Job Description

Job Title


Head of Finance and Business Support


Reporting To:


Chief Executive


Contract Type:


Permanent


Location:


Primarily DRC's premises with occasional home working permitted and occasional travel to other external venues


Salary:


Scale Points 39-50 Currently 48,051 - 59,686


Working Hours


FTE 36.5 hours per week

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE:

The Head of Finance and Business Support is responsible for:

Leading and managing DRC's finance function, ensuring robust governance and financial controls. Overseeing departmental financial functions including budgeting, payroll, statutory accounts, and service delivery to meet internal and external deadlines. Collaborating with the Executive Team and Board to shape financial strategy and ensure effective reporting for strategic planning and risk management. Supporting budget holders with expert financial guidance, ensuring operational decisions reflect accurate financial implications. Leading and developing the Finance Team, including recruitment, training, and performance management. Acting as a financial subject matter expert, leading training on systems and data analysis, while promoting the use of AI tools and Microsoft 365 in line with DRC's approved AI policy to enhance efficiency and insight.

MAIN RESPONSBILITIES:

Accounting

To maintain with the finance team, the financial records of DRC ensuring that these are up to date at all times. To ensure the preparation and review of all key financial reconciliations and controls, ensuring reconciling items are investigated and resolved. Ensure the accounting policies of DRC are applied consistently and ensure they are reviewed annually before the end of the financial year to ensure they are up to date - work with external auditors on this. Production of timely and accurate monthly management accounts for the Executive Team and the Board including Income & Expenditure, Balance Sheet and variance analysis. Preparation of the year end schedules for the statutory accounts. Ensure a successful annual audit process, co-ordinating with the auditors and managing their information requirements.

Budgeting and Forecasting

Prepare the annual budget through consultation with colleagues and stakeholders, ensuring the budget provides a sound platform for the management of the services and activities of DRC. To maintain cash flow forecasts for a period of at least twelve months ahead and to report on liquidity and reserves and their compliance with DRC's reserves policy. Advise on matters of financial strategy and on the consequences of proposed commercial and other business decisions. Ensure the organisation's Strategic Plan and business plans are under-pinned by sound financial analysis.*

Treasury Management and Credit Control

Management of the Charity's bank accounts ensuring that surplus funds are invested in accordance with our investment strategy. To maintain the bank mandates in accordance Board approvals Ensuring good debtor and supplier management to support the effective control of working capital. Plan and evaluate future funding requirements and development opportunities; supporting the Executive Team in the analysis and submission of funding applications and tender bids ensuring robust financial modelling and full cost recovery is achieved wherever possible. Ensure sales invoices are correctly raised for the recovery of income and that effective credit control is carried out by the finance team. Ensure liabilities and creditors are correctly recorded and reconciled and that payment processes are efficient and in compliance with the financial regulations of DRC.

Payroll and other HMRC Tax Compliance

Manage the external payroll provider to ensure their services meet the requirements of DRC and that all statutory obligations are fully complied with. To co-ordinate the monthly payroll production with the HR & Regulatory Compliance Manager, ensuring all changes to standing and variable data are processed through the payroll portal in accordance with the payroll deadlines agreed with the external payroll provider. Oversee Gift Aid claims, Corporation Tax compliance, VAT reviews, and assess the financial impact of irrecoverable VAT to ensure tax efficiency and regulatory adherence. Ensure sales invoices are correctly raised for the recovery of income and that effective credit control is carried out by the finance team in accordance with an Income Recognition Accounting Policy.

Compliance, Risk Management and VFM

Ensure compliance with statutory financial obligations to HMRC, Charity Commission, Companies House and DRC's funders and commissioners and that all returns are submitted on time. Ensure GDPR and Data Protection Act compliance across financial systems, CRM platforms, and business operations, promoting secure data handling and risk mitigation. Ensure all financial risks are identified, communicated, and managed in line with DRC's Risk Management Framework to enable the achievement of our strategic goals. Lead, manage and regularly review audit, payroll, pensions, insurance, utility and business support contracts and recommend re-procurements to the Chief Executive. Maintain and update the financial procedures and financial regulations of DRC ensuring full compliance. Ensure DRC is fully and properly insured.

Tendering and Project Reporting

Provide timely financial input for the development of funding bids and reports to funders. Provide financial information and analysis to support the services/operations function of the Charity in its work with commissioners, funders and other stakeholders, including assessing the financial feasibility of potential new projects. Support and advise budget holders in matters relating to the financial management of their services and programmes and ensure they are fully involved in decisions that impact their income and expenditure. Produce accurate and timely financial claims and returns for commissioners and funders working with budget holders and obtaining sign off prior to submission.

Financial systems and IT

Oversee the effective functioning of the DRC's IT, Telephony, and associated support contracts, including the effective management of outsourced providers. Manage the Business Support Team to provide administrative and maintenance support of DRC's CRM system and induction/refresher training and guidance manuals for staff in the use of the system. Ensure the Charity's continued compliance against the Cyber Essentials quality standard working with our outsourced IT provider. Collaborate with HR to map system interconnectivity, ensuring efficient data flow, role-based access, and integration across platforms; embed BDRC's Schedule of Delegated Authorities (SODA) in all authorization processes. Ensure the Sage accounting software is up to date, users are onboarded and offboarded in a timely manner and any ownership of Suppliers or Customers are delegated to other members of the organisation as appropriate. Ensure all financial records are digitalised to remove paper, promote electronic workflows and reside inside the Sage financial system. Manage DRC's finance systems ensuring they are developed, upgraded and automated wherever possible to facilitate timely financial reporting, analysis, effective planning and internal controls.

Facilities Management and Business Support

Oversee the management of DRC's premises, Health and Wellbeing Centre and its associated services, including cleaning arrangements. Ensure effective health and safety arrangements and safe systems of work are in place and regularly tested. Ensure value for money in the maintenance and servicing of associated contracts. Ensure equipment and other facilities are properly maintained. Oversee the management of the Charity's centralised stationery, IT and other purchasing processes ensuring value for money is maximised. Ensure effective petty cash arrangements are maintained.

LEADERSHIP DUTIES:

Report directly to the Chief Executive and Finance & Risk Sub-Committee and liaise with the Treasurer and Chair, as appropriate, to deliver a high standard of financial management. Provide briefings and reports to the Board of Directors and Sub-Committees attending meetings as required. Serve as a fully active member of the Executive Team, supporting the Chief Executive in developing and delivering the organisational strategic objectives. Working as part of the Executive Team, develop, maintain, monitor, and report on financial and other performance, budgets, forecasts and KPIs. Deputise when the Chief Executive is away or as appropriate on various responsibilities. Act as an authorised signatory and bank signatory. Ensure financial systems and processes are fully integrated across DRC. Produce reports (including contributing towards our annual report), proposals, presentations, and associated documents for internal and external audiences, including Trustees. Undertake additional responsibilities as required to support organisational goals.

GENERAL:

Be a role model, leading by example in practising the Values of DRC to achieve our Vision and Mission. Play an active and supportive role within the organisation. Take ownership of all administrative aspects of the role. Maintain strict confidentiality in relation to work undertaken and ensure all confidentiality materials are stored according to DRC's Data Protection and Data Security Policies. Treat all staff, volunteers, and clients fairly and without prejudice, in line with DRC's Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy and adhere to all DRC policies and procedures. Be adept in employing the correct procedures for dealing with any safeguarding incidents or concerns in line with DRC's Safeguarding policies. Maintain personal and professional development to meet the changing demands of the job, participate in appropriate training activities and encourage and support staff in their development and training. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required in line with needs of DRC and the team. This post will require the postholder to work with vulnerable adults. An enhanced DBS disclosure check with therefore be required.

Description

Essential

Desirable

Qualifications

Qualified accountant with one of the following professional accountancy bodies: ACCA, CIMA, ACA, CIPFA, MAAT, CCAB


x

Experience

Experience of strategically leading a finance function in a Charity, medium sized social or commercial enterprise.


x


Proven track record in all aspects of financial operations and management including payroll and pensions administration.


x


Experience of working across business models - grants/contracts/charged for services


x


Experience of pricing/budgeting for quotations, funding applications and tender bids.


x


Experience of preparing financial claims and returns for funders and/or investors.


x


Proven track record of preparing year end accounts and of overseeing annual audit processes.


x


Experience of leading and developing teams


x


Experience of working with Boards and presenting financial information to non-financial stakeholders.


x

Knowledge

Fully conversant with accounting procedures legislation including Charity and Company statutory reporting requirements


x


Well-developed financial, commercial, and business acumen.


x


Understanding of charity SORP and fund accounting


x


Knowledge of financial planning, forecasting and analysis techniques


x


Knowledge and understanding of long-term strategic business planning and corporate risk management.


x


Alignment with equality, diversity, and inclusion best practice.


x


Knowledge of disability equality and issues affecting disabled people.


x

Skills

Highly developed leadership and inter-personal skills with the ability to attract, build, motivate, and retain high performing team.


x


Excellent numerical and financial skills including financial modelling, management accounts, manging audits and implementing professional and proper application for financial controls.


x


Excellent understanding and working knowledge of IT systems including computerised accounts and payroll packages.


Well-developed IT skills for using Microsoft Office package.


x


Analytic and decisive decision-making skills with the ability to prioritise and communicate to staff key objectives and tactics necessary to achieve organisational goals.


x


Ability to understand information derived from complex reports and tender bid documentation.


x


Capable of hands-on problem solving and ability to generate ideas and solutions.


x


Ability to translate complex financial information into accessible formats for diverse audiences.


x


Excellent written and verbal communication skills including personal presentation.


x

Personal Qualities

A positive and determined approach to generating income for the organisation.


x


Highly organised with an ability to manage a complex and diverse workload; cope with competing demands and meet deadlines.


x


High levels of integrity combined with strong commitment to good governance


x


Approachable, enthusiastic with a professional and positive attitude when dealing with people.


x


Alignment with DRC's values to achieve our Vision, Mission, and strategic goals.


x


Ability to respond to change at short notice and demonstrate a flexible attitude.


x


Ability to be self-motivated and capable of working independently and taking responsibility.


x

Other

Ability to be mobile and to travel to various locations as required.


x


Adherence to all policies and procedures of the organisation.


x