Harris Hill is recruiting for a Head of Finance for this Overseas Education charity based in London (Hybrid)

- Salary: £45,000pa - £50,000pa depending on experience
- Hybrid working: 3 days a week is required at their offices based in Central London
- Management: There is no management of staff in this role (This is a standalone role)
- Reporting: To CEO
- Timings: The client would like to arrange interviews as soon as possible

This is an exciting time to join our small charity, but growing team, in a role that offers you the opportunity to rapidly grow and make a real, tangible difference in the lives of disadvantaged children and women.

We are looking for an experienced and skilled Head of Finance to join our team. Reporting to the CEO, you will be expected to provide accurate, insightful financial information to the CEO and the Board, helping them drive and shape the charity's financial strategy. You will also liaise directly with our banks, work closely with our external auditors, and help improve and streamline the charity's financial processes and systems.

Responsibilities
Financial Planning & Management
- Prepare the annual budget and forecasts as necessary during the year
- Prepare annual statutory accounts and manage external audit process
- Prepare and file annual returns to the Charity Commission and Companies House
- Produce monthly management reports and present to CEO and Trustees as appropriate
- Ensure all financial policies and procedures are up to date and being followed by staff and volunteers. Develop new procedures if necessary
- Support the CEO with financial information and analysis when required
- Prepare financial reports to support strategic decision-making
- Maintain oversight of any financial risks that the charity might be exposed to
- Improve overall cost efficiency, proactively monitoring and managing costs and suggesting improvements where possible

Financial Accounting
- Ensure all transactions are accurately and appropriately recorded on the charity's financial system (Xero), ensuring correct coding of income and expenditure and correct identification of restricted and unrestricted funds
- Reconcile bank accounts and other control accounts
- Manage cashflows and prepare cash flows as necessary
- Review and authorise payments and reimbursements
- Maintain records of bank mandates and authorised signatories and manage any changes
- Ensure timely submission of Gift Aid claims

Fundraising
- Ensure accurate records of all donors and grantors are maintained, including Gift Aid.
- Reconcile donations within the finance and CRM system
- Respond to queries from donors in a timely manner. Produce receipts and invoices when required
- Work closely with the Fundraising Team to ensure the charity meets its income targets, undertaking donor relationships as appropriate

Payroll
- Maintain information regarding staff's salaries, pensions, and leaves
- Work with external payroll provider to manage monthly salary payments, PAYE, and pensions

Personal Specifications:
- A demonstrable track record of success in financial management, financial control, planning, forecasting, cashflow, audit, risk management and compliance
- A professional accountancy qualification is desirable
- Good working knowledge and experience of charity accounting SORP, HMRC and other statutory regulations and reporting requirements and returns
- Good working knowledge of Xero or similar
- Good working knowledge of CRMs, ideally Donorfy, ideally integrated with Xero or similar
- IT literacy and a good working knowledge of Microsoft Office, especially Excel
- Good experience of producing budgets, financial procedures, and financial policies
- Experiencing of presenting information to Executive Team and Board
- The ability to interpret and present financial information for non-financial managers
- Highly organised and efficient
- Effective at managing a diverse workload through good time management and prioritising
- Conscientious, with close attention to detail
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team and interact with colleagues in a helpful and supportive manner
- Ability to problem solve and work positively to deliver results
- Willing to contribute new ideas and identify and share new initiatives
- Able to take the initiative, identify additional tasks that need to be done and work independently when required
- Must be authorised to work in the UK and not require work authorisation by our company for this position or in the future