Michael Page The Rhodes Trust

 

Head of Accounting & Financial Strategy

Oxford

 

Closing Date: 26/08/16
Salary: £60,000 - £70,000 + USS Pension Scheme (18%)
Position Type: Permanent


 
The Trust is looking to recruit a Head of Accounting and Financial Strategy to join the Director of Finance's team at this exciting time in the expansion of the organisation. The Director of Finance is responsible for finance and accounting, human resources, IT, property management, health & safety and all support staff.

Details about the Client

The Rhodes Trust, based in Oxford, is an educational charity whose principal activity is to support scholars selected from over 30 countries to study at the University of Oxford. Over 220 are in resident in Oxford at any one time.

The Trust has engaged in a programme of strategic expansion, including new jurisdictions for Scholarships in China, the Middle East and Malaysia and West Africa, as well as creating an Institute to host mid-career fellows and support a community of social change leaders, and to establish Rhodes House as a convening locus for addressing world challenges. In short, the mission of the Trust is growing from an award for remarkable individual potential, to a richer lifelong fellowship of problem solvers dedicated to world betterment.

The Rhodes Scholarships support students who demonstrate a strong propensity to emerge as 'leaders for the world's future'. Selection committees seek young women and men of outstanding intellect, character, leadership, and commitment to service.

Nearly 8,000 Rhodes Scholars have gone on to serve at the forefront of government, the professions, commerce, the arts, education, research and other domains. They are well known advocates for expanded social justice, and have advanced the frontiers of science and medicine.

The Trust currently has an endowment in excess of £200 million and an annual expenditure budget of £14 million. The remit of the Trust's financial operation has expanded rapidly to include accounting for the new jurisdiction Scholarships and the Atlantic Institute, a newly established partnership between the Rhodes Trust and the Atlantic Philanthropies, which will add an additional £65m to the funds under management of the Trust, and will include a substantial Capital Project taking advantage of the existing space under Rhodes House to develop a world class convening facility.

Detailed Job Description

The Head of Accounting and Financial Strategy will be responsible for the day to day aspects of the Trust's accounting and reporting function. The post holder will report to the Director of Finance who is responsible to the Trustees for the overall financial management and execution of the investment management strategy of the Trust.

The Head of Accounting and Financial Strategy will also work closely with the executive board of the Rhodes Trust, including the Warden, Director of Development, Director of Programmes and Alumni Relations, the Registrar and Director of Scholar Affairs, and the Dean of Scholarships.

Key responsibilities of the Head of Accounting and Financial Strategy include:

  • Production of annual Charity SORP accounts and the Annual Report and Financial Statements for audit and subsequent publication.
  • Responsibility for the annual audit and final preparation of accounts with Trust's chosen audit firm.
  • Ensuring follow up and proactive engagement on implementation of audit findings letter.
  • Preparation and monitoring of annual budgets.
  • Production of quarterly management accounts and reports, and provision of pro-active advice and support on these and related matters to budget-holders.
  • Review of construction of management reporting dashboards and close liaison with Finance Director on implementing changes to reflect fast moving nature of Trust's operations.
  • Attendance at quarterly Finance & Investment, Audit & Risk and Building Committee meetings.
  • Production of Finance & Investment, Audit & Risk, and Building Committee minutes.
  • Proactive follow up of actions arising across all Committees with Finance Director.
  • Management of the Finance Team.
  • Ensuring the operation and integrity of the Trust's accounting systems and associated software, and making recommendations for improvements in systems and overseeing implementation of approved changes.
  • Overseeing the management and financial control of bank accounts, cash flow and the preparation of cash flow projections; and in the issuing of invoices and the payment of bills (including Scholar stipends), payroll and pension contributions and donations receipts.
  • Monitoring the Trust's endowment assets (investments and other assets) on a regular basis, including evaluating private equity returns and overall investment performance.
  • Ensuring compliance with tax and VAT requirements.
  • Ensuring compliance with charity law and other regulations.
  • Preparing the Fund Accounting schedules including the different donor funds within the Public Purposes and Horizon Funds.
  • Assisting in the monitoring of risk management procedures and updating the Risk Register.
  • Provision of appropriate information on the Trust's finances, including forward projections, for use in Finance & Investment and Audit & Risk committees, development campaigns and events.
  • Attendance at College and University committees as required.

Candidate Profile

The position will suit a qualified accountant, who is a self-starter and a team player, with excellent attention to detail and strong interpersonal skills. The ideal candidate should be happy to work at the highest level of preparation of financial information and analysis through to more basic tasks as and when required given the size of the team.

The successful candidate will be a Financial Accountant with a recognised professional accounting qualification and be enjoying a successful career in the commercial, educational or charitable sector.

The candidate will also:

  • Be confident in managing staff.
  • Have a track record of preparing financial reports and commentaries.
  • Adapt to working at peak times and the ability to working calmly and cooperatively under pressure and to changing needs.
  • Be comfortable with modern accounting management systems and software.
  • Have strong analytical skills, accuracy and attention to detail.
  • Be able to communicate complicated financial issues both orally and in writing.
  • Have the highest personal integrity combined with discretion, loyalty and commitment.
  • Appreciate the ethos of a University/Collegiate system.
  • Ideally understand Charity SORP.

Whats on Offer?

£60,000 - £70,000 + USS Pension Scheme (18%) + 25 days holiday exclusive

Where specific UK qualifications are required we will take into account overseas equivalents. All third party applications will be forwarded to Michael Page.

Ref Code: MPGW13740367Z