We are expecting a large response, and my colleague Amanda Bearman will be happy to answer any general questions you may have at this stage.

Transcription

1 P August FARMS FOR CITY CHILDREN Exeter Community Centre, 17 St David s Hill, Exeter, EX4 3RG Telephone: / admin@farmsforcitychildren.org Patron H.R.H. The Princess Royal Founding President Ted Hughes OM Life President Clare Morpurgo MBE Dear Applicant, Thank you for your interest in the role of Finance Officer with Farms for City Children at our head office in Exeter. We are an education charity set up in 1976 by Michael and Clare Morpurgo, to provide children from an urban environment with the opportunity to spend a life-enhancing and sometimes life-changing week at one of our three farms in Devon, Pembrokeshire and Gloucestershire. Vice Presidents Sir Quentin Blake CBE Professor Sir Tim Brighouse Michael Caines MBE Monty Don Ted Emerson Marie Heaney Carol Hughes Joanna Lumley OBE The Countess of Morley Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne Martin Paisner CBE Kate Humble Juliet Stevenson CBE We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated person with experience of financial systems and procedures relevant to a mid-sized voluntary organisation such as ourselves. The role offers a great opportunity to the right candidate: an attractive and progressive package of remuneration, city centre location and the chance to work with the senior staff to shape the future finances of the Charity. We are expecting a large response, and my colleague Amanda Bearman will be happy to answer any general questions you may have at this stage. Please see 24TUwww.farmsforcitychildren.orgU24T for further information about the charity. To apply, please send your CV and a covering letter detailing your suitability for the role th to 24Tadmin@farmsforcitychildren.org24T by 30P With all good wishes, Dr Tessa Stone Chief Executive Chief Executive Dr Tessa Stone Chairman Elizabeth Owens Directors: Bruce Buchanan Perkin Evans Jane Feaver Anthony Gibson OBE Charles Huntington-Whiteley Alison Mawle Clare Morpurgo MBE Michael Morpurgo OBE James Preston-Hood Registered Charity Registered Office Nethercott House Iddesleigh Winkleigh Devon EX19 8SN Company Limited by Guarantee Company Registration No Charity Registration No

2 P September The timetable for the recruitment process is as follows: Date w/c 3 rd August Details Adverts appear w/c 7P th 30P P August Closing date for applications th Shortlist confirmed w/c 14 th September Selection day at Exeter Community Centre

3 Job Description Finance Officer Location: Job Title: Reporting to: Contract type: Remuneration: Head office, Exeter Community Centre, Exeter, EX4 3RG. Finance Officer Chief Executive. Permanent, year round, part time (4 days per week, flexible). 22,000 30,000 (dependent on experience) pro rata. Farms for City Children will also contribute 5% on top of the annual salary into the Charity s NEST Pension Scheme. A tax efficient, Salary Exchange (also known as Salary sacrifice) scheme is operated for both pension contributions and childcare costs. Main purpose of the job: Reporting directly to the Chief Executive, the post holder will have responsibility for the financial systems, payments and controls operated across the charity. The Finance Officer is supported in the completion of tasks by the Administrator at Head Office and Office Assistant at each Farm. The post holder is also a member of the Finance Committee which comprises senior staff and trustees. In addition to internal processes, the post holder will be responsible for working with external auditors to complete all necessary statutory accounting and reporting. Although each farm has a degree of budgetary autonomy, the post holder will be expected to take the lead in supporting local non-finance managers with this responsibility. Main duties and accountability FINANCIAL REPORTS, ANALYSIS AND ADVICE Producing strategic financial reports and forecasts for the Board every quarter. Producing detailed management accounts and other supporting documents for the Finance Committee every quarter. Liaising with fundraising staff to produce reports for the Chief Executive. Provide financial guidance and information to non-finance trained staff at head office and at all three of the farms. BUDGET BUILDING & MONITORING Producing regular budget monitoring reports for the four cost centres. Preparing the draft annual budget in liaison with senior staff, for review by the Finance Committee and approval by the Board. ACCOUNTING/BOOKKEEPING Maintaining up-to-date accounting records and bank reconciliations for the four cost centres using Sage accounting software. Paying purchase invoices. INVOICING Raising sales invoices for schools according to the booking schedule. Raising other sales invoices as and when required.

4 PAYROLL AND HMRC Monthly and year-end payroll processing in Sage; weekly update of Excel payroll working papers, including record of occupational sickness absence entitlement Maintaining employee records complying with HMRC and other statutory requirements. Monitoring and advising on legislation updates, including RTI (Real Time Information). Supporting the transition from an in house system to an outsourced service. BANK ACCOUNTS Administer the online banking activity of the Charity using Natwest Bankline. Arranging bank transfers between Charity accounts, mandate administration and reconciliation. Maintaining records of reserve and savings accounts, advising on terms. Oversight of the two Charity PayPal accounts. Oversight of Charity credit cards. AUDIT Setting the annual audit timetable in liaison with external auditors and the Chief Executive. Prepare annual accounts to trial balance stage in preparation for audit; liaison with auditors and attending accounts review meetings. On-going maintenance of all financial systems to concur with auditor s requirements. Overseeing the relationship with external auditors to ensure that audits are completed on a timely and efficient basis. PENSION ADMINISTRATION Administering and advising on Charity staff pension provision both with the NEST Scheme and employees own third party schemes. Liaison and correspondence with staff and pension providers about contributions. Maintaining all pension records and correspondence. CREDIT AND COST CONTROL Monitoring and chasing payments, with the support of the Administrator. Cost comparison and analysis of all purchasing, advising on best value and central procurement etc. Balancing and reconciling monthly check of farms petty cash. GIFT AID Use Sage and Salesforce software to maintain records of GiftAid declarations and reclaim money owed.

5 Personal Specification Finance Officer You will be an expert user of SAGE accounting software and have the skills and experience required to develop and lead in this area. You will ideally also have an understanding of the financial processes required in the running of an organisation with a turnover of approximately 1.2million and over 60 staff. You will also be able to turn your hand to producing strategic forecasts and reports to senior staff to inform mid and long term decision making. You will take the lead on the management of day-to-day organisational cash flow as well as administering purchase orders, invoices, payments transfers and other transactions. Despite this being a mainly supportive role, the nature of our small, close-knit team means that you will find yourself closely involved in discussions and decisions about organisational strategy and planning. You will get the chance to engage with, and contribute to, our work transforming the lives of inner city children from across the UK. Competency Essential Desirable Attainments/Qualifications Significant on-the-job achievement at this level. GCSE (or equivalent) English & Maths. Relevant accounting qualifications. Educated to degree level. Relevant IT qualifications. Skills and Understanding Excellent communication skills and a proven ability to work well as part of a team. Excellent numeracy skills and ability to interpret large amounts of data. A proven ability to plan, prioritise and organise own work effectively. Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines. Good negotiation skills. Ability to empathetically explain complex matters in non-technical language to other staff. Knowledge and understanding of Charity specific reporting requirements (SORPs, SoFA, FRS 102 and FRSSE, charity commission returns etc).

6 Prior Experience Significant accounting experience. Use of Microsoft Office 2013 and SAGE accounting software at a high level. Experience of working with a third sector organisation. Experience of working with the agricultural sector. Behavioural Characteristics Professional, positive and enthusiastic with a good sense of humour. Sympathy with the aims and objectives of the Charity. Proactive approach to problem solving. Confidentiality, versatility and enthusiasm. A methodical approach and an aptitude for accuracy and attention to detail.

7 Additional Information Finance Officer Disclosure and Barring Service This post is not subject to an enhanced DBS check. Hours of work The post is a part time role of 4 days per week. Due to the nature of this position a degree of flexibility is available in the working pattern. Annual leave The annual leave entitlement for this post is 25 days per year plus public holidays. Probationary period The appointment will be subject to a probationary period of 6 months. References All appointments will be confirmed only upon receipt of satisfactory references. Farms for City Children will give prior notification of the intention to contact referees. When advising us of referees, if they are resident overseas please ensure you supply addresses enabling us to contact them (if necessary) without delay.