Job Description and Person Specification Company Accountant About us

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1 Job Description and Person Specification Company Accountant About us The Children s Food Trust is on a mission to get every child eating well at home, in childcare, at school and beyond. We are the charity sharing the skills, knowledge and confidence to cook from scratch, helping anyone who provides food for children to do a great job and encouraging industry to help families make better food choices. We re experts in children s food. Our team brings together nutritionists, cooks, caterers, food technologists and specialists in early years and school food to offer unrivalled support, training and advice to anyone responsible for providing food to children. We re right at the heart of decision making and positive action taken on issues around children s food. We advise, influence and campaign to ensure children are given the tasty and nutritious food they deserve. We work in partnership with government departments, with big companies from restaurant chains to supermarkets, global food brands to local suppliers and with other charities to reach as many children as possible with the message about good food. And because this all starts with education, we run the biggest network of school cookery clubs in the country, to equip children and families with the skills and knowledge to make healthier food choices in life.

2 Background The Finance team provides accounting services to the business alongside advice and guidance for managers and teams to ensure the effective running of the charity. Income for the charity comes through a mix of grants, contracts and donations. As part of the Finance & Corporate Support team responsibility is shared to provide efficient support across the organisation. It is important to the organisation to work with integrity and meet and maintain a high standard of corporate administration and governance. The Trust s operations team are responsible for creating and monitoring budgets for contracts and grants working closely with the finance team to meet the varying requirements for customers or funders. Job title Terms: Salary: Responsible to: Location: Hours: Company Accountant Permanent 40,883 (rising to 41,883 following a successful probation period) Director of Finance & Corporate Support Sheffield Full time 37.5 hours per week Overall Purpose of the Role The Trust s Company Accountant provides effective financial management of the Trust and its subsidiaries and timely and relevant Management Information that enables the timely and cost effective delivery of the Trusts products and services. The post holder works closely and collaboratively with the Director of Finance and Corporate Support to ensure that the Trust meets both legal and best practice in all its financial matters. Key Responsibilities The following outlines the central responsibilities for the post. Also included in the role is deputising for the Director of Finance and Corporate Support in all finance matters Supervision 1. Line Manage the Finance Team Finance & Governance 2. Ensure that the Trust and its subsidiaries meets their legal responsibilities relating to Financial Management and Control 3. Working in collaboration with the Director of Finance & Corporate Support, develop 2

3 and implement an appropriate financial policy framework to guide the charity's financial decision making. In particular, clarity will be required on reserves, Cash Flow, Budgetary Control and Investment & Borrowing. 4. Manage the Sales Ledger by ensuring that sales invoices are raised promptly and accurately and monies collected efficiently. 5. Manage the Purchase Ledger by ensuring that all purchases are made according to relevant Policies and Procedures and payments made according to the current policy on Purchase Ledger payments 6. Lead and manage the Trust s annual Audit 7. Manage the Trusts long and short term Cash Flow through the close monitoring of payments and receipts, on a weekly, monthly and annual basis. 8. Manage & support the Audit Sub Committee of the CFT Board including liaising with the Chair of the committee to agree and sign off meeting papers and agendas Prepare and present reports, ensuring board members are kept informed of financial risks and issues. 9. Manage the Trust s Sun Finance system 10. Manage the Trust s payroll function being the lead expert on Payroll within the Finance Team Management Accounts 11. Manage the monthly timetable and preparation of Management information to Contract leads, The Senior Management Team, The Executive Team and The Boards. 12. Provide expertise, advice and guidance for the organisation on all Finance, management accounting and income issues. 13. Manage and develop the financial management data that delivery teams need to monitor the delivery of products and services. Support Senior Managers and Project Leads to monitor their performance against pre-set budgets. 14. Lead the production of claims and other financial data required by our funders as part of our funding contracts 15. Act as the first point of contact for the organisation on all finance related issues 16. Lead the development and maintenance of all medium and long term forecasts. Circumstances of the post. All staff are expected to work within the Code of Practice see Page 5 of this Job Description. Please note: This job description reflects the core activities. As the Children s Food Trust and the post holder develop, there may be changes in the emphasis of duties. It is expected that the post holder will recognise this and adopt a flexible approach to work and be willing to participate in relevant training. 3

4 Person Specification Company Accountant Experience and attainments (previous roles) required for this post Qualified ACA, CIMA, or ACCA Experience of Financial Management at a similar level Experience in the Charitable sector would be an advantage Knowledge and experience of payroll functions and processes An understanding of the principles of Contract and Project management within a time charging environment Knowledge and experience of contract management functions and processes Knowledge and experience of a proprietary Finance System. Communication and relationships Good standard of written and spoken English. Proven experience of building effective working relationships Line management of Financial Staff and coordination of those involved in contract support but not directly managed Personal attributes: Strong organisational skills and experience. Good Problem Solving skills Ability to challenge others, at all levels, to achieve a high standard of practice. Personable, with ability to enthuse and motivate others and enjoy working in a team. Ability to work on own initiative and function effectively without immediate support. Ability to constantly assess your priorities and work flexibly. Identifies and keeps up to date on key external policies and economic, political, and social trends that affect the organisation. 4

5 Code of Practice for working in the Children s Food Trust The CFT code of conduct sets out the values and standards of behaviour that we can expect from one another. Our behaviours and conduct guide the decisions, procedures and systems of the organisation and make an essential contribution in achieving our charitable objectives, demonstrating our commitment to customers and beneficiaries and in providing the foundation for our workplace experience. All staff are expected to and should expect from each other the following behaviour and conduct: Support the values and vision of the organisation and be committed to and passionate about realising our ambition of achieving the maximum change for children and young people. Promote the mission and work of CFT through our behaviours and actions and represent the organisation in a professional manner on all occasions. Contribute to the success of the whole organisation through collaborative working. Considered and supportive of colleagues, willing to help. Follow the Trust s financial and corporate procedures and requirements to meet and maintain a high standard of corporate administration and governance. Conduct ourselves with integrity, impartiality and honesty in our work for the Trust and keep client information confidential. Recognise and engage in our changing society, maximising opportunities that new technology provides, keeping informed of public policy and debate and understanding the needs of beneficiaries. Be flexible and innovative in our working practices and approaches to understand, and be responsive to, CFT s customers. Be open to developing ourselves and one another, including participating in training and staff days. Work to build effective relationships and partnerships internally and externally to help achieve our strategic priorities. Individually and collectively strive to be interested and outward looking wanting to see what impact we can and do make relationship makers and builders politically aware and sensitive experts in their field solution focussed decisive flexible able and willing to adapt to a changing portfolio motivated good communicators efficient smart working Employees or others with serious concerns about any aspect of our work should take appropriate action by coming forward and expressing those concerns (see Whistle-blowing policy) 5