Chief Finance Officer

Here at Action For Humanity, we have an exciting opportunity for a Chief Finance Officer to join our team based in Salford, Greater Manchester. You will join us on a full-time basis, acing as an executive leader who will drive the charity’s success.

Action For Humanity is a charity that aims to provide aid and assistance to people affected by natural and man-made disasters. Our vision is a world of crises-resilient communities. Our mission is to mobilise and respond to emergencies and critical needs through humanitarian, development and peace-building action, helping affected communities survive, recover and build a better future.

The Chief Finance Officer will be responsible to prepare, manage and implement the financial strategy, policies, procedures, and financial controls framework at AFH. Reporting to the CEO and sitting on the Executive Leadership Team, the CFO will work closely with the charity’s leaders to deliver the charity’s objectives. H/she will ensure controls are effectively in place and functional, and h/she will ensure compliance with the rules and regulations AFH is bound by as a charity. The CFO will lead the Finance team and be ultimately responsible for all Finance objectives, including accounting, ledgers, reporting, forecasting, budgeting, audits, grant/fund management and treasury.

In particular, the CFO will:

• Ensure that the finance function is run effectively and efficiently, managing the team members;
• Provide the necessary high-level partnering and support to the rest of the organization both in the UK and worldwide;
• Ensure full compliance with all Finance-related regulations and ensure AFH’s financial procedures, record keeping, auditing, reporting are of highest standards;
• Have regular contact with the Board of Directors, CEO, leadership teams, Country Directors as well as various departments’ and units’ heads;
• Report to the Audit, Finance and Risk (AFR) committee all financial matters;
• Liaise with both internal and external auditors;
• Communicate effectively and systematically across the organisation;
• Engage with the wider external stakeholders by meaningfully interacting with governmental agencies, non-governmental organisations as well as other key stakeholders.

Your responsibilities as our CFO will include:

1) Strategic leadership

• As an Executive Leadership Team member, the CFO shall assist the CEO, the AFR and Board of Trustees (BoT) in:
• developing and implementing the financial strategy, policy and manual;
• developing investment policy and its implementation
• providing strategic direction to the organisation through executive decision making, forecasting/budgeting and its implementation;
• establishing and implementing internal controls and ensuring efficient and effective financial operations as per industry and sector benchmarks.
• Attend Executive Leadership, Senior Leadership, AFR and and Board meetings, contributing and if necessary, leading them
• Work with the CEO to develop, co-ordinate and monitor all costings for bids, projects, and core budget

2) Stakeholder Management

• Maintain effective relationship and coordination with key stakeholders, including local, national, and global organisations, government bodies, banks, donor institutions, etc
• Ensure independence of the AFR and the Board from the financial operating matters
• Liaise with partner organisations and provide the necessary leadership and technical support

3) Compliance

• Ensure Financial and Accounting policies, procedures, and systems are in accordance with statutory regulations, industry benchmarks, and global standards, and in compliance with risk management and internal controls
• Ensure that all accounting records are properly and timely maintained, reporting cycles and other associated engagements are successfully performed in an effective and timely manner in accordance with the regulatory and organisational requirements
• Ensure compliance with agreements and contracts in relation to banks and external service providers

4) Team Leadership

• Assume overall responsibility for UK Finance team, including necessary resourcing/recruitment, inductions, training, retention, and day to day management. Focusing on team members’ knowledge, skills, and attitudes for building capacities to deliver on present positions and build long term capability to shoulder additional responsibilities
• Ensure performance management is utilised for Finance team effectively to reward good performance and promote a culture of accountability and merit
• Provide support, guidance, and development to international finance staff

5) Planning, Reporting and managing resources

• Develop, maintain and monitor the financial systems of the organisation to ensure the production of accurate & timely reports
• Create business value through technology, ensuring tech systems and procedures lead to outcomes in line with organisational goals.
• Negotiate contracts and agreements with third parties for commercial aspects of the running AFH
• Finalise annual financial statements/periodic financial reports (where required), get them audited from External Auditors and place them before the CEO, AFR committee and Board of Trustees for consideration and approval
• Monitor and report on the overall funding status, and coordinate with stakeholders for arrangement and management of funds and grants
• Ensure funding applications are properly prepared and AFH costs fully covered through a robust cost recovery and cross charging methodology, working with the leadership teams to interact with relevant stakeholders for these purposes
• Conduct financial analysis and review of existing and proposed programmes, projects, and campaigns, contributing to decision making in this area
• Oversee staff payroll, handling of petty cash and banking of donations, management of activity fees and credit control process

6) Other

• Perform any other task assigned by the CEO/AFR or the Board

What we are looking for in our Chief Financial Officer:

Education

• Qualified Accountant (ICAEW, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA)

Experience

• Significant experience of a senior leadership team role is essential, as well as having managed a direct team and promoting high performance
• Experience in dealing with external audit and internal audit functions
• Experience of managing change and growth
• Knowledge and experience of Charity finance would be an advantage
• A proven track record of successfully managing all aspects of an operation and delivering successful outcomes
• Experience of preparing financial statements, consolidated accounts and seeing through the audit process from start to finish

Skills

• Excellent attention to detail
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to build great relationships with a range of external and internal stakeholders, including trustees, partners, and members
• Excellent communication skills, recognising the need to raise awareness and grow our brand and offerings through presentations to a variety of stakeholders
• Advanced computer skills in MS Office programs, particularly Excel
• Flexibility and the ability to manage time effectively whilst juggling multiple tasks
• Understanding of political, business and investment climate in UK, Canada and/or USA
• Understanding of humanitarian and international development sector, including the context of man-made and natural disasters in the Middle East, Africa, South Asia, the Ukraine and the UK.

Languages

• Strong written and spoken English
• Other languages such as Arabic, Urdu or French a bonus

Benefits of joining us include:

• Generous holiday allowance;
• Matched pension contributions;
• Hybrid working arrangement and flexible working hours;
• Enhanced sick pay;
• Structured annual performance development review process, which informs annual salary reviews and involves training and development provision;
• 24/7 access to a private GP, emotional support including counselling, and legal and financial advice;
• Hundreds of discounts and special offers, for shopping, dining out, joining a gym, and more;
• Modern office in central Manchester location with free parking, break out room, and prayer facilities;
• Annual away days/retreats involving training, teambuilding, outdoor and social activities;
• Subsidised weekly sports activities and quarterly social activities.

This would be an ideal role for a dynamic Finance leader looking to make a difference in a rewarding leadership role within the Charity Sector. We are looking to appoint this role ASAP and will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis so for the best chance of success please apply today – we would love to hear from you.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. Action For Humanity also participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment.

By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.