The F&BS Director has overall responsibility for the day-to-day activities of the Organisation’s finance team, ensuring the provision of accurate, timely and appropriate financial information to the Organisation and its stakeholders, whilst maintaining compliance with all legislative and regulatory financial requirements and internal policies, supported by a robust framework of financial controls. Other responsibilities include the IT function, procurement, assets/ liabilities register, contract management framework, company-wide insurance provision, pension provision, payroll, contracts/ lease oversight, managing and maintaining the Risk Register, VFM strategy / action plan and strategic business plan.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Strategy and Leadership

• As a member of the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) actively contribute to the long-term development and success of WHA

• Play an effective role in the leadership of WHA across the organisation as a whole

• Ensure WHA’s positive financial performance and sustainability across the whole business including Footsteps nursery provision

2. Accounting and Financial Controls

• Support and advise the Board of Trustees and the ELT on WHA’s current and future financial position and performance

• Oversee the continuous improvement of financial processes to achieve maximum efficiency, VFM and good practice

• Oversee the preparation of annual statutory accounts and monthly management accounts for the whole business

• Ensure that WHA’s financial affairs comply with relevant legislation and regulation

• Ensure that the finance team works closely and effectively with all operational teams, budget holders and managers

3. Treasury Management and Investment

• Oversee cash flow and treasury management

• Arrange cash flow forecasts and oversee debt management

• Manage the investment of cash and surplus funds balancing optimal returns with appropriate risk

• Manage relationships with investment fund managers/ lenders & other key stakeholders as appropriate, ensuring that the resources are deployed effectively, and that WHA is maximising investment and income generation opportunities to enable further reinvestment in stock, assets and services.

4. Budget Setting /Forecasting & Business Planning

• With the Finance Team, proactively plan the annual budget setting process working closely with ELT and budget holders

• Produce budget setting information and timeframes

• Lead and oversee the budget setting process for the whole business reporting to Board members in a timely manner to achieve legal and regulatory timeframes

• Undertake periodic year end forecasts involving ELT/ budget holders as appropriate

• Lead and manage the company’s strategic business planning process to cover the whole organisation reporting to ELT and Board members and liaising with key stakeholders.

• Ensure regular stress testing of the business plan

5. Reporting & performance management

• Ensure that the Finance Team provides accurate and timely management accounts each month & quarterly accounts to Board members

• Ensure that the CEO, ELT, budget holders and managers are provided with analysis and support from the finance team, including support around pricing, procurement, bids, grants and tenders

• Presentation of financial reports to the ELT, Board and subcommittees

• Organise and provide papers for the Board and subcommittee meetings

• Prepare, contribute and submit any regulatory reports as required of the role i.e. RSH, FCA, HMRC, Ofsted, LA and Homes England

• Maintain and oversee the strategic Risk Register linking in with the CEO/ ELT

• Maintain and oversee the VFM strategy and action plan linking with the CEO/ELT

• Ensure regular reporting in respect of financial performance information, KPIs including VFM metrics and carry our regular benchmarking with the sector.

• Deliver proactive and supportive financial leadership across the key operational areas of asset management, property development, housing management, the nursery and the back office central functions, driving value for money through insight and analysis.

• Deliver an efficient and effective treasury management function, ensuring cash and loan utilisation is optimised, investments risks are understood and deliver a return in line with expectations; ensure operation in line with the Organisation’s treasury policy.

• Responsible for the collation and preparation of the accurate and timely reports to the Board, including the regular standing items relating to financial, treasury and investment performance, ensuring any risks are highlighting and the impacts and any actions are clearly articulated and understood.

• Oversee the accurate and timely rent and service charge setting annually for the Organisation.

• Be responsible for delivering accurate and timely financial submissions to meet all the Organisation’s financial regulatory and legislative requirements to our external stakeholders such as Regulator of Social Housing, Homes England, funders and investors and HMRC returns.

• Be responsible for overseeing the overall external audit process and delivering accurate and timely year end statutory accounts for each year end to all relevant stakeholders.

• Ensure value for money is continuously embedded across the organisation through efficient and effective processes and controls, regular education and financial awareness sessions, ensuring collaboration with colleagues.

• Ensure the finance information systems are fit for purpose and ensure efficient and effective processing of information and reduction of manual processes

• Ensure data quality is a key focus across the team to ensure accurate information and robust validation of data is being carried out on information being used to perform key calculations being reported for assurance purposes.

6. Payroll/Pensions/ Insurance Provision

• Ensure that the payroll systems & processes work effectively and efficiently with input from the Finance Team and HR

• Review and approve year -end tax and pension returns

• Manage relationships with pension, life assurance providers, insurance providers and payroll contractors

• Ensure suitable insurance cover is in place across the business at all times and lead on all aspects related to this and any future re-procurement of insurance cover for the business

• Review and oversee the Company’s pension provision

7. Information Technology & Business Continuity Planning

• Provide leadership and management to the IT team

• Ensure that IT is effectively used to support and develop business activities and goals Ensure business continuity arrangements in the event of an IT system failure

• Management of WHA’s intranet / website

• Oversee the Business Continuity plan for the whole business and ensure regular review and testing of this.

8. Property Development/ Business Growth /Income streams Procurement, Bids & Tenders

• Oversee financial aspects in all property transactions and disposals including lease arrangements

• Ensure eligible rental income is maximised and appropriate internal charging and collection arrangements are in place

• Review and support the development/ business growth strategy

• Oversee procurement processes in respect of governance and financial information including bids/ tender pricing, feasibility & viability appraisals

• Oversee all property development financial accounts, transactions, feasibility/viability proposals and any grants/ contracts in line with financial regulations and processes.

• Oversee and lead in respect of the company’s procurement framework, policy and practice.