Purpose Accounting. Job description Senior Finance Associate

Transcription

1 Purpose Accounting Job description Senior Finance Associate 28 May 2018

2 Introduction Do you have a strong sense of social justice and equality? Are you looking for an opportunity to demonstrate and develop your financial management, leadership and advisory skills? Purpose Accounting is seeking a Senior Finance Associate to join our growing team of financial management professionals, supporting a diverse range of clients across the non-profit sector. This role is Sydney-based, for at least 4 days per week (0.8 FTE to full time). You will have the opportunity to manage your hours flexibly and work from home for approximately one third of your time. Who we are Purpose Accounting is a boutique financial management and advisory company, serving the nonprofit sector. We inform, collaborate, and lead to help organisations make great decisions. Our top priority is to support our clients to achieve their goals. We form a thorough understanding of our clients business and we have close, long-lasting relationships. Purpose has a proven track record in delivering impactful strategic advice and high quality financial management services. Our people Our team is a carefully curated mix of financial specialists, with diverse and complementary skill sets. This means we give clients comprehensive coverage across all sub-sectors of the industry. With many years experience serving non-profit clients, our team has a deep appreciation of the social, cultural and political aspects unique to the sector. We all share a commitment to social justice and equality. Non-profit organisations do an enormous amount of good work addressing social justice issues and they are under constant demand to do ever more. At Purpose we love having a hand in social impact, and we do it by strengthening our clients financial management and strategy. We encourage innovation, creative approaches to work and a flexible working environment for our team members. We are strongly committed to developing our staff and supporting them to broaden their professional horizons. Our services At Purpose, we see financial management as a connected piece to strategy, programs, as well as to Organisational culture, leadership and communication. We work with our clients to synchronise financial management with these elements.

3 Our expert knowledge of the non-profit sector covers the technical elements; accounting standards; regulatory requirements; and other legislation that impacts non-profit organisations. We serve a diverse range of clients, from small to medium enterprises, through to large non-profits and Government bodies. Our services are tailored for each individual client. About the role The key focus of this role is to deliver expert financial management and advisory services, to support our clients to increase their social impact and financial viability. The role is a combination of ongoing and project-based work. Ongoing work We are engaged through continuous contracts with our ongoing clients, which means we maintain long-term, trust-based relationships. Ongoing clients range from small non-profits (with up to $0.5 million turnover) to medium entities (from $0.5 to $6 million turnover). We are privileged to be invited into the highest levels of management, including CEO and Board level, so we have a seat at the table as strategic advisors for those organisations. In this role you will provide services to a portfolio of ongoing clients, acting as both: - an outsourced Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for small and medium sized non-profit organisations, and - an advisor on financial management and strategy for larger scale clients The outsourced CFO part of your role will include: - Leading the Finance Function for small to medium sized non-profit clients - Supporting in-house accountants or bookkeepers, including mentoring and training requirements - Acting as the face of the Function, representing clients at Board meetings and in other executive forums - Providing financial management services including financial reports; budgeting and forecasting; management of annual audit processes; and financial acquittal processes for grants - Problem identification and resolution, including managing process and technology change, whilst ensuring minimum disruption to clients daily business The advisory component of your role will include: - Providing impactful high-level advice on financial strategy to clients - Mentoring and developing financial skills in CEOs and Boards - Identifying potential areas of improvement and proposing opportunities to increase efficiencies - Interpreting legislative and compliance requirements and advising on changes needed

4 Project work In addition to ongoing work, you will have the opportunity to consult on project-based work for medium to large clients (large clients being those with over $10 million turnover). We also provide project services to Government clients and we partner with several management consulting firms (where we sub-contract financial aspects of projects). Some of this project work is driven by policy / legislative reforms or changes in the sector e.g. the National Disability Support Scheme (NDIS). Project clients sometimes become ongoing clients. Projects range from small scale (2 days work), through to large scale (20 days work). They can involve strategic financial forecasting; viability analysis; unit costings; reviews of Finance Functions and business services; implementing systems; re-design of reporting processes; reviewing finance personnel; capacity assessments; development plans; and providing expertise on start-ups, mergers and structural changes. Other opportunities The main focus of this role is client service - your priorities will be consultation and advisory services, collaboration, and relationship management, in line with our business objectives. There is also a component of soft business development work, which could include representing Purpose Accounting at networking forums and running training events / mentoring activities if this interests you. You will have significant scope to grow and develop in this role and make it your own. There may also be opportunities to manage or mentor new Purpose Accounting staff members in the long term (this could include management of 1 to 2 FTEs). Your skills and perspective To be successful in this role you will: - Have a high level of emotional intelligence, strong interpersonal skills and excellent relationship management abilities - Be proactive, highly self-motivated and comfortable working autonomously - you are innovative, demonstrate initiative and seek opportunities to add value - Be personally invested in the non-profit sector you have a strong sense of social justice and equality and your personal values align with Purpose Accounting s direction - Have either previous experience in the non-profit sector, or a demonstrated commitment to sector aims and philosophy - Bring a breadth of financial experience to the role, having served multiple Finance Functions in previous positions - Have strong leadership qualities, influencing skills and decision-making abilities

5 - Possess high-level communication skills (both verbal and written) and a strong focus on collaboration and consultation. You are effectively able to convey financial information to those with a non-financial background. - Have an eye for detail and accuracy but also a strategic view you are equally strong in both areas - Be familiar and comfortable with industry technology you have previous experience across multiple accounting packages and a willingness to learn new packages - Be a qualified accountant (CA/CPA/CIMA) - you have at least eight years experience in the field We will also favourably view applicants that have: - Experience within a consulting or practice environment, and/or in serving internal customers - A background working in diverse environments and with a diverse range of clients - An understanding of the social/ political/ economic issues that are foundational to the nonprofit sector Working hours This role is Sydney-based, for at least 4 days per week (0.8 FTE to full time). You will have significant opportunities to work from home (if you wish to) and to manage your own calendar. You will have a high degree of autonomy to manage your workload, providing you are available across all working days (Mon-Fri) to deal with urgent matters and meet client expectations as necessary.