Director of Finance and Performance

  • The Hospice of St Francis
  • Sep 12, 2025
Full time Executive

Job Description

Direct Reports: Estates Manager, Operational Finance Lead, Strategic Finance Lead

Main duties and responsibilities:

Directly assist the Chief Executive and the Board on all strategic and tactical financial matters

Discharge strategic financial management and financial control to ensure the long-term financial viability of the Hospice Ltd and Hospice Trading Ltd

As a member of Executive Team to work in partnership with the Board to execute the charity strategy

Clear empowering leadership to ensure effective management, organisation, and delivery of objectives

Close and effective partnership working with the Charity Treasurer

Accountable for the effective working of the Finance and Resources committee and Capital planning group with high calibre support to committee chairs, our Treasurer and Deputy Chair of the Board respectively

Executive attendance and effective contribution at Board, Income Generation Committee, Finance and Resources Committee and the Annual General Meeting

Accountability for digital capability of the Charity to sustain pace and productivity across the organisation

Overall accountability for the capital programme

Director representative on the Hospice Lottery Partnership Board

Accountability for the SIRO, SORP and Charity Commission Guidance and corporate governance with specific reference to financial company secretary functions

Accountability for the collection and processing of financial data to ensure decisions and strategy are informed by accurate integrated information and analysis

Ensure accrual accounting is central to the Trust s finance systems to provide an accurate financial picture

Oversee the financial management and accounting systems and be accountable for all finance and finance-related administration systems

The Hospice of St Francis supports flexible working, paid carers leave and jobshare

Key Accountabilities, Responsibilities & Tasks

Departmental & Role Specifics

Seek out methods and practices to minimise financial risk, cyber security breach and fraud

Support the Board of Trustees in the discharge of their responsibilities for reserves

Accountability for the three year rolling financial plan of the Charity

Manage the cash flow of the Charity, ensuring the Charity meets its liabilities as they fall due and implement the Trust s Savings and Investment Policy and Financial Free Reserves policy.

Co-ordinate the Charity s insurance requirements, liaising with insurance brokers to ensure adequate insurance cover is maintained and ensure claims are dealt with

Accountability for performance to contract and contract review with our external ICT providers

Overall accountability for the hard and soft facilities annual plan and health and safety compliance supported by the Head of Operations

Support the implementation of EPOS and accurate and timely financial information on trading

Undertake benchmarking exercises from time to time to assess value for money.

Disaster prevention planning, review and implement the Charity Business Continuity Plan

Excellent analytical and numeracy skills with accuracy and consistency

Skilled in evaluating performance to contract, constructing tender processes and executing them effectively

Strategic and operational risk management

Prepare and monitor financial reports with explanation of variances, including management accounts and cash flow forecasts

Develop our commercial portfolio, including competitor analysis for market entry

Train and supervise staff to support assurance of adherence to the charity finance policy and procedure

Complete the statutory year-end accounts; manage the audit for the Charity and its trading subsidiary

Reconcile and submit the Charity s Annual Partial Exemption Special Method for VAT recovery

Report to the Trust s Leadership Team and Board on financial matters including explanation of variances, and the financial position of the Trust and its subsidiary and on any issues requiring action.

Ensure rapid counting, receipt and banking of donations to minimise the differences in reporting between two different systems (access dimensions and donorflex) ensuring the Joint Directors of Fundraising and Income Generation Committee have timely and accurate information

Co-ordinate the Board s Finance & Resources committee; agenda, meeting dates, and review of relevant financial policies and the annual audit of accounts

Lead budget and forecasting processes, develop, maintain and update effective procedures and standards on budget, financial control and productivity.

Advise and assist Department Heads and budget holders

Bank reconciliation, Quarterly VAT Submission (Making Tax Digital),

Month-End and Year-End Process

Model the impact of planned pay awards with accountability for annual adjustments

Monthly payroll changes to external Payroll advisors; Auto-enrolment Pension submission and PAYE

Qualifications, Skills, Experience, Knowledge & Approach

Qualified ACA or ACCA accountant

10 years experience in all aspects of accounting/finance for medium sized organisations

Excellent current knowledge of PAYE and VAT

Management responsibility for a finance team

Oversight of IT functions

Completion of accounts and audit information packs and resolution of issues as specified by the Auditors

Presenting and interpreting financial information to a range of stakeholders

Effective financial management and control through delegated budget holders

Leadership of productivity &/or efficiency programmes

Commercial experience at a senior level

Skilled in being able to quickly establish effective relationships at all levels (internal and external) with gravitas and strength.

Skilled in implementing system and business change

Business continuity planning skills

Superior attention to detail, even when working under pressure

Highly competent use of Microsoft Office 365 Suite with particular expertise in Excel

Charity Finance and Governance

Excellent current working knowledge of accounting systems and payroll systems including Access Dimensions

Excellent understanding of unconscious bias in your own practice

Data protection, Information Governance and GDPR

Key Accountabilities, Responsibilities & Tasks

Communication

Creative and approachable leader with gravitas who communicates clearly with colleagues

The ability to inspire others direct reports, at executive team, the wider organisation Board, committee and with supporters, donors and stakeholders

Diplomatic, persuasive with excellent negotiation skills

The ability to speak more than one language relevant to the population served

Internal & External Contacts

Decision Making

Solution focused approach, be ready to listen to others ideas and share our vision for what it means to be Outstanding

Able to get ideas across quickly and effectively and gain relevant buy-in and support

High level organisational and planning skills

Solution focussed approach

High level of personal integrity and honesty

Positivity and highly self-motivated

Effective team player

Mental and Physical Consideration. Working Conditions & Environment

Commitment to the aims and ethos of the Hospice

Strong facilitation skills - able to lead a team through effective idea generation to collation of output from group work

Critical thinking and analytical skills

The ability to work from different locations

Continually strive to improve the business

Development of others to succeed

Keen to develop self within role

Health & Safety

Understand and comply with all Health and Safety, Fire and Infection Control regulations

Complete all mandatory training and ensure compliance of direct reports and contractors

Safeguarding

Act in a manner at all times to safeguard the interests of individual patients/clients and their families and justify public trust and confidence in the Hospice of St Francis