FINANCE DIRECTOR:

Fee: c. £200 per day inclusive [circa 1 day per week for 1 year]

Location: Ideally Ramsgate based or with strong local connections, but remote working considered for the ideal candidate.
Background

Serving the people of Ramsgate, Heritage Lab was set up to unlock the potential of historic buildings and community assets. In 2017 our founder led the project with Historic England, local councils and several community organisations to ensure that Ramsgate was the first place in the UK to be established as a Heritage Action Zone.

Many of its 450 listed buildings are in a state of poor repair, empty or underused; yet they could represent a powerful tool in the regeneration process. Complementing other regeneration initiatives, we will use our skills and expertise, and those of our partners and community; to bring Ramsgate’s heritage buildings and community assets back into sustainable use, creating high quality community space, workspace and jobs and enhance pride in our town.

Heritage Lab is undergoing a step change in turnover and scale [including a direct £300K grant from the government], and now requires a suitably qualified and experienced Financial Director to enable the company to grow further and maximise its impact on the local community.



Line of responsibility
The Finance Director will report to the Chief Executive Officer [CEO] and be accountable to the Board of Directors.



Job Purpose
The Finance Director is responsible for:
Contributing to the achievement of the company’s business objectives by providing advice and guidance on financial strategy.
Developing and control the company’s annual operating budget to ensure that all financial targets are met and financial and statutory regulations complied with.
Providing financial advice and guidance to the company’s to enable them to achieve their objectives.
Overseeing the preparation of the company’s financial accounts to ensure that these are presented accurately and on time.
Developing and implement an internal audit programme to ensure that the company complies with financial procedures and regulations.
Developing and maintain all necessary systems, policies and procedures to ensure effective and efficient financial management within the company.
Reviewing banking arrangements
Monitoring external contracts, grants and services provided by suppliers to ensure that these are operating effectively and provide the best value to the company.
Carrying out all necessary actions to ensure that the company meets its financial and legal obligations
Identifying and implementing approaches to reduce the organisation’s direct and indirect carbon footprint.



Duties and Responsibilities
Main duties and responsibilities are indicated below. Other duties of an appropriate level and nature may also be required, as directed by the CEO.



Conditions of Contract
S/he is required to support and encourage Heritage Lab’s ethos and its objectives, policies and procedures as agreed by the Board.
S/he will uphold the Heritage Lab’s Policy in respect of Child Protection and Safeguarding matters.
S/he will be subject to all relevant statutory and institutional requirements.
S/he may be required to perform any other reasonable tasks, after consultation.
This role profile allocates duties and responsibilities but does not direct the particular amount of time to be spent on carrying them out and no part of it may be so constructed.
This role profile is not necessarily a comprehensive definition of the post. It will be reviewed at least once a year and it may be subject to modification at any time after consultation with the postholder.



Role Specification S/he will:
Establish and maintain good relationships with all stakeholders, members, colleagues, grant making bodies and relevant financial institutions.
Provide efficient assistance to her/his Line Manager regarding all aspects of the role
Attend meetings of the Board of Directors.
Establish & maintain suitable systems to enable Heritage Lab to report accurately and timely to grant makers, lenders and other financial institutions.
Prepare and monitor balance sheets, budgets and cash flow forecasts.
Provide strategic advice to the CEO and Board and prepare detailed proposals regarding the financial component of business plans to enable Heritage Lab to
Provide comfort to lenders and grant makers
Minimise financial risk
Maximise financial leverage
Minimise cost of borrowing
Assist in transferring data safely when database systems are introduced and/or changed.
Assist in the preparation of statistics and management information with regard to finance as required by her/his Line Manager & the company’s backer including the collection, entry and extraction of data required to complete returns to grant makers and statutory bodies.
Liaise with grant makers, statutory bodies and budget holders and attend to queries as required by her/his Line Manager.
Contribute to the evaluation and development of Heritage Lab’s work



General S/he will:
Attend Heritage Lab events as reasonably required.
Assist in Heritage Lab’s emergencies as required, including locating relevant staff, contacting emergency services and completing necessary documentation.
Attend relevant meetings and training sessions.
Keep abreast of developments and changes in fields relevant to role and communicate to staff as required.



The postholder will contribute to the Heritage Lab’s objectives in service delivery by:
Enactment of Health and Safety requirements and initiatives, as directed.
Ensuring compliance with Data Protection legislation.
Upholding the highest standards of financial conduct
Upholding the Nolan principles of conduct
Operating within the Heritage Lab’s Equalities Framework at all times.
Commitment and contribution to improving standards as appropriate.
Acknowledging customer care and quality initiatives.
Contributing to the maintenance of a caring and stimulating environment.



Special Conditions of Service
Because of the nature of the post, candidates are not entitled to withhold information regarding convictions by virtue of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1971 [Exemptions] Order 1975, as amended.
Candidates are required to give details of any convictions on their Application Form and are expected to disclose such information at the Appointment Interview.
Because this post allows substantial access to vulnerable people and children, candidates are required to comply with procedures in relation to Police Checks. Prior to taking up the post, the successful candidate will be required to give written permission to Heritage Lab to ascertain details from the Police via the Disclosure and Barring Service regarding any convictions against them and, as appropriate, the nature of such convictions.



Equal Opportunities
The postholder will be expected to carry out all duties in the context of and in compliance with the Heritage Lab’s Equal Opportunities Policies.



Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential:
Degree in a relevant subject or demonstrable equivalent experience



Professionally qualified and registered with either the Chartered Institute of management Accountants, Associated of Chartered Certified Accountants or the Association of Chartered Accountants or equivalent



Relevant experience
Essential
Proven experience as director of finance or similar role or clearly able to demonstrate their ability to do so
In-depth knowledge of corporate finance and accounting principles, laws and best practices
Solid knowledge of financial analysis and forecasting
Proficient in the use of financial management software [NB Heritage Lab currently uses Xero]
An analytical mind with a strategic ability
Excellent organizational and leadership skills
Outstanding communication and interpersonal abilities



Desirable
Knowledge of Community Interest Companies and the charitable sector
Knowledge of Heritage and the Creative Sector
Knowledge of current heritage and cultural funding bodies and their objectives