Deputy Director of Finance

Overview

The National Church Institutions (NCIs) are national administrative bodies that work together to support the mission and ministry of the Church of England. Our activities are hugely varied - from a multi-billion-pound investment fund, to a grant-giving charity, a pensions provider, and a housing service - which means there is huge breadth to the type of work you can have the opportunity to be involved in.

The Finance department is a shared services function working across the NCIs to provide a comprehensive, cost-effective finance service to each organisation, and helping to co-ordinate joint projects where appropriate. As well as our work within the NCIs, we also support and promote best Financial practice across the wider Church.

We are on a change journey, transforming the way we work and the service we provide. This includes:

• a Finance Transformation Programme which will replace an ageing finance system and bring process improvements and changes to ways of working; and
• supporting the Church of England Governance Programme which will reshape the National Church Institutions themselves.

The team work in a hybrid way, split between our offices in Westminster and working from home. Our policies actively promote flexible working and a positive work/life balance, recognising that the nature of the role means the occasional need to work longer hours from time-to-time in order to meet urgent deadlines. Specific working arrangements can be discussed at interview.

To find our more about the wide range of opportunities we currently have available for Finance Professionals, please visit out microsite at https://jobs.churchofengland.org/finance

The closing date for this role is 9 October, but we would encourage interested candidates to submit their application as soon as possible. We reserve the right to close the vacancy early.

Introduction

The Deputy Director of Finance is one of two deputies, working across the Finance function in collaboration with the Finance Director, the Head of Financial Planning & Analysis and the Head of Financial Accounting & Operations. 

You will have a particular focus for providing strategic finance support to the Church Commissioners (one of the National Church Institutions), acting as the Lead Client Director / Senior Finance Business Partner - a trusted advisor to the Chief Executive, the senior leadership team and the Commissioners' Board of Governors. You will work across the Finance team to ensure that a high quality finance service is provided to the Church Commissioners, enabling them to deliver their business objectives, and meet their evolving needs.

You will take the lead on developing and monitoring the Commissioners’ distribution policy, working with the actuaries to manage the triennial review process and collaborating with the other Deputy Director of Finance (who primarily focuses on supporting the Archbishops' Council) to facilitate the agreement of long term spending plans. Together, you will collaborate effectively to understand the interplay between the different NCIs and also other parts of the Church, identifying the implications of decisions taken by one body which may affect others.

Along with the Finance Director and other Deputy FD, you will provide senior finance support for the wide range of projects, programmes and grant funding streams undertaken by the NCIs, working with the Finance team to ensure that relevant project boards and decision-making committees are appropriately serviced with relevant financial analysis and insight. You will also support the Finance Director in providing leadership of the Finance Team, representing Finance across the NCIs and the wider Church, and deputising for the FD as needed. 

Main Responsibilities

Church Commissioners’ Lead Client Director / Senior Finance Business Partner

Act as Lead Client Director / Senior Finance Business Partner for the Church Commissioners:

• Member of the Commissioners Management Group (Senior Leadership Team), providing strategic decision support to the Chief Executive and other senior leaders in all relevant financial matters
• Ensuring the delivery of the Church Commissioners’ Annual Report & Accounts process and external audit, including engaging with the Audit Committee and Board of Governors
• Work closely with the Director of Planning & Engagement to ensure that financial plans are well integrated with strategic business plans
• Ensuring the delivery of the Church Commissioners’ Annual Budget, Re-forecast and Management Reporting requirements including presentation to the relevant Boards and Committees;
• Drafting and presenting other Board and Committee papers in relation to Church Commissioners’ financial matters as required
• Working with the Investments function and Legal teams to ensure that all compliance requirements are met in relation to external financing and other relevant investment activity (e.g. annual credit rating process, bond compliance reporting etc.)
• Working with the Financial Communications Team to ensure that the Commissioners financial activities are clearly presented in the public domain (e.g. website, fact sheets etc), and to respond to any stakeholder or media queries which arise from time to time
• Working closely with other Commissioners’ teams which undertake Finance-type activities (e.g. Investments accounting function, Bishoprics & Cathedrals Finance, Closed Churches Finance matters, Cathedral & Church Buildings Grants, Office of the Archbishops’ finance support) to ensure strong join up with the core Finance function
• Analysing long-term spending capacity of the Commissioners’ endowment fund including being primary contact point for Commissioners’ actuaries, and planning and implementation of long-term expenditure policy
• Supporting the Chief Executive, and relevant Board members in response to finance-related General Synod questions, or facilitating relevant General Synod items, including drafting papers, preparing presentations, supporting the legislative process etc.

Long term financial planning, and support for Grant Funding / Projects / Programmes

With the other Deputy Finance Director, work across the NCIs to support long term financial planning activity and to ensure that the full range of grant funding activity and NCI projects and programmes receive the required level of finance service:

• In light of the Church Commissioner’s distribution policy, work with relevant stakeholders to develop triennium (and longer term) spending plans in line with the Church of England Vision & Strategy, ensuring appropriate arrangements are in place for the management and monitoring of related expenditure which satisfies the relevant governing bodies
• providing senior finance support to relevant projects and programmes and grant funding streams, including reviewing business cases / relevant financial information, providing insight, challenge and decision-support to Boards and committees etc.  (E.g. Net Zero, Buildings for Mission, Project Spire)
• ensuring that all projects and programmes across the NCIs receive a high quality service from Finance, from business case development through to project reporting and monitoring, working collaboratively with PMO and the FP&A team to establish standards, and develop ways of working, guidance, templates etc
• leading one-off pieces of work that may be necessary to implement financial strategies, for example debt financing (new bond issues etc.)
• supporting long term financial reviews and the development of financial operating models across the NCIs (e.g. Pensions board housing) and other fundamental financial planning exercises as and when necessary

Other ad hoc projects and support for the Finance Function

• Lead ad hoc Finance-related projects (e.g. cost saving initiatives, restructures, mergers, new business activity etc.)
• Work collaboratively with the other Deputy Director of Finance, providing support and cover for one another as needed, depending on shared priorities and workload
• Deputise for the Director of Finance as required, working across the Finance function to promote continuous improvement and drive efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of departmental objectives
• Contribute to building the performance of the team, supporting development of individuals, planning and delivering goals and targets, and communicating effectively
• Promote effective working relationships with key internal and external stakeholders, the latter including wider Church bodies, as well as Investment Managers, Actuaries, Bankers, External Auditors and other key suppliers

The Ideal Candidate

The NCIs are complex and unusual, covering a wide range of business activities and financial circumstances. To succeed in this key role you will need the intellectual gravitas to work across the full breadth of activities, the stamina and resilience to service a demanding governance cycle and the flexibility to respond to the unexpected. A CCAB qualified accountant, you will be confident operating at Board level and leadership skills and deep financial acumen to establish yourself as a trusted partner and senior leader within the Church Commissioners, the NCIs and the wider Church.

You will be adept at juggling multiple demands across a broad range of areas, and be able to ensure delivery through effective delegation to others, including those not directly reporting to you. You will have strong interpersonal skills, and be confident in developing effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders. You will promote collaborative working across the Finance team to ensure high standards of service for our customers – both in the NCIs and the wider Church. 

Essential

Education:

• CCAB or equivalent professional accounting body qualification with significant post-qualification experience in a leadership role of a large Finance function

Skills/Aptitude:

• Excellent IT skills including advanced Excel and data manipulation skills
• Able to analyse information and extract pertinent information for management
• Excellent attention to detail
• Well organised and able to manage significant competing priorities and tight deadlines
• Ability to work calmly and effectively under pressure
• Excellent interpersonal skills and a collaborative approach; able to achieve cooperation and results from others whether or not directly managing them
• Good communication skills both written and oral, able to communicate effectively with member level committees
• Excellent formal written skills, able to produce papers for Board and Committee, explaining complex information and issues in a clear and concise way
• Proactive, self-motivated and enthusiastic
• Excellent technical accounting skills
• Strong finance system skills, with a good understanding of data structures and chart of accounts optimisation
• Persistent and resilient; able to overcome challenges and find solutions

Knowledge/Experience:

• Significant experience gained from working in a senior Finance role for a large organisation including relevant sector experience e.g. Investments, Endowment fund, Housing, Grant-making Charities etc.
• Considerable staff management and leadership experience, with the ability to deliver results; able to motivate and empower staff members and to provide appropriate support to enable others to succeed
• Significant experience of producing and presenting reporting at CEO and Trustee Board level and working confidently with Trustee-level committees.
• Significant experience of leading change
• Up-to-date knowledge and experience of reporting under relevant accounting standards including FRS102, Charities SORP and Pensions SOR

Desirable

• SAP experience
• Experience within the charity, housing or investment sectors
• Experience of investment management and / or investment accounting
• Project Management experience

About us

Our aim is for everyone in the National Church Institutions (NCIs) to feel that they belong, and are valued for who they are and what they contribute. Together, our people contribute in different ways towards our common purpose, whichever NCI they work in and whatever their background.

In the National Church Institutions (NCIs), we support the mission and ministries of the Church of England. We work with parishes, dioceses, schools, chaplaincies and other ministries, and with national and international partners including mission agencies, and other denominations and faith groups.

Find out more about working for the National Church Institutions by visiting Careers | The Church of England

NCI values

• We strive for excellence 
• We collaborate 
• We act with integrity 
• We show compassion 
• We respect others 

We welcome everyone and we accept and value people for who they are and what they contribute, treating others in the way we would wish to be treated ourselves. We actively listen to and include others, encouraging and enabling everyone’s voice to be heard in discussions and decisions. When we disagree, we aim to disagree well with respect and kindness.  

We want to encourage applications from a diverse group of people. Even if you have never thought about working for us before, if you have the skills and experience we’re looking for then we would like to hear from you. If there is anything we can do to support you in your application please get in touch via email to hr.recruitment@churchofengland.org.

• As a Disability Confident Leader, we actively look to attract, recruit and retain those of you who are disabled.  
• We are a member of the Armed Forces Covenant, and welcome applications from those of you who have served in our Armed Forces and their families.