Head of Finance

The Head of Finance is a member of the SeniorLeadership Team, playing a key role in delivering both the strategic plan and theday-to-day operations of the Hospice.The post holder will be expected todemonstrate full commitment to the vision and values of Willowbrook Hospice. Therole will be crucial in ensuring we are able to Deliver the best care, deliveredwith compassion for our community.Main duties of the jobThe Head of Finances key priorities, in close collaboration with the Executive Leadership Team, are to lead and support the strategic and annual financial planning processes, and to prepare and analyse accurate and timely financial information for the Board of Trustees and the Directors of the Trading Company, ensuring compliance with all external financial reporting requirements.About usWillowbrook Hospice is a purpose built independent hospice opened in 1997. It is an adult hospice caring for patients with specialist palliative care needs, serving the community of St Helens and Knowsley. It was built with the support of local people.Willowbrook hospice is not just a building, it is a way of caring for people. The Hospice works to improve the lives of people who have a life-limiting or terminal illness, helping them to live well before they die.Willowbrook Hospice not only takes care of peoples physical needs but looks after their emotional, spiritual and social needs as well. It also supports carers, family members and close friends, both during a persons illness and in bereavement.Job responsibilitiesTo provide an effective and accurate financialmanagement and accountancy service to the Executive Leadership Team, Board ofTrustees and Directors of the Trading Company.Prepare annual budgets and monitorperformance on a monthly basis against plan by the preparation and issue ofmonthly budget statements. Makerecommendations on costing assumptions to be included within all budgets. Forexample, inflation rates.Support the strategic direction of the businessby leading on the preparation of 5 year financial forecasts to supportstrategic planning and to ensure the long term financial viability of thebusiness.Prepare and maintain financial accounts in atimely fashion and ensure they are consistent with external financial reportingstandards and requirements.Provide monthly financial information to theExecutive Leadership Team, Board of Trustees and Directors of the TradingCompany.Prepare cash flow reports on a regular/quarterlybasis and monitor cash requirements and advise the Board of Trustees, Directorsof the Trading Company and Executive Leadership Team on the liquidity position ofthe business.Provide advice on all financial matters,including issues arising in connection with charity legislation, to ensure thatthe business meets its legal financial obligations and complies will allexternal regulatory requirements.Liaise with H.M.Revenue and Customs and VAT consultants regarding records and payments andensure compliance with all regulations.Ensure the provisionof a monthly payroll service and ensure delivery of an accurate, reliable andquality payroll service to all staff.To liaise with allregulatory external bodies in connection with any financial or charity matters,i.e. auditors, accountants, bank, solicitors, Charity Commission, CompaniesHouse, insurance company, pension advisors and others.Annual completionof the Charity Commission self-assessment, ensuring that we comply with bestpractice.Attend the meetings of the local networkinggroups as required.Review and monitor performance of the businesssinvestments and provide up to date reports to the Board of Trustees, enablingthem to make appropriate investment decisions.As part of financial reporting, completeregular analysis of all income and expenditure, supporting budget holders asrequired to identify areas where cost savings and efficiencies can be made.Support in the preparation of business cases as necessary across thebusiness.Support in the preparation of benchmarkinginformation to assist in the determination of opportunities to improve theorganisations financial position.Support the businesss efforts to maximiseincome from all sources providing financial information and attendingcommittees and other forums as required to assist in this.Develop and maintain an asset register ofall property across the business. Ensure capital accounting policies are agreedannually by the Finance Committee.Ensure appropriate financial procedures,financial governance and policies are in place across the business and ensure theyare regularly reviewed and appropriate.Ensure good systems of financial control and checks are in place for allassets.To manage and support staff in the Finance Department, ensuring they havethe right knowledge and skills to carry out their duties effectively.Ensure that all members of the leadership team (ELT and SLT) and theboard have the necessary knowledge and support regarding financial mattersincluding the provision of training if necessary.Attend committees and key meetings to present relevant financial information atthe request of the Executive Leadership Team, Board of Trustees and Directorsof the Trading Company.Annual income and expenditure budgets areapproved annually and monitored monthly.Management Accounts are aimed to be completedwithin 10 working days of month end and available for the Executive LeadershipTeam, Board of Trustees and Directors of the Trading Company.Regulatory requirements are met as and when they fall due.The provision of an accurate and reliable set of annual financialstatements.Meet with statutory and external organisations in a timely andprofessional manner.Quarterly VAT returns, Annual Corporation Taxreturns and other statutory returns are submitted in a timely manner.With regard to financial records andreporting, to comply with and meet the standards of the Care QualityCommission.Completion of all Charity Commission regulatory requirements.Ensure that we have robust financial systemsin place for all assets and liabilities incorporating monthly reviews of creditorsand debtors.Ensure financial information requirements ofthe Executive Leadership Team, Board of Trustees and Directors of the TradingCompany are met in a timely manner.Ensure that the business has financialsystems and processes in place that will comply with regulatory requirementsfor healthcare services.Be an active member of the Senior LeadershipTeam participating in all relevant meetings contributing where possible, to theachievement of business objectives.To take rotational responsibility as Out of Hours Duty Manager, ifrequired.Provide advice, support and information tothe Executive Leadership Team; Board of Trustees and Directors of the TradingCompany on financial matters enabling the business to meet its objectives.To liaise with Head of Human Resources toadvise, where necessary, on all salary and pension matters, keeping up to datewith changing legislation.Tocommunicate with the banks, HMRC, Department of Work and Pensions and all otherrelevant external bodies regarding all pension, tax and National Insuranceissues.Toliaise with all Senior Leadership team colleagues to ensure payroll data isaccurate and kept up to date.To liaise with the Head of Fundraising inmatters relating to fundraising income and expenditure and the fundraising andlottery database, ensuring that any information is an accurate reflection ofincome and expenditure.To liaise with the Trading Company Manager inmatters relating to the trading companys income and expenditure, ensuring thatall information provided is accurate.Toverify that insurance cover is appropriate and adequate for the various businessfunctions and to ensure that it is kept up to date.Toensure that there is compliance across the business with financial statutory regulationsand internal financial policies.Ensurethat there is a robust information governance regime across all financialmatters across the business.To undertake andmanage the annual appraisal process for the Finance Team, identifying anytraining and development needs.Ensure that all members of the Finance Teamattend mandatory and statutory training as required and that evaluations areundertaken to monitor effectiveness.The post holder will adhere to all relevant legislation and policies ofthe business.Any other reasonable duties as directed bythe Executive Leadership Team, the Board of Trustees and Directors of theTrading Company.Person SpecificationQualificationsQualified Accountant: ACCA, CIPFA, CIMA or equivalentExperienceFinancial management, budgeting and forecastingLeading and managing a teamPreparation & delivery of financial strategiesWorking in charity, healthcare or other relevant environmentPreparing and monitoring performance against annual and longer-term budgetsAbility to create accurate financial spreadsheetsCompile, present and interpret monthly accountsAbility to report on and manage cashflowDemonstrable and extensive knowledge of financial systemsProficiency with financial softwarePreparation of statutory returns: PAYE, VAT, Gift Aid, Companies HouseKnowledge of Charity SORPSAbility to provide financial advice to Executive Leadership Team, Board of Trustees, Directors of the Trading CompanySage line50 & Sage payrollExcellent Leadership skillsProfessional approach to workExperienced Team leaderExcellent Organisational skillsAbility to work as a member of a teamResilient, flexible and able to work under pressureDisclosure and Barring Service CheckThis post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.£48,000 to £56,000 a yearDependent on experience #J-18808-Ljbffr