Financial Controller

Do you have extensive financial management experience in a heavily regulated SME environment or the not–for–profit sector? Are you a leader but also a supportive and collaborative team player? Do you wish to work in a fast–paced environment where the work you do has a clear social impact?

If so, a unique opportunity has arisen to lead Conservative Campaign Headquarters' (CCHQ) finance department and work with the Party's Finance Director to support the work of the organisation nationally.

At CCHQ the Financial Controller ensures that the appropriate financial systems are in place to capture all income accurately, that all authorised payments are made correctly and to time and that all transactions are recorded in accordance with financial best practice and the requirements of PPERA (2000).

If you are successful in your application, then you will also ensure that regular reports are issued to operations to support them to deliver maximum impact. You will be the direct contact for the Party's external auditors and be responsible for producing the annual statutory accounts for audit.

Job Scope

• Leadership: Leads the department and supports them to achieve their goals.
• Accounting records: Ensures that accurate, up to date records are kept of all transactions in accordance with the Companies Acts and other legal requirements.
• Systems: Ensures that tight systems are in place for the control of the receipt of income and for the payment of expenses such that all due income is received and only authorised payments are made.
• Reporting: Ensures that regular management accounts and other reports are issued monthly to a strict timetable to operations and service departments to enable them to manage their operations effectively and that regular meeting are held to explain and discuss these.
• Statutory matters: Ensures that all statutory items are controlled including payment of VAT, Corporation Tax, PAYE and NI. Produce year end accounts and campaign finance returns for audit as strictly prescribed by PPERA (2000) and applying the principles of UK GAAP and FRS102 as appropriate.

To deliver against these outcomes, you will inspire and develop an inclusive, results orientated team culture. Encourage and enable innovation and foster a constant drive to improve, evaluate and learn within the Finance Department. You will need to build key strategic working relationships across the wider Party including with colleagues in the Voluntary and Parliamentary Parties as well as key suppliers and customers.

As a member of the Senior Management Team, you will participate in the development and delivery of the Party's strategic aims and objectives, and you may also be asked to represent and act as spokesperson for CCHQ as required on financial matters and regulation.

All applications must include a covering letter (no more than 2 pages) and CV.

Your responsibilities:

Leadership

• As a Senior Manager in the organisation, support the development of CCHQ's budgets, business plan and campaign strategies
• Support the Finance Director to constantly review and improve our financial policies, processes and systems
• Act as a role model, providing inspirational leadership, management, support and development to a high performing team.
• Create a positive culture and environment by meeting regularly with your team, listening and responding to feedback in order to develop open and trusting relationships.
• Develop and communicate team objectives, outcomes and performance targets and proactively plan your own work and that of the team to monitor progress and ensure team and organisational priorities are met.
• Actively model and display behaviours that reflect the Conservative Party values.

Accounting records

• Ensure that the team records all transaction correctly for income and expenditure with all codes being correctly applied and that all coding errors made by operations are returned to them for correction.
• Ensure all balance sheet accounts are regularly reconciled and that any differences are found and corrected.
• Responsible for the commercial Party conference sales ledger and debt management.
• Develop effective standard operating procedures for all main financial functions.
• Ensure checks for fraudulent bank account entries are carried out on a daily basis to ensure bank do not honour incorrect items.

Systems

• Ensure payroll and suppliers are paid promptly.
• Ensure robust and high–quality systems and processes are developed, maintained and evaluated and continuously improved.
• Ensure the successful implementation and continual review of the Party's financial policies and procedure manual which reflect best practice standards and the Party's needs.
• Be the Finance champion for the related finance software systems ensuring the integrity of data flows and that sufficient controls are in place, identifying and correcting any problems.
• Work with the Finance Director to monitor bank accounts daily and predict future cash flows. Move money from and to deposit accounts as required to ensure salaries and other payments are covered.
• Hold bank passwords and manage the day–to–day relationships with our banking partners and investment managers
• Ensure of all cash taken by the operation is banked intact, reconciled and properly recorded.
• Ensure the Financial Standing Instructions are always followed.

Reporting

• Provide, interpret and explain financial information (including management accounts) to the operations, enabling them to efficiently manage their activities.
• Produce ad hoc reports as needed by the operations; external funders and their auditors if applicable.
• Compile summary monthly management reports to go to the Exec and Board in order to inform them of the financial situation.
• Work as a business partner to the relevant teams providing them operational and strategic support to meet their individual needs and the objectives of the Charity.
• Support fundraising applications and liaises with funders as and when necessary.
• Prepares effective operational budget templates and accurate budgets for own area and also compiles and co–ordinates preparation of overall budgets.

Governance & Compliance

• Ensure all records and transactions comply with relevant laws including company law, VAT and PAYE regulations and PPERA (2000).
• Understand the requirements of PPERA (2000) and the consequences for not adhering to the financial compliance standards set out in the act
• Produce quarterly VAT returns, and liaise with tax authorities regarding submissions and any subsequent queries.
• Ensure HMRC, pensions and other payroll deductions are paid on time to avoid fines or other penalties including reporting to the Pensions Regulator liaising with them as required.
• Ensuring all statutory reports are made on time to the Electoral Commission, HMRC and other relevant authorities.
• Analyse financial information to prepare annual statutory accounts explaining and justifying these to the Party's auditors, including all supporting schedules and reconciliations.
• Support the development of finance policy and procedures that protect the reputation of the Party ensuring decisions are made in reference to policy and adherence to procedure.
• Ensure you protect the personal data you work and follow the Data Protection and Information Governance policies and procedures of the Party

Your skills and professional experience:

Qualifications and experience

• Proven track record in developing effective financial systems, procedures and policies
• Qualified CIMA/ACCA/ACA or equivalent
• Solid experience of audit and preparation of annual financial accounts under UK GAAP or IFRS
• Experience of managing the full finance function for an SME in a heavily regulated environment, or a not–for–profit organisation with extensive knowledge of management accounting
• Experience of preparing and critiquing business cases and profit and loss sheets
• Demonstrable experience of entrepreneurial achievement and success in a relevant area to this role
• Experience of developing productive professional partnerships with key customers and stakeholders
• Demonstrable knowledge of current best practice accounting standards and company and/or charity legislation
• In depth knowledge of VAT, Corporation Tax and payroll legislation
• Detailed knowledge and understanding of finance software systems and CRM integrations

Skills and abilities

• Proven ability to inspire, motivate and develop a high performing team to achieve success
• An ability to analyse complex financial information and communicate this in easily understood formats to non–financial managers
• Able to manage multiple and sometimes conflicting priorities and resolve complex issues sensitively
• Highly developed commercial awareness
• Excellent attention to detail
• Excellent IT skills, including all Microsoft office packages
• Strong negotiation skills, particularly regarding debt recovery and liaising with external suppliers
• Ambitious, entrepreneurial and highly professional in areas of expertise
• Excellent relationship building and influencing skills with the ability to tailor message and style appropriately
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
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