lw CFO 180x180 V3

are hiring

Chief Financial Officer /
Deputy CEO

We EMPOWER
We are CREATIVE
We COLLABORATE
We DON’T JUDGE

lancashirewomen.org

Overview of the role

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is responsible for the

financial management and statutory reporting
requirements of Lancashire Women including but not
limited to:

• Development and implementation of a comprehensive
financial strategy that supports the delivery of
Lancashire Women’s strategic objectives;

• Ensuring that the longer-term benefits and risks of
business decisions made by Lancashire Women are
fully considered and fit with the overall financial
strategy;

• Delivering good financial management and
governance across the organisation;

• Responsibility for the development and
implementation of the organisation’s IT strategy;

• Responsibility for the Information Governance
obligations ensuring staff are aware of their
responsibilities and accountability;

About us

Celebrating its’ thirty fifth anniversary this year, Lancashire
Women works across five sites and from our three female only
centres to provide safe, dedicated space for women across the
county.

These centres bring together a range of services under one roof,
designed to support women who at any one time may be facing a
range of issues including social isolation and exclusion,
homelessness, poverty, mental ill health, or offending behaviour.

Our services are available to all women, but in particular we
work with those who find themselves in situations which can
increase their vulnerability or place them at significant risk of
harm - and who are often facing multiple and complex needs.

Our delivery draws upon three decades of practical experience
in supporting women - and is an approach recognised nationally
for its effectiveness and impact.

DevelopThis appointment comes at a pivotal time in our organisational
Direcdevelopment where the challenges of the external operating

environment are key factors in driving how we ensure we are
able to sustain our work. This sits alongside the essential ongoing
development and innovation of our services, ensuring that we
continue to meet women’s needs.

Values

We believe our values need to be translated from the ideals we
profess into tangible behaviours which can be operationalised
and measured so that our teams know and understand how best
we can achieve the outcomes and change for the women we
work with.

Our commitment is to ensure everyone in Lancashire Women
knows and understand the part they have to play and how they

2,006can bring our values into their work.

• E mpowering: we work to build on the strengths that all women have so
that they can become more confident, especially in controlling their own life
and claiming their rights.

••N on judgemental: we accept each woman exactly as they are and
genuinely make no moral judgement about their situation.

pment• Honest: we try to be real with all the women we work with so they can
have choices about their lives knowing that they will need courage to make

ctor changes that will benefit them and those around them.
• C reative: in our approach to supporting women and seeking solutions with
them for the challenges they face.
• C ollaborative: we know we learn more and can achieve more when we
work together.

The Role

The CFO will support the CEO in developing a robust framework
and long-term strategic plan to ensure that Lancashire Women’s
strategic objectives are delivered sustainably and that the
longer-term benefits and risks of business decisions made by
Lancashire Women are fully considered and fit with the overall
financial strategy.

This role is also the strategic lead on Governance and Systems / IT
as part of a dynamic and challenging ‘portfolio’ to ensure
Lancashire Women utilises these resources effectively and
efficiently.

The CFO will maintain an external focus keeping in touch with
financial and legislative changes which are likely to affect the
organisation, providing the Board of Trustees with clear,
concise and accurate strategic financial information to inform
decision making.

The postholder will lead the promotion and delivery of good
financial management across the whole organisation ensuring
that Lancashire Women’s financial function is appropriately
supported and is fit for purpose.

The CFO will deputise for the CEO when required.

Expectations of the post Holder

The Senior Leadership Team (SLT) are a dynamic team of people
working collaboratively across their portfolios to realise the aims
and objectives of Lancashire Women.

The CFO is a high-profile role with additional responsibilities as
Deputy CEO.

As part of SLT, the post holder will be expected to lead and
shape the work across their area, to inspire staff as well as to
challenge ways of working with a focus on how best Lancashire
Women can deliver on its strategic aims and to the highest
standards. This role will take an active role in driving forward
cultural and strategic change across the organisation.

The role demands flexibility, a high level of self-awareness and
a ‘can-do’ attitude reflecting the demands of the operating
environment both internally and externally. The post holder must
be proactive in keeping their professional knowledge up to date
and have a commitment to personal and professional development.

This job description is a guide to the main responsibilities of the role.
The job holder is expected to work flexibly and respond positively to

changing needs of Lancashire Women.

Key Responsibilites

Finance and Governance
• L ead on the development, implementation and monitoring of a

dynamic strategic financial plan for Lancashire Women that ensures
financial stability and sustainability of the organisation in meeting its
strategic mission and aims.

•H ave oversight of the financial performance of Lancashire Women and

its core workstreams regularly and systematically reporting monthly on
outcomes to the CEO and Board of Trustees.

•W ork with key team members to co-ordinate and co-operate with the

work of the external auditor and prepare and submit audited statutory
consolidated accounts to the Charities Commission and Companies House in
accordance with required deadlines.

• L ead on Governance and ensure policies and processes for the

effective financial governance and control of Lancashire Women that are
consistent with organisational strategic objectives and compliant with
statutory and other regulations.

• W ork collaboratively with managers across Lancashire Women to

enable them to execute accurate appropriate budget management
and oversight and ensure that budget-setting, monitoring and
reporting processes for Lancashire Women are robust and effective.
•

...continued

• Identify, develop and implement robust procedures, systems and controls

to ensure a consistently strong level of financial control across
Lancashire Women and to maintain records in a consistent
form making financial returns as required.

• I mplement and develop further the use of appropriate
to support improvements in
accounting and planning software
financial processes.

• O versee Lancashire Women’s assets, procurement function and

purchasing requirements across the charity for goods, equipment and ser-
vices - identifying new purchasing opportunities, renewing and negotiat-
ing new supplier contracts and generating cost savings where possible and
appropriate.

• I nvestigate and develop an appropriate investment strategy for
for
Lancashire Women focussing on future opportunities
organisational growth through social investment.

• Build strong working relationships with the CEO, Trustees,

Stakeholders and the rest of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT),
based on mutual trust and a clear understanding of roles and
responsibilities.

• Work with the CEO and SLT to ensure effective risk management

processes and controls are in place and utilised across all

Lancashire Women activities with regular reports to the Board of Trustees.

IT and Information Governance
• L ead on the development and implementation of the IT Strategy to support

Lancashire Women to meet its strategic objectives.

• L ead on the review and update of IT organisational structure

including processes, procedures and policies that support the needs of

the organisation, ensuring Lancashire Women has appropriate systems

and tools (e.g. Customer Relationship Management, analysis and reporting

tools) to facilitate effective operations, management and decision making

by the CEO, SLT and Board.
•O versee Lancashire Women’s telecommunications systems, hardware

and software requirements and manage the external suppliers of these.

• E nsure that all systems, hardware and software are maintained and that

cyber risks are understood and managed appropriately.

• T o have strategic oversight for the safekeeping and best

practice management of Lancashire Women’s data resources,
ensuring compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

General:

• D eputise for and in the absence of the CEO as / when required.
• A ny other strategic financial duties that ensure the financial health of the

Organisation.

In the supporting evidence of your application form, you must demonstrate your
experiences by giving specific examples for the criteria within the person specification.

About you

Qualifications & Experience Essential/ Evidence
Desirable Int/App

1. Hold membership to an accredited accountancy body E A
recognised by IFAC, (i.e. ACA, ACCA, CIMA or CIPFA) qualified
through examination, and subject to oversight by a
professional body that upholds professional standards
and exercises disciplinary powers.

2. Experience of leading an agile approach to organisational E I/A
budgeting and dynamic financial forecasting in a complex

organisation.

3. Demonstrate high level of IT literacy including experience of E A
using and supporting others in the use of financial reporting
packages.

4. Experience using a financial accounts package for E A
generalbook-keepingduties,monthlymonitoringofincomeand
expenditure, monthly reconciliation of all bank accounts,
completing closure of monthly and annual accounts and
preparing and producing management account reports to
present to the Trust Board.

5. Minimum of 5 years’ experience at strategic level of financial E A
management in the voluntary, public and / or private sector.

6. Experience of project management techniques including risk E I/A
management / mitigation processes.

...continued

Essential/ Evidence
Desirable Int/App

7. Other Qualification in Business Management and or related D A
field. E A

8. Experience of delivering Information Governance
responsibilities.

Skills & Knowledge

1. Good understanding of the principles of corporate finance, E I/A
economics, risk management and accounting. E I/A

2. Excellent appreciation of potential business/delivery issues E I/A
and the appropriate knowledge to handle and resolve complex E A
issues, anticipate problems and recommend solutions within an E I/A
overall strategic plan. E I/A
E I/A
3. Strong leadership skills with the ability to inspire and
challenge colleagues and effectively manage staff including their
professional development and performance management.

4. Excellent skills in strategic planning and strategic management
of financial resources.

5. Strong persuasive, influencing and interpersonal skills with the
ability to communicate clearly and confidently with different
management levels internally and externally.

6. Demonstrable willingness to take and adhere to difficult
instructions and the ability to challenge and give/receive
constructive feedback.

7. Evidence of having taken ownership of relevant financial and
business risks.

...continued

e

Essential/ Evidence
Desirable Int/App

8. An ability to provide clear, authoritative and impartial E I/A
professional advice and objective financial analysis and

interpretation of complex situations.

9. Understanding of voluntary / charitable sector finance and its D I/A
regulatory environment. E I/A
E I/A
10. Able to maintain a presence in national professional networks
and, through these and other means, ensure an up-to-date
overview of sector policies and developments.

11. Thorough knowledge of Information Governance
Responsibilities.

Personal Qualities E I/A
E I/A
1. Strong commitment to the vision, mission and values of a E I/A
gender specific organisation. E A
E I/A
2. Leads by example; demonstrates professional excellence and
integrity with a strong desire to innovate and add value.

3. Open to other ways of doing things, proactively seeking out
diverse views to inform thinking and decision making.

4. Personal resilience and an ability to cope with ambiguity,
uncertainty and scrutiny from others and an ability to
manage competing priorities under pressure.

5. Team player, personable, emotionally intelligent with a sense
of humour.

HOW you can apply... WHY we are great to

For further details about the role work for...
please look at our website at:
www.lancashirewomen.org/careers - A chance to work in a rewarding, ethical
and agile environment where every day
To apply please send your CV with a you are really making a difference to the
maximum of 2 additional A4 statement to lives of women and girls.
show how you meet the requirements of
the person specification to: - Employer Pension Scheme.
[email protected] - Flexible working / work life balance.
- Childcare vouchers.
If you’d like an informal discussion - B e involved in an organisation which put
about the role prior to applying please
email our CEO at: service users and co design at the centre
[email protected] of all we do.

Closing Date: S alary & More
Information
18th September 2020 at 12noon.
Interview to be held: • 37 hours - full time core business hours
Week commencing 28th September. • Competitive salary
• Permanent

We have big plans
and there will be
challenges along

the way.
Do you have the
energy, knowledge
and creativity to

meet those
challenges?

Head Office Centres in: Outreach activity in: Follow us
21-23 Blackburn Accrington Blackburn with @LancashireWomen
Rd, Accrington Blackburn with Darwen Lancashire Women
BB5 1HF Darwen Chorley
0300 330 1354 Blackpool Lancaster
Burnley Skelmersdale

Preston Kendal

HMP Styal Registered Charity 1100976
Cumbria