanying commentary on a timely basis for all budget holders and for the overall organisation for review by the Head of Finance and Managing Director, Finance and Administration and approval by the Senior Leadership Team and the Board

• Meet regularly with budget holders to understand the nature of variances from budget/forecast, investigating and correcting any discrepancies within the accounts

• Develop and produce financial analysis and ad hoc reports for a range of users, as required

• Work closely with the Program Finance Manager in relation to the financial management and spend rates of grantees, particularly those funded by institutional / government donors

• Work closely with the Financial Accountant to ensure that month end procedures are completed accurately in line with the monthly timetable and that the chart of accounts for each cost centre is aligned to the needs of the budget holder

• Provide training to budgets holders as required to ensure that key financial management information tools (budgets, forecasts, and management accounts) are properly understood and utilised

 

Donor Reporting and Compliance

• Design and implement templates to facilitate donor budgeting and reporting

• Review and revise donor financial reports in line with donor reporting formats and timescales

• Review and revise donor budgets and proposals prior to submission and ensure they are integrated into organisational budgets and forecasts and that restricted grant spend can be properly monitored by budget holders

• Lead the maintenance of a robust framework of policies and procedures that ensure compliance with donor terms and conditions

• Build the capacity of the staff, increasing awareness of key compliance requirements and embedding compliance within organisational culture

• Work with other Finance staff and budget holders to check that organisational policies and procedures are adhered to

• Oversee donor audits

• Improve the administration of all financial aspects of donor funded projects and ensure compliance with donor terms and conditions

• Ensure the accurate recording of restricted funding within the accounting system

• Work with other members of the Finance team to develop new systems and processes to facilitate the accurate and timely production of donor reports, as required.

 

Other

• Post salary and overhead allocations month end journals

• Oversee the month end timetable and liaise with other team members to ensure deadlines are met

• Support the finance team in preparing for the annual statutory audits

• Support the finance team on any other relevant financial management issue

• Support the finance team to design and produce excel based reports

• Provide cover for other team members as required

Any other duties commensurate with the post as requested by the Head of Finance and Managing Director, Finance and Administration 

 

Qualifications and experience

Essential

• Qualified or part qualified management accountant, ACA/ACCA/CIMA with proven work experience

• Ability to prepare accurate, relevant, and clearly presented financial information

• Significant experience and knowledge of donor funding and compliance requirements

• Significant experience of leading budgeting and forecasting processes for an organisation

• Significant experience producing management accounts and acting as a business partner to budget holders

• Deep knowledge and understanding of charity financial management demonstrable by experience 

• Significant relevant experience in a similar capacity for an NGO or a charity

• Experience of working with multiple currencies and entities (including branches offices)

• Detailed knowledge and understanding of charity financial processes including allocation of project costs 

• Experience in providing training or capacity building in organisations

• Experience and understanding of donor relationships and grant proposal development

• Effective communication skills 

• Excellent numerical skills 

• Strong experience in Microsoft Excel (Macro, VBA) including financial modelling and strong general IT skills

 

Desirable

• Experience in the anti-slavery sector

• Experience working in for a grant-making organisation

• Experience and understanding of donor relationships and grant proposal development

• Proven track record of working in a small team

• Knowledge of Microsoft Business Central accounting system and Jet Reports 

 

Personal attributes

Essential

• Team player committed to the Freedom Fund’s values

• Ability to work at a fast pace and with strong time management skills

• Thoroughness and attention to detail - producing work with a high degree of accuracy, first time

• Flexible, “can-do” attitude

• Stakeholder relationship management

• Ability to build relationships with a wide range of individuals from diverse backgrounds.

• Good analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to evaluate complex information

• Ability to work independently, displaying strong initiative and tenacity in solving day-to-day problems with limited direction

• Strong organisational skills and efficient time management, ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities

 

Compensation

• £60,478 – £62,070 per annum pro-rata, plus 10% non-contributory pension scheme.

• 25 days holiday pro rata, plus public holidays.

• Season ticket loan and cycle schemes available.