Job Title Job Holder Responsible to: Responsible for: Hours: Salary Band: Main Duties: JOB DESCRIPTION Head of Finance Vacant Chief Financial Officer Assistant Accountants 35 £34,000 - £46,500 1. Lead the Department 2. Translate Strategy into Operational Delivery 3. Manage Budgets and Outcomes 4. Ensure Compliance and Assurance 1. Lead the Department Lead the Foundation’s finance function, providing professional leadership, day-to-day oversight, and strategic insight to ensure the financial health and integrity of the organisation. Responsibilities include: • Act as the internal adviser to the CEO and Exec team on finance-related matters. • Promote a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and high ethical standards. • Use financial analytics and data to inform strategic planning, monitor trends, and support evidence-based decision making. • Work with the Head of innovation to lead the evolution of digital finance systems to streamline processes • Managing the finance team to deliver accurate and timely financial operations, reporting, and support across the organisation. • Providing leadership and development to finance staff, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and service. • Acting as a senior point of contact for finance matters across all departments and supporting the CFO in delivering the finance strategy. 2. Translate Strategy into Operational Delivery Work closely with the CFO and wider leadership team to ensure financial planning, budgeting, and reporting frameworks are aligned to the Foundation’s strategic goals and operational needs. Responsibilities include: • Leading the development and implementation of annual budgeting and forecasting cycles. • Translating organisational plans into financial models, resource allocations, and cost controls. • Supporting decision-making by providing financial insight, scenario analysis, and business partnering across departments. • Embedding financial systems and processes that enable agile, transparent, and compliant financial operations. • Liaise with HR to deliver all aspects of payroll. • Ensure all databases are updated on a regular basis with credible information, particularly Sage, PO System, Agilico and Float. • Ensure resources are utilised effectively and efficiently 3. Manage Budgets and Outcomes Ensuring accurate financial reporting, effective budgetary control, and strong financial stewardship across the Foundation. They will work with budget holders to ensure resources are optimised and aligned to key performance outcomes. Responsibilities include: • Report to the CEO, Rem and Noms Committee, FAR and Trustees on finance- related metrics, risks, and achievements. • Provide regular workforce and culture reports to the Executive Leadership Team to support oversight and governance • Monitoring income and expenditure, ensuring variances are identified, understood, and addressed. • Preparing monthly management accounts, dashboards, and performance reports for senior leaders and Trustees. • Supporting project and donor managers with budget setting, claims, and reconciliations. • Ensuring robust cashflow forecasting, reserves management, and financial sustainability planning. 4. Ensure Compliance and Assurance Maintain and improve systems of financial control and compliance, ensuring the Foundation meets all statutory, regulatory, and funder requirements. Responsibilities include: • Ensure monitoring and evaluation systems such as scorecards and traffic lights are up to date. • Update the Finance Manual. • Ensure all departmental activity complies with Foundation policies and relevant legislation, including safeguarding, GDPR, health and safety, and equality and diversity. • Conduct regular audits and risk assessments of working environments. • Maintain accurate records and support reporting to regulators, funders, and Trustees as required. • Support internal audits, evaluations and inspections, responding promptly and effectively to recommendations. • Ensuring compliance with accounting standards (including SORP), Charity Commission guidance, ONS and Companies House requirements. • Managing the year-end process, including audit preparation and liaison with external auditors. • Maintaining robust systems of financial governance, controls, and risk management. • Supporting procurement and contract processes to ensure value for money and financial due diligence. Other duties: You will be required to undertake other duties from time to time as required. Any potential permanent changes to your role will be discussed, and agreement reached prior to being undertaken. You will be notified of any permanent change in writing. In addition to your normal duties, you may be required to undertake additional or other duties as necessary to meet the needs of the Foundation of Light. Staff are required to work with volunteers in a way of mutual respect and commitment to organisational goals and objectives. This includes staff who do not directly supervise volunteers but may engage with them within the organisation. Behaviour and professional expectations: • Contribute actively as a member of the Senior Leadership Team, supporting cross- organisational collaboration and cultural leadership • Keep up to date with relevant and changes in government policies and strategies • Maintain working practices in line with Foundation of Light Equality and Diversity, Health and Safety and Safeguarding policies; self-awareness of own responsibility in these areas • Embed EDI and safeguarding in all aspects of work • Assist in data collection and analysis providing accurate management information systems for data led decisions • Ensure regulatory and legislative requirements are met at all times • Conduct should reflect the Staff Behaviour Policy (Code of Conduct); uphold Foundation core values (as shown below) at all times • Maintain the highest level of professionalism and confidentiality. • Attend working groups and CPD session as required • Build strong internal relationships and work in collaboration with colleagues to achieve the end goal • Ensure positive organisational messages and culture are maintained • Contribute to good housekeeping across all Foundation sites and equipment • Follow the laid down policies and procedures at all times • Work within the established administrative and financial systems to ensure smooth running and quality of projects Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Statement: The Foundation of Light (FOL) promotes Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and challenges all forms of discrimination through its internal operations and in the delivery of its services in accordance with and commitment to the 2010 Equality Act. The FOL protects the rights of individuals and advances equality of opportunity for all. It demonstrates the FOL’s commitment to continuous improvement in EDI to create meaningful and sustainable change. Safeguarding Statement We expect all staff, volunteers and partners to share our commitment to maintaining a culture of vigilance, and believe that all staff, volunteers and partners have a responsibility to report any concerns about the welfare of any child, young person or adult at risk. Foundation of Light Values: Innovative, Passionate, Excellence, Collaborative, Integrity, Agile. PERSONAL SPECIFICATION Requirement Skills and Abilities: Essential (E) or Desirable (D) How Assessed (CV, Interview, Practical) Strong financial management skills, including budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis. Excellent attention to detail with a high level of accuracy in reporting and data handling. Ability to develop and maintain robust financial systems, controls and reporting frameworks. Strong IT skills, including advanced proficiency in Excel and finance software. Ability to communicate financial information clearly to non-financial stakeholders, including senior leaders and trustees. Capable of managing competing deadlines and priorities in a fast-paced environment. Confident leading a supporting the development of colleagues. team and finance in Personal Attributes: High levels of integrity, professionalism and discretion. Methodical, analytical and solutions-focused. Strong communicator with a collaborative and team-oriented approach. Committed to the mission, values and social impact of the Foundation of Light. Proactive and able to take initiative while maintaining attention to detail. Calm under pressure and confident in decision- making. Knowledge and Understanding: for charity knowledge environment finance fund of including SORP and In-depth regulations, accounting. Good understanding of the regulatory and compliance charitable organisations. Awareness of good practice in internal controls, procurement and financial risk management. Understanding of the strategic role of finance in organisational sustainability and decision- making. Familiarity with charity governance and Trustee reporting responsibilities. Knowledge of the financial challenges and opportunities within the community, education, and/or sports sectors. E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E CV/APPLICATION CV/APPLICATION CV/APPLICATION CV/APPLICATION CV/APPLICATION CV/APPLICATION CV/APPLICATION I I I I I I CV/APPLICATION CV/APPLICATION CV/APPLICATION CV/APPLICATION CV/APPLICATION CV/APPLICATION Experience: Proven experience in a senior finance role, ideally within the charity, education or social enterprise sectors. Experience in preparing management accounts, forecasts and annual budgets, cashflow financial reports for senior management and boards. Experience of managing audits and year-end processes, including liaison with auditors and external advisors. Experience with restricted/unrestricted reporting requirements. Experience in overseeing payroll, procurement and financial compliance functions. Experience strategy and operational planning financial insight. funding, income and donor organisational through supporting grant in Qualifications (or Equivalent): Recognised accountancy qualification ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent) Degree-level education Evidence development Enhanced DBS check (or willingness to obtain) professional continuing (e.g. of E E E E E E E D E E CV/APPLICATION CV/APPLICATION CV/APPLICATION CV/APPLICATION CV/APPLICATION CV/APPLICATION CV/APPLICATION CV/APPLICATION CV/APPLICATION CV/APPLICATION