Job Description

Overview

Financial Controlle

r - Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, you'll oversee a finance team of 5, including a qualified management accountant and two colleagues engaged in studies. This team supports cloud-based accounting for 80 parish sites and provides the finance function for the central operations based at our Crawley site. The team oversees many transactions and submits the monthly payroll to the outsourced payroll bureau. As Financial Controller you will be responsible for producing statutory audited accounts and acting as the principal contact for external auditors. You will report on finance matters to the quarterly Diocesan Finance Committee (DFC).

You will oversee the team in delivering the budget process and production of quarterly cashflow and budget forecasts, and will lead on tax compliance, VAT (for one subsidiary), and gift aid.

While Charity sector experience is a significant advantage in this position, it is your flexible and positive leadership of a diverse staff and volunteer finance community across some 80 sites that will set you apart.

Duties

Supervise 5 colleagues in the finance team day to day to manage payments and receipts, to process all accounting transactions, to provide effective support for the parishes and to produce timely and accurate management information.

Oversee the production and review of monthly management accounts for the central teams, investigating variances to budget and reporting on this (to COO, DFC and budget holders), provide end of year forecast. Oversee preparation of annual budget and liaison with budget holders, with in-year monitoring. With the COO, to prepare cash flow and capital forecasts. Preparation of annual statutory accounts and audit schedules for the Diocese (including special trusts - both restricted and permanent endowment) and its subsidiary companies and a small sister charity (The Friends of Arundel Cathedral). Supervise the team's support for day-to-day parish accounting and financial management, including ongoing coaching and troubleshooting for parish treasurers and responding to queries from clergy, volunteer chairs of Parish Finance Committees and other parish staff and volunteers Supervise the team Ensure compliance with HMRC include VAT returns (for one subsidiary) and all HMRC returns. Oversee, with the COO, key external relationships Liaise internally to oversee the use and accountability of public funds (for Voluntary Aided school building works) Oversee daily monitoring of cash balances and investigation of unexpected movements. Oversee day to day administration of 170 bank accounts, a Deposit scheme and the issuing of associated credit cards. Oversee the internal controls including performance and recording of periodic monitoring and spot checks of parish accounting and compliance. Line-management of direct reports including annual performance review. With the COO, lead on the development of finance policies within the Diocese, and engaging with the wider financial community to roll out effective training and support compliance and best practice. Participate in the provision of training and raising awareness of fraud prevention.

Financial Controller - Essential Knowledge, Skills and Experience

A qualified accountant (CIMA, ACCA or ACA) with experience of leading a finance team

Educated to degree level or similar. Significant post-qualification experience (PQE) in senior finance roles, with strong technical expertise . Proven track record in producing annual statutory accounts and managing external audit. Demonstrable experience leading a finance team, developing and motivating junior colleagues. Experience providing and improving management accounts, income and expenditure reports, and cash flow forecasts to support strategic decision-making. Demonstrated success in improving processes and enhancing financial controls. Significant experience of producing statutory accounts. The successful candidate must be keen to gain knowledge of charity accounting if they do not already have this.
Training and support will be given if this is your first charity role.

Willingness to work onsite in Crawley (not remotely) is essential in order to provide ongoing training and support for junior colleagues

Willingness and ability travel to all diocesan locations is essential, as is driving.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds - the successful applicant does not have to be a Catholic but must be sympathetic towards and supportive of the aims, vision, and mission of the Catholic Church.

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: 42,000.00-448,000.00 per year

Expected hours: 21 per week

Benefits:

Canteen Free parking Health & wellbeing programme On-site parking
Work Location: In person