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Job profile
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Job details
Job details
Job reference
WREQ000460
Date posted
08/04/2021
Application closing date
23/04/2021
Location
Blank
Salary
Competitive
Package
Generous benefits package
Blank
Blank
Job category/type
Blank
Blank
Financial Controller
Job description
The College is a large and complex organisation, with a turnover of £30m, a Balance Sheet of £360m, including an investment portfolio of £250m consisting of just under 8,500 acres of rural properties with their ancillary residential, commercial, sporting and woodland interests in Hampshire, Dorset and Cambridgeshire, twenty two residential
properties in Winchester which are let out on the open market, and a diversified portfolio of equities, fixed income and alternative investments.
The position reports directly to the Bursar and has significant input into the development of strategic planning and, importantly, ensures the financial robustness of the College’s position.
The role is wide-ranging with a mix of staff management, financial and management accounting, compliance, forecasting and reporting. It requires an awareness of trends and performance issues within the organisation and impact on overall targets.
This role requires establishing, maintaining and developing professional relationships with staff at all levels throughout the organisation. This will involve close liaison with other members of the Bursary senior management, the Headmaster and his academic leadership, budget-holders and other staff, the Governing Body as well as key external suppliers and advisers and other stakeholders.
The Financial Controller will be a business partner, providing financial and strategic advice and recommendations with clarity of thought in planning and delivery to the Bursar. He/she will support the senior managers and budget holders in all aspects of financial management and offer financial guidance and advice, promoting financial understanding across the organisations.
The role is responsible for all aspects of the College’s accounting processes and systems, including but not limited to sales ledger, fees ledger, purchase ledger, payroll, cashbook and cashiering.
This role is based in Winchester.
Main Responsibilities
• Manage the College’s finance function and to be responsible for the operation of the accounts department (team of 7).
• To ensure the provision of timely and accurate accounting information.
• To manage and motivate the accounts department staff, including responsibility for recruitment, appraisals and training.
• To prepare and draft annual accounts for the College and its trading subsidiaries.
• To plan and control the year end process and audit, including liaison with external auditors.
• To prepare as necessary accounts and other financial reports for the College’s funds.
• To prepare, in conjunction with and for review by the Bursar, the annual budget and to drive the annual budget process.
• To help identify cost saving initiatives across the School.
• To prepare year-end and longer term forecasts and cash flows.
• To produce internal management accounting information on a monthly basis to support effective control of the budget within the Bursary and by departments across the School.
• To prepare termly management accounts and reports for presentation to the Finance Committee and Governing Body.
• To attend Finance Committee, Investment Committee and Audit & Risk Committee meetings together with Governing Body meetings.
• To prepare such other reports and financial models and analysis for the Governing Body and its committees as may be required.
• To ensure compliance with all regulatory, tax and appropriate accounting requirements.
• To take the lead in monitoring and forecasting the College’s cash balances and requirements and managing cash balances to maintain sufficient working capital while maximising interest income with due regard to risk.
• To manage banking and other financial relationships.
• To maintain and reconcile records of the College’s investments and manage relationships with external investment managers.
• To ensure that appropriate systems and internal controls are implemented and maintained.
• To lead on tax and VAT compliance and planning.
• To be responsible for credit control.
• To manage, in conjunction with the Bursar, the assessment of Bursary applications from pupils and parents.
• To manage the payroll process, ensuring accurate processing of the payroll and all HMRC reporting requirements, including P11D and PSA returns.
• To investigate and promote ways of improving the efficiency of the finance office, including the introduction and application of relevant technology.
• To oversee the financial and tax management of the College’s trading subsidiaries including companies’ statutory, VAT and tax returns and the gift aiding of profits to the College.
• To provide company secretarial services to all group entities.
• To manage and administer the College’s Fees-in-Advance Scheme, including correspondence with parents.
• With the HR Director, control and plan the College’s pension arrangements and in particular liaise with the Teachers’ Pensions.
• To maintain the fixed asset register.
Candidate Specification
The Financial Controller should be confident and determined, able to demonstrate a positive and flexible approach to work and have the ability to manage and motivate all levels of the staff. The role entails some occasional travel, mainly to London, as well as some evening and weekend work, and should be regarded as being more than just a ‘9 to 5’ job.
Essential
• Qualified accountant (ACA or ACCA).
• Experience of working in a SME with a “sleeves rolled up” attitude
• Demonstrate experience of providing strategic and financial support up to Board level.
• Detailed knowledge and a track record for timely delivery of financial and non-financial accounts and reports.
• Knowledge of direct and indirect tax compliance and planning.
• Strong communication skills, both in writing and in person.
• Good IT skills with a good working knowledge of Excel and Word.
• Good management experience.
Desirable
Familiarity with charities and charity accounting would be an advantage.
The Package
Salary
Competitive, commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Hours of Work
This is a full time role, generally Monday to Friday, with addition of some evening and weekend requirement.
Holidays
The College leave year runs from 1 September to 31 August. This position will be entitled to the statutory holiday requirements.These are presently 28 days including Bank Holidays.Any Public Bank Holiday occurring during term time is deemed to be a normal working day.
Probation and Notice Periods
The first six months of employment will be a probationary period. During this time, conduct and performance will be reviewed. The College may extend the probationary period if it is deemed to be required. During the probationary period the notice required to terminate employment will be one week (by either the employee or employer). The notice will increase upon the successful completion of the probationary period.
Pension and Life Cover
On employment, employees will be auto-enrolled into the College’s pension scheme according to legislative thresholds. Those who are not eligible for auto-enrolment may still elect to join the College’s pension scheme. Initially, when joining the College’s pension scheme, employees will become a member of the College’s Group Personal Pension Plan (GPP). For this Plan, known as Tier 1, currently the employee contributes 5% and the employer 3%.
After nine months’ membership of the Tier 1 plan employees may opt to join Tier 2, which is also a Group Personal Pension Plan but contribution rates are 5% from the employee and 9% from the College. Employees in Tier 1 automatically qualify for a Life Cover of 2 times salary. On entry to Tier 2 Life Cover changes to 4 times salary.
Enhanced Disclosure and other Pre-employment checks
Winchester College is committed to safeguarding the welfare of children at the school. Therefore, this appointment will be subject to a successful Enhanced Disclosure and Barring check. This will provide details of convictions, reprimands, warnings, cautions and bind overs as per the DBS filtering guidance. A policy on the recruitment of ex-offenders, and information about DBS filtering, is available upon request from the HR Department if required. The college may approach previous employers to seek relevant experience or qualifications, in addition to obtaining references provided by the candidate.
Safeguarding
The post holder’s responsibility for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young persons for whom s/he is responsible, or with whom s/he comes into contact will be to adhere to and ensure compliance with the School’s Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy at all times. If in the course of carrying out the duties of the post the post holder becomes aware of any actual or potential risks to the safety or welfare of children in the School s/he must report any concerns to the School’s Designated Safeguarding Lead.
In addition to normal pre-employment checks, this appointment will be subject to a prohibition order check, a prohibition from management check, an enhanced DBS check and a safeguarding interview.
Data Protection
Winchester College collects and processes relevant personal data as part of its everyday operations and is obliged to process it in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018. The school is the Data Controller of this data under the Act and is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office; its registration number is Z5751669.
Any queries about this policy or how personal data is processed by the school should be referred to the Data Protection Liaison Officer.
Job title
Financial Controller
Job reference
WREQ000460
Date posted
08/04/2021
Application closing date
23/04/2021
Location
Blank
Salary
Competitive
Package
Generous benefits package
Blank
Blank
Job category/type
Blank
Blank
Job description
The College is a large and complex organisation, with a turnover of £30m, a Balance Sheet of £360m, including an investment portfolio of £250m consisting of just under 8,500 acres of rural properties with their ancillary residential, commercial, sporting and woodland interests in Hampshire, Dorset and Cambridgeshire, twenty two residential
properties in Winchester which are let out on the open market, and a diversified portfolio of equities, fixed income and alternative investments.
The position reports directly to the Bursar and has significant input into the development of strategic planning and, importantly, ensures the financial robustness of the College’s position.
The role is wide-ranging with a mix of staff management, financial and management accounting, compliance, forecasting and reporting. It requires an awareness of trends and performance issues within the organisation and impact on overall targets.
This role requires establishing, maintaining and developing professional relationships with staff at all levels throughout the organisation. This will involve close liaison with other members of the Bursary senior management, the Headmaster and his academic leadership, budget-holders and other staff, the Governing Body as well as key external suppliers and advisers and other stakeholders.
The Financial Controller will be a business partner, providing financial and strategic advice and recommendations with clarity of thought in planning and delivery to the Bursar. He/she will support the senior managers and budget holders in all aspects of financial management and offer financial guidance and advice, promoting financial understanding across the organisations.
The role is responsible for all aspects of the College’s accounting processes and systems, including but not limited to sales ledger, fees ledger, purchase ledger, payroll, cashbook and cashiering.
This role is based in Winchester.
Main Responsibilities
• Manage the College’s finance function and to be responsible for the operation of the accounts department (team of 7).
• To ensure the provision of timely and accurate accounting information.
• To manage and motivate the accounts department staff, including responsibility for recruitment, appraisals and training.
• To prepare and draft annual accounts for the College and its trading subsidiaries.
• To plan and control the year end process and audit, including liaison with external auditors.
• To prepare as necessary accounts and other financial reports for the College’s funds.
• To prepare, in conjunction with and for review by the Bursar, the annual budget and to drive the annual budget process.
• To help identify cost saving initiatives across the School.
• To prepare year-end and longer term forecasts and cash flows.
• To produce internal management accounting information on a monthly basis to support effective control of the budget within the Bursary and by departments across the School.
• To prepare termly management accounts and reports for presentation to the Finance Committee and Governing Body.
• To attend Finance Committee, Investment Committee and Audit & Risk Committee meetings together with Governing Body meetings.
• To prepare such other reports and financial models and analysis for the Governing Body and its committees as may be required.
• To ensure compliance with all regulatory, tax and appropriate accounting requirements.
• To take the lead in monitoring and forecasting the College’s cash balances and requirements and managing cash balances to maintain sufficient working capital while maximising interest income with due regard to risk.
• To manage banking and other financial relationships.
• To maintain and reconcile records of the College’s investments and manage relationships with external investment managers.
• To ensure that appropriate systems and internal controls are implemented and maintained.
• To lead on tax and VAT compliance and planning.
• To be responsible for credit control.
• To manage, in conjunction with the Bursar, the assessment of Bursary applications from pupils and parents.
• To manage the payroll process, ensuring accurate processing of the payroll and all HMRC reporting requirements, including P11D and PSA returns.
• To investigate and promote ways of improving the efficiency of the finance office, including the introduction and application of relevant technology.
• To oversee the financial and tax management of the College’s trading subsidiaries including companies’ statutory, VAT and tax returns and the gift aiding of profits to the College.
• To provide company secretarial services to all group entities.
• To manage and administer the College’s Fees-in-Advance Scheme, including correspondence with parents.
• With the HR Director, control and plan the College’s pension arrangements and in particular liaise with the Teachers’ Pensions.
• To maintain the fixed asset register.
Candidate Specification
The Financial Controller should be confident and determined, able to demonstrate a positive and flexible approach to work and have the ability to manage and motivate all levels of the staff. The role entails some occasional travel, mainly to London, as well as some evening and weekend work, and should be regarded as being more than just a ‘9 to 5’ job.
Essential
• Qualified accountant (ACA or ACCA).
• Experience of working in a SME with a “sleeves rolled up” attitude
• Demonstrate experience of providing strategic and financial support up to Board level.
• Detailed knowledge and a track record for timely delivery of financial and non-financial accounts and reports.
• Knowledge of direct and indirect tax compliance and planning.
• Strong communication skills, both in writing and in person.
• Good IT skills with a good working knowledge of Excel and Word.
• Good management experience.
Desirable
Familiarity with charities and charity accounting would be an advantage.
The Package
Salary
Competitive, commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Hours of Work
This is a full time role, generally Monday to Friday, with addition of some evening and weekend requirement.
Holidays
The College leave year runs from 1 September to 31 August. This position will be entitled to the statutory holiday requirements.These are presently 28 days including Bank Holidays.Any Public Bank Holiday occurring during term time is deemed to be a normal working day.
Probation and Notice Periods
The first six months of employment will be a probationary period. During this time, conduct and performance will be reviewed. The College may extend the probationary period if it is deemed to be required. During the probationary period the notice required to terminate employment will be one week (by either the employee or employer). The notice will increase upon the successful completion of the probationary period.
Pension and Life Cover
On employment, employees will be auto-enrolled into the College’s pension scheme according to legislative thresholds. Those who are not eligible for auto-enrolment may still elect to join the College’s pension scheme. Initially, when joining the College’s pension scheme, employees will become a member of the College’s Group Personal Pension Plan (GPP). For this Plan, known as Tier 1, currently the employee contributes 5% and the employer 3%.
After nine months’ membership of the Tier 1 plan employees may opt to join Tier 2, which is also a Group Personal Pension Plan but contribution rates are 5% from the employee and 9% from the College. Employees in Tier 1 automatically qualify for a Life Cover of 2 times salary. On entry to Tier 2 Life Cover changes to 4 times salary.
Enhanced Disclosure and other Pre-employment checks
Winchester College is committed to safeguarding the welfare of children at the school. Therefore, this appointment will be subject to a successful Enhanced Disclosure and Barring check. This will provide details of convictions, reprimands, warnings, cautions and bind overs as per the DBS filtering guidance. A policy on the recruitment of ex-offenders, and information about DBS filtering, is available upon request from the HR Department if required. The college may approach previous employers to seek relevant experience or qualifications, in addition to obtaining references provided by the candidate.
Safeguarding
The post holder’s responsibility for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young persons for whom s/he is responsible, or with whom s/he comes into contact will be to adhere to and ensure compliance with the School’s Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy at all times. If in the course of carrying out the duties of the post the post holder becomes aware of any actual or potential risks to the safety or welfare of children in the School s/he must report any concerns to the School’s Designated Safeguarding Lead.
In addition to normal pre-employment checks, this appointment will be subject to a prohibition order check, a prohibition from management check, an enhanced DBS check and a safeguarding interview.
Data Protection
Winchester College collects and processes relevant personal data as part of its everyday operations and is obliged to process it in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018. The school is the Data Controller of this data under the Act and is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office; its registration number is Z5751669.
Any queries about this policy or how personal data is processed by the school should be referred to the Data Protection Liaison Officer.