Financial Director

Internews Network
Career Stream: Manager

Career Level: Manager Level 5

Department: Finance

Job Family: Finance

Job Sub-Family: Multi-Discipline

Location: London, UK

Workplace Designation: Partially Remote

Term: Permanent

Line Manager: COO – Internews Europe

Salary: £78,200 – £105,600

Direct reports: Finance Team

GENERAL FUNCTION

We are seeking a highly skilled finance professional to perform this essential senior leadership, strategic financial and management position in our London headquarters. The approximate annual income for Internews Europe and its subsidiaries, of which the post-holder has oversight, is c. £20m.

The post-holder will report directly to the COO for Internews Europe. The post-holder will be a leader on matters of corporate financial strategy, inter-Alliance financial accounting, budget management, and overall accounting operations.

This is an exciting opportunity to drive systems and process improvements in corporate financial management and planning, whilst also ensuring the smooth running of the financial service centre of the organisation.

The Finance Director is a key member of the Senior Management Team (SMT) in London, in addition to other international management units.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following:

Key Strategic Deliverables will include the following:

• Lead on strategic financial management of Internews Europe, promoting effective and efficient processes to ensure the financial health and sustainability of the organisation.
• Oversee and deliver on the statutory audit and delivery of the Annual Report and Accounts in line with UK charity requirements.
• Act as the focal point in all financial matters for the Internews Board of Trustees, Finance and Audit subcommittee and the Senior Management Team (SMT).
• Act as the primary Finance Team representative of Internews Europe in the relationship with Alliance partners, modelling and implementing improvements in the recording of financial data and transactions and improving financial reporting to the Programme Management Units.
• Ensure timely production of financial management information to key stakeholders across the organisation to enable informed decision making and alterations to existing plans where required.
• Co-ordinate the annual organisational budget preparation process and ensure effective budget oversight and management by project and department managers.
• Promote strong collaboration with colleagues from Grants and Contracts and Development Teams to reforecast and test progress towards annual targets for income and expenditure.
• Ensuring professional and compliant delivery of all Internews Europe financial processes, to drive improvements in processes and ensure all staff understand and adopt such processes.

Finance Department operations Specific duties with support from the Finance Team will include the following:

• Management of the Finance Team, providing effective leadership and creating an environment where Finance staff can learn and develop professionally.
• Oversight of core accounting processes including cash-flow planning and management, accounts payable and receivable, and analysis of the balance sheet debtors and creditors.
• Management of the relationship for resource sharing and associated accounting transactions arising with the other entities in the Alliance network to facilitate combined management/programmatic reporting when required, while ensuring sufficient financial controls to ensure distinct financial reporting and protection of separate legal entity status.
• Oversight of international banking processes (GBP and foreign currency, income and payments) and Treasury management to minimise organisational risk and negative foreign exchange valuations.
• Primary holder of the Banking relationship, including monitoring banking arrangements in international offices.
• Co-ordinate the monthly payroll process with HR colleagues and the external payroll bureau.

Oversight of subsidiary financial processes

• Currently Internews Europe has two subsidiaries, Internews International (II) based in France and Internews Media Development based in Ireland, currently dormant.
• Oversight of financial processes including relevant controls, policies and procedures.
• Oversight of financial reporting in accordance with relevant GAAP and regulatory requirements.
• Monitor local regulatory requirements and ensure compliance with relevant tax and reporting and audit requirements.

Key Stakeholder Engagement and Compliance

• Primary advisor to SMT of ramifications of strategic decisions, including financial, tax and other regulatory impacts.
• Input to strategic development initiatives regarding appropriate application of donor funding mechanisms and utilization of subsidiaries.
• Ensure compliance with the UK regulatory regime and with the requirements of our principal funders and other supporters.
• Lead responsibility for ensuring the maintenance and regular review of all statutory and best practice policies and procedures, staff training and socialization of changes.
• Assisting the Programme teams with interpretation of donor compliance requirements, their translation into Internews Europe operational and/or financial procedures, and their effective implementation.

Participation in global business operations leadership

• Collaborate with other members of the global senior leadership team for efficient operations and execution of the mission.
• Collaboration with Information Technology and Solutions for effective implementation of software and other technology solutions, providing information and expertise and support for appropriate budgeting and expense allocation.
• Collaboration with Enterprise Risk Management and Security team regarding identification and mitigation of financial and other risks, as well as preparing policy and reports in accordance with Charity Commission guidelines.
• Collaboration with People and Culture team to ensure appropriate labour regulations, Internews policies, procedures and financial controls are adhered to in the processing of payroll and other benefits; includes oversight and development of payments to employees and consultants working outside of the UK on Internews projects.
• In all duties, uphold Internews’ Core Values and demonstrate commitment to fostering a culture of Belonging, Dignity, and Justice .

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

The Role carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities including training employees; managing, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Direct Reports: Deputy Finance Director and Finance Business Partner Lead

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions:

The criteria below are the minimum necessary for effective performance in the post. The applicant must demonstrate how they meet each of them through the application form and, when necessary, through job-specific tasks and at interview.

Experience

• Experience of managing financial and management accounts processes, including annual accounts for UK charitable entities, audits and external reporting (Essential)
• Experience in a management capacity within an organisation of at least similar size and complexity to Internews Europe (Essential)
• Experience of liaising with and advising non-financial managers and staff (Essential)
• Experience of line management and leadership (Essential)
• Experience of being key Board contact and engagement point (Desirable)
• Experience of managing external professional and service provider relationships (Essential)
• Experience of major multi-lateral and bi-lateral donor requirements (Essential)
• Experience of managing the external reporting and/or compliance functions of a comparable size of organisation (Essential)
• Experience of working in, or dealing with, developing countries and fragile states (Desirable)

Knowledge

• Good understanding of charity finance regulations and systems (Essential)
• Professional qualification in finance or accounting (Essential)
• Knowledge of UK SORP (Essential)
• High degree of proficiency in Excel (Essential)
• Knowledge of ERP (or equivalent), particularly reporting tools usage and functionality (Essential)

Person skills / aptitudes

• A willingness and ability to adopt a hands-on approach to your work (Essential)
• A contemporary, supportive and transparent approach to management and leadership (Essential)
• Be comfortable working in a collaborative, highly diverse and mutually accountable environment (Essential)
• Strong communication, liaison and interpersonal skills to work effectively with people at all levels, and represent the organisation (Essential)
• Strong analytical, problem solving and creative thinking skills (Essential)

VACANCY TIMEFRAME:

Deadline for applications: 05 February 2025

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