Director of Finance

The Director of Finance will be an integral part of the Senior Management Team, with responsibility for the strategic and day to day management of Cathedral Finances. They will support the ongoing development and implementation of its multi year financial plan to underpin the Cathedral’s Strategic Plan.

The postholder will ensure law and regulatory compliance and that all aspects of financial planning and management are conducted to provide accurate, relevant and timely financial information to both budget holders and Chapter.

Main responsibilities

Strategic

• Overall responsibility for the finance function ensuring the accurate and timely presentation of monthly management accounts, budgets, cashflow forecasts and statutory accounts for the Cathedral.
• Reporting to Chapter on all finance related matters, making an effective contribution to the Cathedral’s financial decision making.
• Be part of the Senior Management Team, supporting Chapter and Heads of Department and working constructively with the Chief Operating Officer and Finance & Risk Committee.
• To work with the Chief Operating Officer to ensure that the Cathedral’s Strategic Plan is underpinned by a multi-year financial plan.
• Communicate the Cathedral’s finances to a range of stakeholders as required (staff, congregation, funders etc) clearly and concisely.
• To work with the Chief Operating Officer to ensure financial governance complies with best practice, alongside the regulations set down by charity law, the Charity Commission and the Association of English Cathedrals.
• To work with the Chief Operating Officer to maintain and develop financial sustainability, optimise the efficient use of resources (including investments) and identify exposure to risk.

Operational

• Preparation of monthly management accounts, with full fund accounting well as other forecasts and information as required.
• Regular financial monitoring and business support meetings with Heads of Department.
• Support/undertake the preparation of monthly bank and control account reconciliations, partial exemption VAT returns, gift aid claims.
• Produce and oversee the detailed annual budget, rolling 3-year financial plan together with re forecast during the financial year.
• Preparation of the annual statutory financial statements for the Cathedral. To ensure that the Cathedral’s endowment and restricted funds and investments are effectively managed and accessible to support cash flow or key projects as needed.
• Support the Chief Operating Officer and Heads of Department with project development by advising on financial and commercial plans, supporting the generation of business cases and financial forecasts for projects.
• Support with fundraising applications and regular reporting / submission to Church Commissioners and other funders. Oversight of Cathedral’s payroll arrangements (currently undertaken through DBF) ensuring all legal and HMRC requirements are being met.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant accounting standards, financial policies, regulations and all relevant legal frameworks, together with appropriate management and financial controls and reconciliations are in place, and that the Cathedral has effective banking arrangements.
• Be the lead liaison on the Cathedral’s relationship with our Bankers, Investment Managers and External Auditors.
• Oversee the work of the Accounts Support Officer to maintain the full function of sales ledger, purchase ledger and credit control.
• Oversee the work of the Accounts Support Officer to record all financial transactions carried out to include ensuring received income is recorded and banked in accordance with procedures and payment of all items of expenditure in accordance with procedures.

Governance

• Attend Chapter meetings and provide regular written and verbal reports.
• Work with the Chair of Finance & Risk Committee, Dean and Chief Operating Officer to ensure that management information is presented in a transparent way that enables strategic decision to be taken by Chapter.
• Attend the Finance & Risk Committee meetings, liaising with the Chair and Chief Operating Officer to ensure that the committee functions well.

Any other reasonable dutes and responsibilities that may be required by Chapter to support the Chief Operating Officer and Chapter in the smooth operation of the cathedral.

Key Bodies

• The Chapter
• The Senior Management Team
• Cathedral Finance and Risk Committee

Attendance at the meetings of these bodies is expected.

Training Requirements

The role will require the post-holder to complete the following:

• Basic Awareness Safeguarding Training
• Foundation Level Safeguarding Training
• ACT Counter Terrorism Training
• GDPR Training
• Fire Marshal Training

Terms and Conditions

Reporting to: Chief Operating Officer

Working hours: 37.5 hours per week

Salary: £55,000.00 gross salary

Place of work: Colmore Row, Birmingham, B3 2QB

Pension: Subject to meeting the relevant criteria you will be enrolled in the Cathedral’s Pension Scheme with 8% employer contributions.

Contract: Permanent Holidays: 36 days (including pro-rata statutory and public holidays entitlement).

This role is subject to a 6-month probation period.

This post is subject to an Basic DBS check.

For more information on the role and person specification please download the recruitment pack here. 

Application form is available here and can also be downloaded from the

section of our website and returned to

Join our Team

recruitment@birminghamcathedral.com.

Closing date for applications: 4 May 2026

Interviews will be held on: Week commencing 11 May 2026

For further information or an informal discussion about this role, please email Emma Kupsa at recruitment@birminghamcathedral.com