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Financial Controller

£35,000 to £40,000 depending on experience

 Llwyngwern , Wales

 

The Centre for Alternative Technology is an education, research and visitor centre demonstrating practical solutions for sustainability. CAT inspires, informs and enables people to achieve positive changes in their personal and work lives and local communities. CAT is a national charity based in mid Wales and celebrated its 40th anniversary last year. The post is based at the picturesque Llwyngwern site, within easy reach of Machynlleth, the Snowdonia National Park and Cardigan Bay.

This is a key position within the organisation to oversee and ensure the effective financial management of CAT Charity Limited within the Finance Department.

Experience of the charity and educational sectors is not essential but experience of working in a multi revenue stream business would be beneficial.

The Financial Controller will be part of the Senior Management Team working closely with the CEO and Charity Trustees supporting the development one of UK’s most established and well-respected environmental organisations.

In this hands-on role, the Financial Controller will manage a small team of Finance Department staff and will lead on the production of management information and on the development and implementation of financial systems to support the growth strategy of the organisation.

The role involves overall financial management for the organisation including the promotion of the short and long term financial viability of the organisation, and ensuring due consideration of financial matters in the development, review and implementation of strategy.

The Financial Controller is responsible for active management of the organisation’s cash balances to support the growth of the organisation. The postholder also advises the Board of Trustees and CEO in relation to financial compliance and risk management issues.

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

  • Producing weekly, monthly and annual financial information as needed
  • Responsibility for management of the Finance Department staff
  • To lead on the training of departmental budget heads on financial matters, and to ensure all staff comply with financial regulations as appropriate
  • To maintain appropriate accounting and financial systems in order to satisfy the management information needs of the organisation
  • To work with departmental budget heads to prepare the annual budgets
  • To ensure that significant variances from budget are explored with budget holders by the Finance Department
  • To ensure that flexed projections are prepared on a quarterly basis
  • Maintain regular contact with the auditors and legal advisers in relation to key developments
  • To ensure best value is obtained in the provision of banking, insurance and other financial services, within the framework of CAT’s ethical and environmental standards
  • In collaboration with the CEO, actively manage the Charity’s existing and projected cash balances to ensure the effective functioning of the organisation and support growth plans
  • Maintain financial systems to ensure integrated forecasting and variance analysis of budgets and forecasts
  • Take responsibility for the accuracy of the figures in the financial reporting documents and organisational growth plans
  • Management, development and implementation of financial procedures and policies
  • Develop and oversee systems for purchasing and delegated spending authority
  • Develop and oversee systems that enable departmental and Finance Department monitoring of actual income and expenditure compared to budget
  • Review and expand the use of IT for financial management across the organisation
  • Develop the methodology for calculation of central overheads in fundraising bids/tenders
  • To take final responsibility for credit control and advise the CEO on opportunities for reducing expenditure without threatening growth and development plans

STATUTORY

  • To maintain appropriate accounting and financial systems in order to satisfy Company law requirements
  • To monitor and manage compliance with financial accounting and reporting standards, relevant financial laws and regulations
  • To ensure the preparation of statutory annual accounts for CAT Charity Limited in accordance with statutory requirements and to liaise with auditors on all aspects of the statutory audit
  • To assist the CEO in the compilation of the annual report and returns to the Charity Commission and Companies House
  • To ensure that all VAT returns and other taxation returns are completed on a timely basis, and to ensure compliance with relevant tax legislation in a tax-efficient manner

BUSINESS PLANNING

  • To ensure the effective implementation of organisational financial strategy in line with overall strategy, making recommendations to the CEO and Trustees
  • Support the CEO and Senior Management Team in assessing new income opportunities and developing business plans that support them
  • To take part in the development of a rolling three year strategy and forecasts, offering long term, year on year continuity to this process
  • Report on implementation of financial strategy to the Board of Trustees

GENERAL

  • Any other duties appropriate to the role as defined by the CEO and Charity Trustees