Finance Director

Job Overview

The Cherie Blair Foundation for Women is mid-way through delivering its Ready for Business 2023 - 2026 strategy. We are seeking to dramatically accelerate growth to achieve our target of reaching one million women entrepreneurs by the end of 2030.

The Finance Director’s role is critical to the strategic and operational financial management of the charity. They will be part of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), along with the CEO, COO, Director of External Engagement and Director of Programmes and Impact.

The Board and CEO are looking for an experienced and qualified finance professional, with the ability to lead and shape the Foundation’s approach to financial planning and financial management, lead a financial improvement programme, and ensure the Foundation’s on-going financial sustainability.

Job Purpose

To lead strategic and operational financial planning with responsibility for achieving and executing financial objectives, budgeting, investment opportunities and oversight of annual budget processes, including the annual audit.

To provide strategic financial insight and be an effective business partner to guide organisational and departmental decision-making.

To drive excellence and efficiency across Finance, strengthening and embedding the right financial systems and processes, integrated with other processes where relevant to enable the organisation to scale.

To ensure robust financial control frameworks are embedded within the Organisation and to achieve financial compliance with all requirements from Companies House, Charity Commission, HMRC etc.

Key Responsibilities

The Finance Director will lead all finance processes and will have the following responsibilities:

Working in partnership with the CEO and other members of the SLT to ensure robust and strategic financial management, effective and efficient controls, transaction processing and financial management reporting.

Provide strategic financial insight and data to inform decision making and financial growth and sustainability of the organisation.

Provide an excellent finance business partner service to the organisation, to shape and improve financial capability and capacity, improving visibility and rigour around forecasting income and expenditure.

Lead and be accountable for reporting to the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee (FARC).

Lead on the preparation of statutory accounts, audit and tax requirements of the Foundation including returns to HMRC, Companies House and the Charity Commission.

Co-ordinate the development and deployment of the annual budget, using zero-based budgeting techniques where relevant; and working with the COO to ensure alignment with yearly Operational Plans.

Serve as an internal leader of the organisation: provide staff with a strong day-to-day leadership presence, and model a culture of performance, openness and accountability.

Strategic and Operational Financial Planning

Lead on financial planning, budgeting, cash flow, investment priorities and policy matters and keep the Board, CEO and SLT informed of all critical issues.

Lead the development and production of financial management reports for the Board, SLT, budget holders and donors.

Working closely with the CEO, COO and SLT, manage and mitigate financial risks in line with the Foundation’s risk register and strategic risk assessment.

Lead on production of the annual statutory accounts, audit and filing of financial statements.

Lead on treasury management including foreign exchange and cashflow, and maintain banking, payroll, and bookkeeping services.

Ensure effective relationship management with auditors, and all other financial suppliers, representing the organisation externally, e.g. in banking negotiations.

Plan, coordinate, and execute the annual budget and re-forecasting process; working with the COO to align planning and budgeting.

Provide oversight of funders’ commitments, funding gaps and funding ratios to drive effective decision making.

Contribute to the development and delivery of the Foundation’s strategic goals and objectives as well as the overall management of the organisation.

Financial Insight, Business Partnering & Financial Process Improvements

Provide strategic financial insight to drive financial performance and effective decision making (e.g. overall financial ratios, programme costing models, RoI, Value for Money etc).

Consider commercial opportunities to support the diversification of income streams and financial growth.

Working as an effective business partner with key departments, support and build staff capability and capacity in financial management.

Ensure the day-to-day financial operations of the organisation run efficiently and smoothly.

Assess, streamline and improve financial processes including but not limited toinvoicing and payments, supplier, partner management, cost recovery, expenses management, purchasing and/or procurement processes and the introduction of an internal audit function.

Lead on system and technology requirements for financial systems in line with the overall technology roadmap.

Financial Control and Compliance

Upgrade and implement an appropriate system of policies, internal controls, accounting standards, and procedures.

Serve as the management liaison to the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee (FARC); effectively communicate and present critical financial matters at Trustee and committee meetings.

Advise on organisational legal issues; oversee legal contracting and partner due diligence, ensure due diligence on money flows, overseeing compliance with contract and donor reporting. Lead on the implementation and review of the Foundation’s reserves policy.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria: Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Qualified Accountant with executive level experience within (or with a good understanding of) the charity sector including experience of international payments.

Ability to cover all aspects of the organisation’s strategic and operational financial management needs.

Commercially astute with a good understanding of income generation and investment opportunities.

Ability to provide strategic financial data and insights for decision-making.

Experience working in a Board-facing role highlighting key issues and risks for a Board audience.

Excellent financial technical skills combined with knowledge of financial software including QuickBooks.

Good understanding of, and ability to advise fundraising and externally funded programme portfolio(s).

Proven ability to develop organisational level budgets and plans and the systems to monitor and manage progress against them.

Good business partnering skills; ability to understand Fundraising and Programme departmental needs and build staff’s financial capacity and capability.

Experience of driving improvements in financial processes.

Commitment to excellence with an exceptional work ethic and creating a high performance and accountable organisation.

Ability to negotiate and influence at strategic level with excellent people skills to build strong relationships internally and externally.

Experience of risk management and mitigation, and a good working knowledge of the regulatory environment for UK-registered charities working internationally.

Desirable Criteria

Experience working with statutory and institutional donors and knowledge of donor reporting, compliance, and contract management issues.

Strong commitment to the Foundation’s vision, mission, values, and goals with a passion for women’s economic empowerment.

All applicants should already have the right to work in the UK. The Foundation does not offer sponsorship at this time.