Role Description

Director of Finance and Operations

Responsible to: General Secretary

Salary: £65K

Location: USPG, 5 Trinity Street, London, SE1 1DB

Hours of work: Full time – 35 hours per week

The Job

This post offers an opportunity to provide financial leadership within a global Christian charity, which works in close partnership with churches within the Anglican Communion. You will help us to ensure that we serve our partners in an efficient and professional manner in line with our vision, mission and primary objects.

USPG has c. 3M turnover, endowments in excess of £50M and two closed pension schemes. Reporting to the Board and working closely with the CEO, you will have executive responsibility for the strategic and operational aspects of finance including accounting, financial management, pensions and statutory compliance. In addition, you will have director level responsibility for facilities management, IT and support services, policies, processes and compliance. In this, you will be supported by a Head of Operations who manages the support team.

Principal Accountabilities (Responsibilities) % Time
  1. Strategic Leadership of Finance and Operations
    • To lead on developing financial strategy and take responsibility for all accounting and financial practice, to ensure compliance and accurate reporting to external stakeholders, trustees and the senior management team.
    • To lead on the development, implementation and evaluation of sustainable financial strategies and to ensure that an appropriate financial policy framework is in place to guide United Society on financial decision-making regarding the use of restricted and unrestricted funds.
    • To produce and present financial strategies and reports as required by the Board of Trustees and its sub committees on behalf of the SLT.
    • To lead the development, implementation and continuous improvement of financial systems and processes ensuring its effectiveness and compliance to financial and statutory regulations and procedures.
    • To lead and motivate the Finance and Operations team, line-managing the Finance Manager and the Head of Operations, ensuring the highest levels of contribution and performance, encouraging innovation and utilising their ideas and input to the best possible effect.
    • To oversee the work of the Head of Operations including Facilities management, IT, HR, liaise with landlords, building managers and other professional advisers as required.
20%
  1. Accounting & Audit
    • To prepare the Annual Accounts and liaise with the Auditors for the annual Audit.
    • To ensure proper accounting records are kept and procedures are followed in accordance with legal and audit requirements. This includes ensuring all bank accounts are accurately reconciled and cash management procedures are followed.
    • To account for United Society’s Pension Funds.
    • To act as signatory and authoriser of all payments, including electronic payments.
    • To prepare other subsidiary accounts e.g. Pension schemes
    • To scrutinise and advise on the accounts received from overseas partners.
    • To oversee the General Ledger coding system and to monitor its use.
 20%
  1. Financial Management; Trusts and Legacies
    • To lead in the development of the business plan and the annual budget ensuring the highest standards of financial rigour and compliance.
    • To ensure monthly management accounts are prepared, and are accessible and readily understood.
    • To ensure accurate forecasting and financial review on a quarterly basis.
    • To maintain the Trusts ledger and to administer and account for the investment of the capital and the use of the income.
    • To be responsible for Legacy administration including liaison with solicitors and other executors.
15%
  1. Investments and Pensions
    • To ensure the investment of all assets in accordance with the stated Investment Policy, liaise with Investment Managers regarding performance, report to senior managers on the performance of those investments and take all follow up action required
    • To oversee the overseas and home pension schemes regarding Investments and actuarial valuations as per FRS 17 and liaise with the Actuaries and scheme Trustees
15%
  1. Operations
    • To advise and support the Head of Operations on all matters relating to the 5 Trinity Street, ensuring that it is well maintained and efficiently run with appropriate insurance, security and maintenance schedules and policies in place, and that good relationships are maintained with the relevant professional advisors and other authorities to the benefit of both tenants and USPG staff.
    • To support the Head of Operations in ensuring that office systems are in place which support efficient and productive working, especially IT (hardware and software, cyber-security, personnel systems) and HR administration (including personnel systems).
10%
  1. Governance and Company Secretarial

    To act as company secretary and oversee the administrative and corporate functions of USPG including governance and charity Commission reporting.
    • To prepare the agenda, reports and all papers for the Finance and Audit Committee and all sub- committees of that group and to ensure minutes and all follow-up action are taken.
    • To comply with the Charity Commission’s reporting requirements and returns
    • To liaise with and seek advice from professional advisors as required.
    • To undertake all financial risk management.
    • To work closely with the General Secretary to ensure that papers are prepared for Trustees and Council in a timely manner and that the United Society’s Charter and Bye Laws and maintained an updated dealing with all related matters including any constitutional changes.
 10%
  1. Senior Leadership Team
    • To play an active part in the SLT, and to advise it and the General Secretary on issues relating to USPG’s finances and operations.
    • To liaise closely with the other Directors and teams to ensure excellent communication and team working across the organization.
    • On occasion to lead cross-team working parties and manage projects
 10%

Directors’ roles

Directors are senior leaders and managers who operate at a strategic level.
  1. To work with the General Secretary and the Trustee Board to fulfil the aims and objectives of USPG as individual leaders and collectively as members of the SLT.
  2. To actively participate in the development of USPG strategy, to develop strategy in your own area and implement team and cross-organization strategies effectively.
  3. To inspire, motivate and energise teams to work together towards the vision and strategy.
  4. To provide strong, visible and supportive leadership within the organization and beyond where possible.
  5. To act as transformative line managers and exercise budget management skills.
  6. To foster, develop and maintain relationships with external agencies, networks and individuals in ways that further USPG’s aims and objectives.
  7. To lead and implement change and oversee the continual development and improvement of USPG as an organization.

The USPG accounts for 2020 can be found at https://d3hgrlq6yacptf.cloudfront.net/uspg/content/pages/documents/uspg-annual-report-2020.pdf

All USPG Directors are required to have a standard DBS check.