JOB DESCRIPTION FOR: DIRECTOR OF FINANCE COVENTRY DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE AND COVENTRY CATHEDRAL

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1 JOB DESCRIPTION FOR: DIRECTOR OF FINANCE COVENTRY DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE AND COVENTRY CATHEDRAL Document issue date: 16 April 2018 Location: Salary and benefits Role Profile: Coventry Diocesan Offices, travel required throughout the Diocese and beyond 65,000 p.a plus 9% employer contribution to Church Workers Pension Scheme The primary purpose of this role is to contribute to the strategy for the Diocesan Mission Purpose of Worshipping God, Making New Disciples and Transforming Communities by overseeing the provision and delivery of high quality finance and governance services and support to the Diocesan Board of Finance, Coventry Cathedral and Together for Change Coventry and Warwickshire. The post is a shared post between Coventry Diocesan Board of Finance (CDBF) and Coventry Cathedral with work commitment split 80:20 between the two organisations. There is a small time commitment to the oversight of Together for Change Coventry and Warwickshire contained within the 80% commitment to the CDBF. The post holder is responsible for the finance staff team of six people across the two organisations (including the post holder) and is also Deputy Company Secretary and Assistant Secretary to the Diocesan Synod, supported by the Governance and Grants Officer as an additional direct report. Key Relationships: The post holder is a joint worker for the CDBF and Coventry Cathedral and reports to the Diocesan Secretary, who is the line manager. The post holder will also have a close working relationship with the Dean with regard to cathedral finance matters. It is essential that the Director of Finance is able to work well with all DBF and Cathedral colleagues and staff based in the Diocesan Offices. Other key relationships include: the Diocesan Bishop and members of his extended core staff, especially the Archdeacons and the Area Deans; the Dean s leadership team; the Chairs of the DBF, the Cathedral Chapter, the Diocesan Synod Houses of Clergy and Laity and of the Glebe, Investment and Audit committees; the DBF s advisers including the Diocesan Registrar and the Glebe Committee s appointed surveyors; the deaneries, parishes, clergy, PCC treasurers; colleagues in Leicester (sharing IT support) and other dioceses; and certain diocese-facing staff of the Archbishops Council, Church Commissioners and Church of England Pensions Board. Main Activities and Responsibilities: FINANCIAL POLICY & PLANNING AND STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT Support the development of financially sound strategy Ensure that Diocesan and Cathedral policy is reflected in sound and professional financial administration.

2 Be a member of the Bishop s Strategy Integration Group (strategy planning group) and Extended Staff Team and at the request of the Diocesan Bishop attend relevant agenda items for Bishop s Core Staff Team meetings. Attend the Cathedral Finance Committee, the Dean s leadership business meeting and Cathedral Chapter as required. Assist in the formulation and conducting of policy through the provision of advice and information, including attendance at Synod and other Diocesan and Cathedral committees and meetings as may be required. Take responsibility for the preparation of annual accounts, budgets and forecasts with commentary suitable for various users in accordance with agreed timetables and to high professional and ethical standards for the CDBF and Cathedral Lead on the calculation and apportionment of Deanery Shares Provide oversight for the financial management and accounting for Together for Change Coventry and Warwickshire. Take responsibility for the implementation of the DBF s investment policy and make recommendations to the Investment Sub-Committee Provide financial support to the Glebe Committee as managers of the DBF s portfolio of investment properties Be the primary contact for the Diocesan and Cathedral auditors, bankers, investment advisors and Glebe agents; to hold them to account for their financial, operational and ethical performance, and to consider their advice, relate them to the policies of the Board and enact them as appropriate after appropriate consultation. For the DBF, to be the primary contact for the Ecclesiastical Insurance Group, ensure adequate insurance is in place and organise the annual insurance renewals program. Ensure the DBF s risk register is maintained and sufficiently complete and accurate, and ensure with the Diocesan Secretary that the responsibility for the management of all registered risks is clearly allocated and acknowledged. ACCOUNTING Ensure the efficient functioning of the Finance Team, as well as ensuring the proper maintenance of the books of account and the development of the staff. Ensure compliance with the requirements of the Companies and Charities Acts in so far as they appertain to the Diocese s accounting procedures. Ensure compliance with relevant Charity and Church requirements / guidance in relation to the Cathedral s accounting practices Ensure the provision of management information to relevant users on a monthly basis (eg parish share and the Pastoral Fund) and on a quarterly basis (eg management accounts and reporting for Glebe, investments and budget holders), supported by commentary appropriate to the various users Ensure the provision of payroll services for all Diocesan employees on the payrolls operated by the Diocesan Board of Finance. Liaise with the Finance, Stipends and Pensions Board staff at the national church institutions ensuring that financial transactions with them are carried out in an efficient and timely manner. Maintain registers of all investments held and assets acquired, and to support and advise the Board on the strategic use of assets. SYNODICAL GOVERNANCE To be the deputy officer for the Diocese in matters of synodical governance. Provide support to the Diocesan Secretary for the conduct of elections. Page 2 of 5

3 Manage the provision of efficient and effective secretariat services to the Diocesan Synod, the Bishop s Council, the Business Committee, the Diocesan Finance Group, the Audit Committee, the Investment Sub-Committee, the Glebe Committee, the Support Fund meeting and other committees and task groups as required. DEANERY AND PARISH SUPPORT Ensure the provision of advice and support to Deanery and Parish Treasurers and to provide assistance to Deaneries, Benefices and PCCs as required to assist in the resolution of finance-related problems. Monitor and report on the receipt of Parish Share and parochial fees. GENERAL Attend such training courses and other events as may be necessary to maintain the professional accountancy qualification and competency and to ensure that the post holder is aware of current good practice with regard to charity accounting, investment and governance. Undertake such other tasks as reasonably required by the Diocesan Secretary. Page 3 of 5

4 Person Specification: Page 4 of 5 Essential Desirable Means of assessment Qualifications ACA/ACCA/CIMA or equivalent qualification AF Exam successes demonstrating a high level of numeracy & literacy AF Educated to degree level or equivalent AF Experience Experience of leading and managing a finance function including responsibility for external and internal financial reporting, staff management and systems implementation, to high professional and ethical standards Experience of working at a senior level with board involvement and input to strategy development and monitoring Extensive reporting to financial and non-financial people, including commentary and graphical presentation and development of new reports, and presentation and verbal reporting in formal and informal meetings Responsibility for preparation of the directors or trustees report and financial statements, including leading on the resolution of technical accounting issues and the audit process, T A track record of delivery as a leading hands-on financial practitioner in a complex medium sized organisation Preparing or reviewing reports for grants and/or projects Dealing with business insurers in relation to renewals and claims Dealing with investment and treasury policy and recommendations Working with a significant asset/property portfolio Working within the charity sector Working in commercial environments Governance codes, committee terms of reference and board performance assessments Defined benefit and defined contribution pension schemes VAT and partial exemption Gift Aid Knowledge Up to date knowledge and application of the UK accounting standards Understanding of the latest charities SORP and the format of charity accounts Knowledge of the Charities Act, and other relevant legislation on the financial management of trust funds Up to date knowledge of the responsibilities of a Company Secretary Understanding of the Church of England diocesan, deanery, parish and cathedral finance and governance structures Skills High level of expertise in effective use of excel spreadsheets to,

5 report accurate, trustworthy, well presented and engaging information Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing, and in particular the ability (a) to provide clear explanations to nonfinance staff and volunteers at all levels in meetings and informal settings and (b) to build relationships and be persuasive with polite requests Attention both to detail and the big picture, and ability to analyse and reconcile complex data between different sources and interpret management information for decision making purposes Well organized, with an ability to prioritise a varied workload and,, T meet demanding deadlines Microsoft Word and Outlook, Presentation skills, T Additional Attributes A strong commitment to the culture and ethos of the Church of England and supportive of the Diocese of Coventry mission purpose statement A commitment to high ethical standards for financial reporting and processes A reliable, open, positive, flexible, self-motivated and pro-active individual, able to work effectively with the finance team, with other functions and with parishes and other stakeholders Enjoys a hands on role which also sees the bigger picture Ability to see, find out and take responsibility for what s wrong and needs to be done, and a desire to engage in continuous improvement Able and willing to travel to meet the needs of the role within the diocese Available to attend events outside normal working hours on a time off in lieu basis Page 5 of 5