Finance and Investment Director

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Job Description

Job Title: Finance and Investment Director

Reporting to: Chief Executive Officer

Responsible for: Team of Finance, Investment and Governance Professionals. Presently Head of Finance, Governance Manager, Management Accountants, Investment Portfolio Manager, Senior Investment Manager, Purchase Ledger and Finance Coordinator

About the role: A member of the Executive Team, leading Reall's Finance, Investment and Governance portfolios.

Strategic leadership ensuring the financial wellbeing and good governance necessary to underpin organisational growth as well as the delivery of the mission: making housing markets work for people, prosperity and planet.

Responsibilities

Finance

• Strategic financial planning, including annual and multi-year budgeting and monitoring.
• Produce accurate and timely financial forecasts.
• Maintain tight cashflow management.
• Lead the external audit & the production of Reall's Statutory accounts.
• Lead the financial aspects of all investor relationships.
• Ensure timely preparation of cashflow forecasts, financial analysis, management accounts and other ad hoc project reports.
• Lead the group consolidation & setting up consolidated accounts framework.
• Oversee and participate in the day-to-day financial operations and transactions.
• Develop and implement the annual budget and financial plan for the organisation and its subsidiaries, in consultation with the senior leadership team and the board of trustees.
• Monitor and report on the financial performance and variances against the budget and forecast, and providing recommendations for corrective actions and improvements.
• Ensure that all financial policies and procedures are aligned with the strategic objectives and good practice and are regularly reviewed and updated.
• Oversee the preparation and submission of statutory accounts, tax returns, audit reports and other regulatory filings, ensuring compliance with UK GAAP, FRS 102, Charity SORP and other relevant standards and regulations.
• Liaise with external auditors, bankers, insurers, tax advisers and other stakeholders, and ensure that all queries and issues are resolved in a timely and satisfactory manner.
• Manage the financial risk and internal control framework and ensure that adequate safeguards are in place to prevent fraud, errors and misstatements.

Investment

• Manage the investment portfolio of the organisation and its subsidiaries, ensuring alignment with the strategic objectives and risk appetite.
• Lead, plan, develop and manage the operation of Reall's treasury and investment functions. Ensuring that disbursements & repayments are conducted in the most cost-effective way.
• Navigate potential issues that may affect the debtor's ability to repay. Oversee the stress testing of a partner's ability to repay, developing further financial modelling & establishing a partner's 'true' financial profile.
• Overall responsibility for the Credit Control function; ensuring that debtors/partners know what to pay & when to pay it as well as handling the consequences of non-payment.
• Rigorous commercial due diligence in advance of partner selection as part of the organisation's 8-step Assurance Framework to ensure partners are 'investment-ready' and on-going programme to continually review and raise commercial standards.
• Ensure all investments comply with rules and regulations, particularly on fund registration and repatriation.
• Ensure FX risk mitigation options are thoroughly explored.
• Attend the Investment Committee as a voting member of the Committee.
• Work closely with commercial subsidiaries, clarifying roles and responsibilities.
• Monitor and report on the investment performance, risks and opportunities, and provide recommendations for improvement.

Governance

• Develop and implement robust governance frameworks, policies and procedures for the organisation and its subsidiaries, ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and best practices.
• Provide advice and guidance to the board of trustees, senior management and other stakeholders on governance matters, including director duties, risk management, internal controls, due diligence and ethical standards.
• Represent the organisation and its subsidiaries in external forums and networks related to governance, finance and social impact.
• Lead the relationship with the Chair and Members of the Audit Committee.
• Ensure smooth handling of the relationship and responsibilities of the Non-Executives.
• Deliver accurate and timely financial reporting including cashflow reporting to the Audit Committee & Board.
• Drive forward the most efficacious group structure to support the delivery of Reall's mission.
• Ensure compliance with the requirements of tax and pensions legislation (including UK & overseas).
• Establish commercial Service Level agreements within Reall's Group and compliance with intra-company arrangements.
• Ensure compliance with the Charity Commission in the UK and any other appropriate regulators.
• Drive improvements in processes and ensuring all colleagues understand and comply with all financial regulations, procurement processes and adhere to the Schedule of Delegated Authority (SODA).
• Risk is strategically managed, with oversight of the Risk Matrix. Provide regular risk reporting to Audit Committee and Board.
• Propose the most effective governance arrangements in relation to the Green City Homes International subsidiary, other potential subsidiaries and potential presence in Africa and Asia.
• Ensure governance standards are maintained across the Reall Group
• Maintain high procurement standards and rolling review of policies to ensure they remain robust.

Leadership

• As a leader, you will be responsible for supervising, coaching and mentoring a team of professionals. You will ensure that the team possesses the appropriate skills, tools and guidance to perform their roles effectively and efficiently. You will also foster a culture of collaboration, learning and continuous improvement within the finance department and across the organisation.
• Promote a culture of financial awareness and accountability across the organisation, and ensuring that all staff and managers are trained and supported on financial matters relevant to their roles and responsibilities.
• Represent the finance function in the senior leadership team and with the Non-Executives and providing strategic advice and input on financial issues and decisions.
• Liaise closely across the business to deliver integrated accurate financial planning and reporting systems.
• Support Programme and Business Development colleagues with financial advice on commercial contracts and how best to contribute to core costs.
• Support the building of capacity to deliver against various contract types, including but not limited to cost reimbursement, time and material, fixed price, framework, and performance-based Programme management.
• Support Green City Homes International and other potential subsidiaries to deliver a successful and replicable commercial model.
• Contribute to capital raise and management of new funds to support the Reall group long term strategy.
• Support the CEO, Executive and Non-Executives with strategic financial, investment and governance advice.
• Provide joined up communications, role modelling inclusive behaviour.
• Actively contribute to strategic decision making and taking collective ownership.
• Contributing to the continuous improvement of Reall's services, products, tools, methods, systems, and standards.
• Serving cross-functionally in the execution of Reall's Strategy.
• Manage, coach, develop and inspire direct reports, peers, and colleagues.
• An ambassador for equality and promoting inclusion.

Changes to Responsibilities

The Chief Executive reserves the right to change the key activities from time-to-time to meet the strategic objectives in accordance with the job role.

Compliance

• Comply with the policies and procedures as set out in Reall's Staff Handbook and all relevant procedures and processes.
• Adhere to all relevant Data Protection legislation.
• At all times to work in a manner that ensures the health and safety of the post-holder, other staff, colleagues and visitors to Reall's premises.

• To uphold and promote the values and mission of the organisation in all aspects of work by displaying the behaviours we expect of colleagues in Reall:

Curiosity: We foster a culture of curiosity, encouraging questioning and learning to ensure that we stay at the forefront of the affordable housing sector, adapting to evolving challenges and opportunities.

Accountability: We hold ourselves accountable for our actions and outcomes, ensuring that we deliver on our promises and uphold the trust placed in us by our partners and stakeholders.

Respect: We treat every individual with respect, valuing diversity, and fostering inclusive partnerships. We believe that collaboration and mutual respect are essential for achieving meaningful and sustainable impact.

Enterprising: We approach our work with a spirit of entrepreneurship, constantly seeking innovative solutions and pursuing opportunities for growth and improvement.

Other requirements

This role is based in Coventry; we are currently hybrid with homeworking up to three days per week and occasional need to be in the office on other occasions. Possible very occasional international travel.

Package

Salary:

£90,000- £105,000

Hours:

Normal office hours are 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. We are open to flexible working patterns subject to the objectives and outcomes of the role being met. We are currently working hybrid with blended office and homeworking with the ability to work up to three days from home.

Annual leave:

33 days plus 1 additional day for every year of service (up to 38 days) plus an additional day off on your birthday

Probation:

Six months.

Notice period:

One week during probation, three months thereafter

Person Specification

Education: Qualified accountant (ACCA, CFA, CIMA, CCAB or equivalent)

Experience: At least 10 years at a senior level. Ideally experienced with SMEs, not-for-profit and/or regulated for-purpose businesses.

Key Competencies

Essential

• Strategic Leadership
• Strong technical accounting skills.
• Full understanding of financial reporting & to be able to demonstrate experience of satisfying complex diverse stakeholders (such as board members, HMRC, Companies House, Charity Commission, solicitors and auditors).
• Strong analytical and financial modelling skills.
• Experience of pulling together Group accounts & Consolidation.
• Understanding of financial statements and financial forecasting with the ability to interpret & present these findings orally & in writing to both financial & non-financial parties.
• Experience of trading overseas & the technical skills to understand the impact on Reall's balance sheet of FX revaluations.
• Business partnering skills with the ability to raise the financial capacity of an SME.
• Resilient, tenacious, flexible, entrepreneurial mind-set, that takes complete ownership of a project.
• Ability to motivate a team in an inclusive style.
• Excellent organisational skills and ability to prioritise workload and work independently.

Desirable

• Experience of managing a loan book.
• Experience of working in a Charity.
• Experience of Business Central/Microsoft Dynamics or similar ERP systems, financial reporting tools.
• International exposure, ideally in emerging markets.

Personal Qualities

• Presentable and confident
• Works well under pressure
• Learning attitude
• Good team player
• Constructive, flexible, and helpful
• Culturally sensitive
• Well organised and patient
• Able to work with minimal supervision and use initiative
• Able to work effectively in a team
• Able to prioritise own workload and to see a task through from start to finish