Finance Lead

HOURS: Full time and part time available. Harmless operate a 4-day working model with full time staff working 32 hours per week.,

• Attend an interview in person.


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• Complete an enhanced DBS disclosure.


MAIN PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF THE JOB

• Recognising our unique position as the leader and national provider in the field of self-harm and suicide prevention, the Finance Lead will support the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) in growing the organisation.


• It is Harmless long-term ambition that our services become fully self-funded and sustainable. You will work with the Senior Leadership Team to help build the Business Case and to continuously review and evaluate the organisation's ability to anticipate, prepare for, respond to, and adapt to, opportunities for organisation growth.


• You will work with the Senior Leadership Team to continuously review and evaluate the organisation's ability to anticipate, prepare for, respond to, and adapt to, risks, disruptions, and threats.


• To oversee and coordinate organisational financial activities and proactively plan to ensure Harmless CIC can absorb and adapt to an ever-changing changing external environment that puts us in the best possible position to achieve our financial and organisation goals and objectives, namely, to survive and grow.


• Provide leadership and direction for the financial management of the organisation, including supporting the development of strategy, long-term financial forecasts, and business modelling.


• To support, inform and empower the wider management teams by helping ensure services remain effective, efficient, and economical.


• This is an exciting opportunity for the right person to join a passionate, live saving organisation, which is keen to grow and further support the communities we serve., The Finance Lead takes responsibility to lead and oversee financial management and resource management under the guidance of the Senior Leadership Team.


• To develop financial management policies and procedures for the attention and approval of the Senior Leadership Team.


• To oversee financial governance and compliance with regulatory requirements related to finance at Harmless CIC.


• To develop a framework and structures for effective organisational financial management that includes (but not limited to): an up-to-date understanding of the organisational financial health; an ability to absorb, adapt and effectively respond to external and internal changes; high standard of financial governance and management; high standard of quality and security; and effective risk management.


• To ensure accurate financial reports that show a true and accurate picture of the financial health of Harmless CIC are provided to the SLT on a monthly basis, with an ability to offer further context or clarification as required.


• To ensure rigorous financial controls are implemented and upheld within Harmless CIC.


• Oversee budget setting and budgetary control.


• To identify and respond in a solution-focused approach to financial risks that may negatively impact Harmless CIC and our services.


• Be responsible for the financial management of contracts and funding streams.


• To oversee financial analysis activities to identify opportunities, trends, gaps, or variances.


• Support the wider Harmless management team with solid financial structures and direction so they are best placed to manage their services effectively, efficient, and economically.


• To be an integral part of the future success of our services and support the SLT in sourcing and securing new opportunities in the future across the UK. This includes working with the wider management teams to ensure funding opportunities are maximised by identifying financial gaps.


• To support the SLT to maintain and achieve long-term sustainability and financial resilience for our organisation and services through the development, implementation and continuous improvement of data collection systems, and data analysis systems.


• To support the SLT to build the business case for all services, which will ultimately influence future funding opportunities, and procurement opportunities.


• To effectively communicate and improve understanding of organisational financial position across the organisation.


• To attend key stakeholder meetings on behalf on the organisation as required.


• To build and maintain key stakeholder relationships, with particularly emphasis on individuals or groups instrumental to our medium and long term aims and objectives(s)


• To oversee budget and other financial management activities as required by the Senior Leadership Team.


• To be committed to continuous improvement and our organisational pledge to improve all aspects of our service.


Management

• You will oversee a finance team and empower them to succeed in their roles, and ultimately help others. You will work closely with your team and encourage them to have a voice in the development and implementation of organisational resilience and growth opportunities. This includes (but not limited):


• Ensuring they are given every opportunity to succeed in their roles and uphold their contract of employment.


• Collaborating with your team in a meaningful way and implement positive changes where appropriate.


• Setting a positive example to your team and upholding the ethos of the Senior Management Team with respect to the management of people.


• Meeting with your team regularly to 'check-in' and ensure they are working effectively, efficiently, and reasonably.


• Raising any concerns about a member of your team with the SLT. This includes (but not limited to): workload, competency, performance, professional conduct, feedback from others, concerns over their ability to manage the client group.
  
  Finance: You will hold an appropriate accounting qualification (ACA/ ACCA/CIMA) or equivalent (essential). You will have experience of successfully overseeing financial management, budgeting, and accounting activities at similar organisations (essential).


• Organisational: An alignment with Harmless CIC values, ethos, and standards, including a proven commitment to continuous improvement. (Essential)


• Quality: A track record for upholding the highest financial standards and governance. (Essential)


• Resilience: An ability to identify and respond to an ever- changing external environment that puts us in the best possible position to achieve our goals and objectives, namely, to survive, evolve and grow. (Essential)


• Forward thinking: An ability to identify and maximise opportunities and strengths to the benefit of its stakeholders both in the short-term, medium term and long-term. (Essential). And an ability to identity and respond to disruptions, challenges, and threats from an ever-changing changing internal and external environment. (Essential)


• Policy: To be aware of organisational, local, and national policy changes to inform financial management policy at Harmless CIC. (Essential)


• Building Relationship: A history of building effective relationships and maintaining key stakeholder engagement up to senior level and policy level. (Essential)


• Business knowledge: A thorough understanding of Harmless CIC including its commitment to the communities it serves. (Desirable)


• Specialism: Experience in a senior role (Desirable) and extensive knowledge of working in a SME setting or the third sector (Desirable)


• People skills: Working collaboratively across our organisation, operations, and teams, to empower, inform, motivate, and contain our workforce. (Essential)


• Data and insights focus: Ability to read and use financial data and/or evidence to make informed decisions, measure success, and monitor performance in line with organisational priorities. (Essential) And an ability to present data and provide insight to help empower and inform the Senior Leadership Team to make responsible decisions. (Essential).
  
  Harmless is a Community Interest Company - CIC for short. This is a company with social aims, so we operate like a charity but with a great dedication to sustainability.

That means that whilst we seek grant and charitable funding we also operate a business (our training department) which generates income. All the money we raise then goes straight back into the operation to fund vital and life-saving services.
We have different pathways in our service, and different staff working across these pathways and these also operate in different localities.

Harmless is the registered Company responsible for managing and overseeing a variety of projects and initiatives including: The Tomorrow Project, The Harmless Academy and Fearless.

Harmless CIC values its staff and offers a wide range of benefits to everyone who works here. We're committed to developing talent and supporting colleagues to have great careers. To support with that, some of the benefits we offer include:

• Flexible working arrangements.


• 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays, pro rata, on entry, increasing up to 35 days plus bank holidays, pro rata.


• Occupational sick pay up to 30 standard working days per annum


• Employer pension contribution up to 8%.


• Other staff reward and recognition initiatives that operate throughout the year.


• Access to Harmless' CPD accredited specialist training


• Access to Harmless' annual CPD accredited national self harm and suicide prevention conferences.


• Other outstanding CPD opportunities including an opportunity to develop areas of special interest around self harm, suicide prevention and suicide bereavement.