Head of Finance

HR Solutions Ltd

Hours: 2 days per week
Contract: Permanent, part time
Salary: £31,720 per annum (£79,3000 pro rata)
Location: Hybrid, EC1N 2HH, City of London
Reporting to: Executive Director
Benefits: 28 days annual leave (pro rata), plus 6 days closure over the Christmas period, University of London SAUL pension scheme with an employer contribution of 16%.

Our client, Gresham College, are a charity who provide high-quality free education to the public across a broad range of subjects. Their aim is to stimulate a love of learning and intellectual curiosity while championing academic rigor, professional expertise, and freedom of expression.

Our client has been providing free lectures within the City of London for over 400 years and are currently in year 4 of an exciting 5-year plan to increase and broaden the audience they reach, with their lectures currently amassing more than 51 million views online.

The role:

As Head of Finance, you will oversee the College’s finances and regulatory compliance while working closely with Gresham College’s Executive Director to play a key role in the planning and controlling of the organisation’s £1.9m turnover. Our client is a registered Charity in the form of a Charitable Company, with the majority of their funding coming from historic sponsors, and a growing number of supporters making a range of contributions from small gifts to major donations. The postholder will ensure that the College meets its legal obligations and is responsible for the line management of the Accounts and Facilities Manager.

Key duties and responsibilities:

• Management & delivery of the College’s Financial processes
• Ensuring the College’s compliance with financial and regulatory policies & procedures
• Managing financial controls to ensure the College’s transactions & reporting are compliant with external regulatory obligations
• Line management & development of the Accounts & Facilities Manager
• Working with the Executive Director on strategy delivery from a financial perspective
• Undertaking secretarial duties for the Company
• Assist in the drafting of papers for the Finance Committee and Council
• Assist the Executive Director in servicing the Finance & Renumeration Committee
• Review accounting & clearance of expenditure procedures and recommend improvements where necessary
• Ensuring the cost-effective procurement of equipment, services, office accommodation and other related operational tasks
• Production of management accounts & preparation of statutory accounts
• Overseeing the College’s contracts & procurement and sign-off on any required payroll calculations
• Taking an active role in the College’s leadership team, working closely with the Head of Fundraising and Provost
• Providing high-level general executive support to the Executive Director and undertaking any other supporting duties that may be required from time to time.

Person specification:

The ideal candidate should be able to demonstrate the following:

• Extensive experience in the financial sector and a solid understanding of Charity finance is desirable.
• Possesses a recognised Accounting Body qualification (CIMA, ICAEW, ACCA, CIPFA or equivalent)
• Previous experience of line management of staff and the ability to advise at all levels
• Be adaptive and flexible to the requirements of working in a small team
• Strong interpersonal skills and a can-do attitude towards a hands-on approach
• The ability to drive and manage change
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office Suite applications and other IT systems

Our client, Gresham College, is committed to fairness, consistency and transparency in selection decisions. Panel members are aware of the principles of equality of opportunity and fair selection and the college encourages applications from those of diverse backgrounds.

If this sounds like your next opportunity, apply today with your CV and a covering letter.