​This role is offered on a hybrid contract giving you the opportunity to also work from home three days a week.

PURPOSE OF JOB: 

To ensure the right cost structure, financial operating platform, systems and controls are in place to deliver Comic Relief’s vision and strategy, making sure investments are effectively managed and protected and making sure high levels of integrity are upheld. 

They will also ensure that appropriate advice, information, insight and support is provided to trustees, directors and staff on all financial matters relating to the charity and its trading subsidiaries. Alongside this they will support strategic planning and building finance capability across the organisation. 

Finally, the Head of Finance will ensure that Comic Relief operates financial systems and processes which ensure effective governance and compliance with key statutory and regulatory requirements and with our own risk management strategy. 

Key Accountabilities / Objectives: 

• Own the organisational budget, forecasting, cash flow management reporting and financial KPIs. 

• Ensure robust financial controls and policies are in place and functioning effectively. 

• Ensure that tax position is optimised and income maximised (e.g. Gift Aid, returns on investment and cash)  

• Oversee year-end audit and production of financials statements including Trustees’ Report. 

• Ensure that a sustainable financial model is in place that it is transparently communicated to stakeholders and adhered to. Establish a long-term plan that reflects and supports this financial model, monitoring progress and pro-actively managing risk areas. 

• Drive financial ownership, accountability and understanding across the organisation by ensuring budget owners have the knowledge, skills and tools to manage their budgets effectively. Ensure effective financial business partnering is underpinned by effective processes and guidance 

People management 

• Proactively undertake business planning, prioritise activities and ensure clear and realistic objectives based on capacity, expertise and aspirations are set across the Finance team. 

• Provide balanced, constructive feedback, undertake effective performance management to embed accountability and proactively support the professional development and growth of staff within Finance. 

• Maintain regular two-way communication and dialogue with direct reports, ensuring information is cascaded and escalated as needed. 

• Model an enabling, inclusive and empowering leadership style that builds a values-based culture throughout the charity. 

 Person Specification

Essential Criteria

• Qualified accountant with relevant post qualification experience and a good understanding of financial systems and processes. 

• Extensive experience of using finance systems – Xledger and Adaptive Insights would be desirable. 

• Knowledge of Charities SORP, statutory accounting regulations, VAT (including exempt, partial exemption, and reverse charges), PAYE and other payroll taxes, and Gift Aid. 

• Experience of working effectively in cross-functional project teams. 

• Experience of operating at and presenting ideas at senior level including at Board level. 

• Proven experience of coaching and training both finance and non-finance staff.  

• Understanding of voluntary sector, financial controls required and how to work with decision making structure (including Trustees) preferred. 

Desirable Criteria: 

• Confident and self-motivated with high resilience that can work independently or as part of a collaborative cross-functional team. 

• Effective relationship builder with strong emotional intelligence and political awareness to proactively challenge and persuade senior stakeholders and partners. 

• Analytical thinker with exceptional communication skills that engage and inspire. 

• Dynamic professional with a positive, solution orientated and fun approach. 

• Effective presenter with the ability to influence key decision makers. 

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of colour are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Comic Relief we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Why work at Comic Relief

There are lots of good reasons to join us at Comic Relief. You can read more about our employee benefits, such as our commitment to flexible and hybrid working. We ask staff to come to the office twice a week, normally on agreed team days, so that we can do all those things that are difficult to do online. Our office is based in Whitechapel, London, There are lots of opportunities to develop your skills and experience at Comic Relief, including opportunities to become a Mental Health First Aider or to participate in our Employee Network Groups that focus on making Comic Relief a more inclusive place to work.

Disability Confident employer

As part of the Disability Confident scheme, we take positive action by providing first-round interviews to candidates who have a registered disability, provided they meet the minimum criteria for the role, as demonstrated on their CV.

We ask that candidates that wish to be considered for this scheme email j.scott@comicrelief.com to discuss further. Please do not email CV's/cover letters.