Finance Business Partner

Reporting to: Chief Executive Officer

We Hear You (WHY) is a charity providing free professional counselling for children, young people and adults affected or bereaved by cancer and life-threatening conditions in Somerset, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire. We Hear You is an organisational member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and bound by its Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy. All members of staff at We Hear You are expected to embody our mission and values. This includes an expectation that staff will:

• Be empathetic, collaborative and proactive in our work.

• Be part of an innovative and learning organisation always seeking to improve the support we provide.

• Have a culture of trust, building our team sustainably.

• Operate independently and strive to always evidence the impact of our service.

Main purpose of the job:

The post-holder is responsible for providing strategic financial support, direction and control for the charity and its trading subsidiaries. The post-holder must be a part or fully qualified accountant, ACA or equivalent, or qualified by experience, preferably with a background in charity finance.

Key tasks and responsibilities:

1. Financial duties / financial management

• To work with the CEO to ensure that annual budgets are set, to monitor performance against budget, and to take necessary corrective action; ensuring this aligns to the strategic plan set by the CEO.

• To be fully accountable for the month end of the charity and its trading subsidiaries, including Profit & Loss with commentary, key balance sheet reconciliations, Return on Investment analysis and reforecasts.

• Meeting with budget holders on a monthly basis to understand the nature of variances from budget/forecast and corrective action in hand and challenge if necessary. To discuss forecasting and budget modelling for future years.

• To provide a weekly short summary of income and expenditure.

• To ensure all financial records are accurate and up to date, including the timely preparation of payroll and all purchase ledger payments.

• To oversee spend controls such as calculating and monitoring cost per session; margin per income stream; and margin per service area.

• To oversee return on investment calculations and analysis, carrying out indepth financial analysis including tracking income and analysing trends.

• To control overheads for the group.

• To support the team with financial information and budgets for grant applications.

• To be accountable for the preparation of the annual group and subsidiary accounts, following the relevant statutes and liaising with the external accountants and independent examiner.

• To support the trading subsidiaries with commercial and strategic decisions, ensuring the relevant financials are available.

• To be accountable for financial compliance for the group and support the CEO and relevant boards with wider governance.

• To participate in cross-team projects, providing financial support as required.

• Liaise with and provide support to the Chief Executive Officer, senior managers, and colleagues regarding potential finance developments.

• To be responsible for the development and review of finance policies for the group, ensuring these are regularly updated and adhered to, developing, and implementing new ones where required.

• To be responsible for preparation of all statutory returns and act as main point of contact with HMRC, Companies House and the Charity Commission.

2. Leadership / line management

• Hold regular one-to-ones with direct line reports, ensuring effective performance management of the entire team, with a robust and timely system of appraisals and performance management.

3. Administrative duties / administration

• Assist with general incoming telephone cover.

4. Other

• Stay abreast of good practice and legislation, ensuring compliance with the Charities Act, Fundraising Regulator and the Institute of Fundraising codes of practice.

• Network with other charity staff when possible.

• Maintain good working relationships with the Chief Executive Officer and trustees.

• Work directly with the Treasurer, and other trustees, on financial matters where relevant.

• Attend regular staff meetings.

• Undertake any relevant training that is mandatory or enhances this role.

• Support the Chief Executive Officer with ad hoc tasks.

• Undertake any other duties commensurate with the post.

General

The post-holder will be expected to keep up to date with best practice in financial regulation.

To adhere to relevant legal and statutory requirements including the Data Protection Act (ensuring an appropriate level of confidentiality at all times), Health and Safety at Work Act (ensuring the health and safety of own and others at all times).

The post-holder will be expected to adhere to all organisational policies and ensure that all responsibilities and activities within their post are consistent with the terms and spirit of WHY’s mission, vision, values, policies and procedures. The post-holder may be asked if they are able to represent the charity at events and external meetings which may require some evening and weekend working.

Equal opportunities

We Hear You (WHY) is an equal opportunity employer and is fully committed to a policy of treating all its staff and job applicants equally. WHY will take all reasonable steps to recruit, appoint, employ, develop and promote staff on the basis of their experience, abilities and qualifications without regard to the protected characteristics as specified in the Equality Act 2010. The post-holder will be expected to implement We Hear You’s Equality and Diversity Policy in all aspects of their work.

Safeguarding

This organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable adults, children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Person specification

Essential experience

Fully qualified accountant, ACA or equivalent, or qualified by experience, preferably with background in charity finance
In-depth understanding of charity finance, its regulatory environment and governance
Experience of managing, setting, and monitoring budgets and fiscal management information
Excellent verbal and written skills
Strong IT/computer skills, including Word, Excel, Outlook
Experience of performing financial analysis
Experience of maintaining and updating records and collating data and other information

Essential knowledge, skills and abilities

Good administration, financial and numerical skills
Strong IT/computer skills, including Word, Excel, Outlook
Ability to plan and manage own time and workload
Ability to communicate verbally and in writing with a range of people including, funders, clients, supporters, contractors and other stakeholders
Excellent attention to detail and strong organisational skills
Ability to undertake a variety of administrative functions including correspondence, telephone enquiries and filing
Ability to work as part of a team and on own initiative

Desirable