BLYTHSWOOD
JOB DESCRIPTION and PERSON SPECIFICATION
1. JOB IDENTIFICATION
Job Title:
Chief Finance Officer
Reports to:
Chief Executive Officer
Place of Work : Blythswood, Deephaven, Evanton
, Ross -shire, IV16 9XJ
2. JOB PURPOSE
The Chief Finance Officer (CFO) will provide strategic financial leadership to the CEO and Trustees,
shaping Blythswood’s financial sustainability, governance, and long
resources entrusted through donations, grants, legacies, and trading income, ensuring strong
stewardship that underpins Blythswood’s mission and service to people in need.
-term impact. The CFO will safeguard
3. ORGANISATIONAL POSITION
Chief Executive
Chief Finance Officer
HR and Finance Teams
4. BLYTHSWOOD’S VISION AND MISSION
Our Vision
To see people’s lives being changed
exploitation, and receive eternal life through the saving power of Jesus Christ.
Our Mission
To show God’s love, and offer the compassion, relief and hope that can change lives
forever.
- We bring good into times of crisis and extreme poverty through acts of kindness and the provision of
for good and forever as they are released from poverty, trauma and
for good and
immediate relief.
- We help people to change their longer
- In all our work, we seek to tell people of God
-term futures for good through education and rehabilitation.
’s love in sending his only Son, Jesus, so that those who
believe in him might not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). This is the good news that can
change lives forever.
We believe we can have the greatest impact for good by reaching out to people who are experiencing the
greatest disadvantage. Working with local partners who understand the needs of their communities, we
have opportunities to serve people in parts of Easte
rn Europe, Asia and Africa.
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5. MAIN TASKS, DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
A key role within Blythswood, taking overall responsibility for the Finance Department and its
function, the Chief Finance Officer will be responsible for
1. Financial Strategy & Leadership
o Develop and lead the charity’s long
o Advise the CEO and Trustees on financial sustainability, reserves, and risk.
o Shape investment and reserves policy to balance stability with growth.
-term financial strategy.
2. Financial Management & Compliance
o Oversee statutory accounts, annual reports, and external audits.
o Ensure compliance with UK charity law, Companies House, HMRC, OSCR, and SORP.
o Maintain and m onitor cashflow, financial controls, and effective use of resources
3.
Income Stewardship
o Lead financial management of donations, grants, legacies, retail trading, and other income
streams.
o Provide financial insight to support fundraising and
o Ensure transparent reporting to funders, donors, and regulators.
trading growth.
4. Governance & Risk
o Support the Board of Trustees and Finance Committee with accurate, timely reporting.
o Lead risk management processes, including reserves and contingency planning.
o Oversee wider support functions (HR, governance, or risk) as required.
5. Team Leadership & Relationships
o Lead, manage and develop the finance team with direct, personal involvement in both
strategic and operational activities.
o Build strong relationships with funders, donors, auditors, banks, and external advisers.
o Contribute as a member of the Executive , shaping cross
-organisation strategy.
6. Communication
o Possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and
influence a wide range of audiences.
o Translate financial and technical information into clear, accessible, and motivating
messages.
o Promote shared understanding and purposeful action through effective, transparent
communication.
S tandard Responsibilities:
1. Training, supervising and evaluating finance staff and developing them to achieve a high level
of proficiency and career growth
2. Maintain good housekeeping within your work area
3. Reporting problems, issues, accidents or incidents to your manager
4. Suggesting ways to improve the Health and Safety, or quality of work with which you are
involved
5. Identifying training needs to your manager
6. Maintaining Health and Safety regulations and, by the Organisation’s Health and Safety policy,
ensuring that the area in which you are working is safe for yourself, for other workers and
visitors
7. Administering and assisting in the development of management policies as appropriate
8. Ensuring compliance to all legislative requirements concerning Finance matters.
The above is not an exhaustive list of duties and you will be expected to perform different tasks as
required by your changing role within the organisation and the overall business objectives of the
organisation.
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6. COMMUNICATIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS
Inside the organisation
• Chief Executive Officer
• Board of Trustees & Board Finance Committee
– trusted adviser on financial sustainability and strategy.
– provides assurance, reports on compliance,
risk, and financial health.
Senior Leadership Team – collaborates to align finances with organisational priorities.
Finance team – leads, develops, and manages performance.
•
•
• Other managers and budget holders
– supports planning, monitoring, and accountability for
resources.
Outside the organisation
Funders and donors
•
• Banks and investment managers
• Auditors and external accountants
• Regulators (e.g. OSCR, HMRC, Companies House)
• Professional advisers (legal, pensions, property, insurance)
– demonstrates good stewardship and builds confidence in impact.
– manages cash flow, reserves, and investments.
– ensures compliance and transparent reporting.
– maintains legal and governance standards.
– seeks specialist guidance to
•
manage risk.
Suppliers, contractors, and partners
partnerships.
– negotiates value for money and sustains strong
7. PERSON SPECIFICATION
QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
Essential
1. Commitment to the statement of faith, the Christian ethos and
charit y which is a genuine occupational requirement for the role
the values of the
.
2. Active and evidenced membership of an evangelical Christian church
.
3. Professional accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA, or equivalent).
4. Significant senior financial leadership experience in
key role within the third
sector, business or public finance.
5. Knowledge of UK charity finance, SORP, and statutory reporting.
6. Strong strategic and commercial acumen, with experience of both donation and
trading income.
7. Proven ability to advise and influence Trustees, senior leaders, and external
stakeholders.
Preferred
8. Experience of managing finance in a retail or trading context.
9. Entrepreneurial visionary with ability to create robust plans.
10. Knowledge of international charity finance.
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OTHER REQUIREMENTS
-
-
-
-
Knowledge of (or ability to quickly learn) varied Financial IT systems.
Full Driving Licence
There is a Genuine Occupational Requirement that the post holder (a) is a mature Christian, (b)
with a firm local church commitment, (c) who can fully subscribe to the charity’s Statement of
Faith and (d) has a lifestyle which is consistent with Biblical g
Progressive attitude to learning and an ongoing willingness to adapt and change in line with the
evolving nature of the organisation
uidelines
Blythswood reserves the right to shortlist on the essential criteria only or on the essential and
preferred criteria as identified in the Person Specification as may be appropriate.
8. JOB DESCRIPTION ACCEPTANCE AND AGREEMENT
I confirm that I have read and understood this job description and agree that it accurately reflects the
responsibilities and expectations of my role at the date of signing.
All Job Descriptions are subject to review on an annual basis or as a result of
• a change of strategic
management
•
changing team/operational
requirements
• agreed staff development and appraisal needs and
objectives
Job Holder’s Name (please print):
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Job Holder’s Signature:
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Date:
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Manager’s Name (please print):
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Manager’s Signature:
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Date:
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