Director of Finance & Deputy Receiver General
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Director of Finance & Deputy Receiver General Private & Confidential – July 2018 www.doddpartners.com Contents Westminster Abbey 3 Dean and Chapter of Westminster 4 Job Specification 5 Person Specification 7 Terms and Conditions of Appointment 8 How to Apply 9 www.doddpartners.com Westminster Abbey Westminster Abbey is a major centre for Christian worship, a treasured part of Britain’s heritage and a leading visitor attraction. The Abbey occupies a central place in the celebration of great events for the nation and is one of the most beautiful architectural masterpieces in Britain. A living Church, Westminster Abbey is the House of Kings, where the coronation of Kings and Queens has taken place since 1066, and where many of the Kings and Queens of England and of the United Kingdom are buried. Principal among them is St Edward the Confessor, King of England from 1042 to 1066, whose shrine is at the heart of the Abbey Church. Beside and around them, are buried or commemorated many of the great men and women from almost every century of British history: statesmen and politicians, lawyers, warriors, clerics, writers, artists and musicians. Westminster Abbey is a Royal Peculiar, meaning that the Dean and Chapter of Westminster is directly responsible to the Sovereign as the Abbey’s visitor. The Dean and Chapter is firmly committed to maintaining the rhythm and integrity of the Abbey’s established pattern of worship and to building on the different ways in which the Abbey can attract and influence those touched by its work. To that end, it opened in 2010 an education centre in Dean’s Yard to enable the Abbey, for the first time, to welcome and inform school groups wishing to make educational visits. In 2012, it opened the Cellarium Restaurant as a much-needed place of refreshment for its many visitors. Current projects include The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries, to be opened this summer in the triforium of the Abbey. This £23m project, which will transform the visitors’ experience of the Abbey, is the largest intervention in its fabric since the 18th century. The Abbey is also building on its reputation as a place for public and private debate over a wide variety of contemporary issues. In 2013, it established the Westminster Abbey Institute to help revitalise moral and spiritual values in public life. Westminster Abbey is a substantial community of 300 paid staff and nearly 500 volunteers. The Abbey is entirely self-supporting financially, operating an annual budget of about £25 million, most of which is funded by its paying visitors. The Abbey Precincts include St Margaret’s Church, the Westminster Abbey Choir School in Dean’s Yard (an independent preparatory school for the education of the Choristers), The Education Centre, The Westminster Abbey Shop, the Cellarium Restaurant, a number of office buildings and fourteen residences. Special services and high-profile events are a significant feature of the work of the Abbey. In recent years these have included the visit of Pope Benedict XVI, the wedding of TRH The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, visits of Heads of State, the celebration of the sixtieth anniversary of the coronation of The Queen, national memorial services for figures such as Nelson Mandela, and vigils and other services to commemorate the centenary of the First World War. The consecration of Bishops occasionally takes place in the Abbey, as well as the annual services for Commonwealth Day, Anzac Day, Battle of Britain Memorial Day, the Judges, marking the beginning of the legal year and www.doddpartners.com Remembrance Sunday. Non-liturgical events include organ recitals, Abbey Choir concerts and many functions for charitable and commercial organisations. Westminster Abbey aims to foster a working environment that is a caring, supportive community. Individual commitment to the work of the Abbey is matched by a collective commitment to shared values in accordance with the Christian faith. The Dean & Chapter of Westminster The Abbey’s Mission: ◼ To serve Almighty God by offering divine Worship daily and publicly; ◼ To serve the Sovereign by daily prayer and by a ready response to requests made by or on behalf of Her Majesty; ◼ To serve the nation by celebrating the distinctive witness of the Christian faith; by upholding the place of religious faith within national life; and by active engagement with Parliament, Whitehall and others in positions of public service; ◼ To serve all pilgrims and visitors to the Abbey, and to maintain a tradition of hospitality. The Abbey’s Values: As one we serve each other; our visitors and the wider world in all that we do with: ◼ Truthfulness; ◼ Integrity; ◼ Empathy; ◼ Excellence; There are four Canons of Westminster who, with the Dean, comprise the Dean and Chapter, the governing body of the Collegiate Church of St Peter in Westminster, commonly known as Westminster Abbey. They are supported by the Receiver General, who is Chapter Clerk. The Dean and Chapter meet monthly, except in August. The Receiver General is the Head of the lay administration and is responsible to the Dean and Chapter for every aspect of the Abbey’s non-liturgical governance and operations. www.doddpartners.com Job Specification JOB TITLE Director of Finance & Deputy Receiver General REPORTS TO Receiver General POSTS REPORTING Group Financial Controller, Head of IT and the Data DIRECTLY TO JOBHOLDER Protection Officer KEY RELATIONSHIPS Receiver General, Dean and Chapter (particularly Canon Treasurer), Senior Management Team, Investment Panel, Auditors, Westminster Abbey Enterprises Limited, Westminster Abbey Finance Advisory Committee, Project Group and IT Steering Group. PURPOSE OF THE ROLE To manage the Abbey’s finances in every respect and to be the leading source of financial advice to the Dean and Chapter. To maintain robust financial and cost control systems and processes, and to be responsible for the work of the Finance and IT Departments. To act as deputy to the Receiver General and to lead a variety of non- financial issues and projects. The post-holder is a member of the Senior Management Team. MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES • To act as the principal adviser to the Receiver General, the Canon Treasurer and Chapter on financial and commercial strategy, business planning, policy, budgetary controls and procedures and Treasury management, and to be responsible for their implementation across the Abbey. • To deputise for the Receiver General across a wide range of non-financial responsibilities, to sit on or chair a number of Abbey committees, and to lead specific projects as they may be delegated by the Receiver General. • To have overall responsibility for the production and audit of annual statutory accounts for Westminster Abbey and its associated bodies. • To ensure that the Abbey’s compliance with financial, tax and accounting regulation and law is fully effective. • To supervise all aspects of the Abbey’s financial obligations and financial risk. • To support the Investment Panel in managing the Abbey’s investments and those of related Trusts. • To lead and develop the Abbey’s risk policy, including business continuity. • To define and lead a new IT strategy for the Abbey and manage cyber risk. www.doddpartners.com • To act as line manager for the Heads of the Finance and IT departments, and for any other staff as may be assigned by the Receiver General. • To chair the Abbey Projects Group, providing management oversight of the wide range of projects approved by the Dean and Chapter. • To support the financial advisory committees to the Abbey, and to be a Director of Westminster Abbey Enterprises Limited. • To be responsible for the contractual relationships with senior advisers, outside consultants and others, e.g. the BBC. • To act as adviser to the Pension Trustees and to advise the Dean and Chapter on pension issues. • To undertake a range of non-financial responsibilities as requested by the Receiver General. This Job Profile will be kept under review and may be amended by the Dean and Chapter from time to time. Any proposed changes will be discussed with the post holder. www.doddpartners.com Person Specification This section outlines the essential, qualifications, skills, experiences and personal attributes the job holder needs in order to fulfil the requirements of the post. Education or Certification • A degree, or any equivalent level of educational qualification. • An Accountancy qualification – Chartered Accountant or equivalent (CCAB or CIMA). Essential Skills & Experience • Significant experience of working flexibly and imaginatively across a wide range of disciplines, in particular IT. • The ability to work with and advise Executive Boards and Trustees in a small but complex organisation which comprises many different financial entities, some of which are commercial. • An excellent knowledge and experience as a senior executive of long-term financial planning and all aspects of strategic and detailed financial management. • Good experience of delivering change projects. • A proven track record in the preparation and filing of statutory accounts and related financial and legal obligations. • A detailed experience of providing financial advice to executive boards and senior (and non- financial) managers. • An understanding of financial and risk management within charitable organisations. Personal Qualities • A strong commitment to support the mission and values of Westminster Abbey. • Excellent leadership skills, with the ability to contribute to the leadership and direction of the Senior Management Team. • The ability to manage teams, and to influence and work collaboratively and effectively both with senior colleagues and more junior members of staff. • The stature and authority to command the respect of senior colleagues and contacts outside Westminster Abbey. • Strong communication skills, both written and oral, and the ability to explain complex systems to non-financial personnel. • The exercise of complete confidentiality at all times and a commitment to work additional hours as circumstances demand. www.doddpartners.com Terms & Conditions of Appointment Salary The basic salary will be up to £95,000, dependent on experience.