DBF Chair – Application Pack
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Chair of the Norwich Diocesan Board of Finance Application pack / January 2021 Introduction from Bishop Graham, the Bishop of Norwich Thank you for your interest in this role. The Diocese of Norwich is a wonderful place to serve, with amazing diversity: deeply rural, market towns, coastal towns and urban centres, some with places of urban deprivation and rapidly expanding new housing developments. That variety is in itself energising, but for me what really makes this such a rewarding, satisfying and fun place to be engaged in God’s mission is the people - parishioners, church workers and clergy - exploring and living out what it means to be transformed by Christ – prayerfully, pastorally and prophetically. The Church of England will face both joys and challenges in the coming years as we navigate our way through and beyond the pandemic, and seek to share the Gospel afresh with each generation. I am looking for an exceptional individual, who will bring fresh thinking and some innovative answers and solutions, as the next Chair of the Diocesan Board of Finance. That person will be someone who relishes a challenge and wants to achieve something significant and lasting for the life of the Church in Norfolk and Waveney. I am keen to hear from anyone with the skills that we are looking for and all are welcome to apply. Women, UKME and people living with disability are currently under-represented on our Diocesan boards and committees 02 / Application Pack / January 2021 Welcome to the Diocese of Norwich We are looking for a new volunteer Chair for our Diocesan Board of Finance – an exceptional individual to help us ensure we have the finances in place to grow the mission of the Church of England in Norfolk and Waveney and who will relish the opportunity of helping us navigate through the various challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. As a dedicated Christian you will know, and want to share, God’s love and understand the importance of In 2019: having a solid financial base from which to do so. You will already have undertaken senior corporate roles 16,549 people attended a church service on and now want to use your skills to help us see the an average week Kingdom of God grow in this place. You will be able 13,252 attended a church service on an to help us set the direction for how ministry and our average Sunday central support services can be shaped in the future in an affordable way. There were 16,926 on the electoral roll of our churches The Diocese was founded in around 630. Today the Diocese covers a population of 920,000. We have 164 benefices, 553 parishes and 640 actively used churches. The Diocese of Norwich covers an area of 1,800 square miles and includes most of the County of Norfolk as well as the district of Waveney in Suffolk. 03 / Application Pack / January 2021 Along with many other dioceses, the Diocese of Our governance review recommends that we bring into Norwich is facing significant financial challenges. one body the executive of the DBF, the Bishop’s Council, In part this is due to Covid, but there were already and the Diocesan Mission and Pastoral Committee. financial challenges that needed to be faced and Members of this one new body will be trustees of meant that we entered 2020 with a £1M deficit the charity (charity registration number 249318) forecast. In 2020 the Diocesan Board of Finance (“DBF”) and directors of the company (a company limited by is estimated to make an operating loss of between guarantee, registration number 0088175). It will oversee £1.5m and £1.8m. Plans are in place around clergy both policy, vision and strategy, but also the financial deployment (which also includes the deployment of and administrative work of the Diocese. Its main lay and self-supporting ministries), governance reform responsibilities are to use its assets in a way that best (to go to March 2021 Diocesan Synod), and a review of supports ministry and mission throughout the Diocese central services (to report in early 2021). We will also and to meet its statutory obligations as a major employer be looking at a policy for our church buildings and in the county for the payment of stipends, salaries, current stewardship model. employers National Insurance and pension contributions. 04 / Application Pack / January 2021 Role of the Chair of the NDBF Key purposes To develop the skills of members of the Board in order The Chair of the Diocesan that they might more effectively contribute to the work Board of Finance will To live out our vision to be Transformed by Christ – of the Board, including financial planning and oversight, prayerfully, pastorally, prophetically. risk management, induction and compliance. Be an ex-officio member of the Diocesan Synod, which meets three times a year. To help shape and nurture the ongoing vision, values, To be part of a team representing the Diocese in policies and strategies of the Diocese, in partnership national financial discussions. Be an ex-officio member of the Bishop’s Council, with colleagues. which meets up to six times a year (subject to new To give financial leadership at diocesan and board governance changes being agreed by Synod). To ensure the stewardship of diocesan finances and level, supported by the Director of Finance. their effective use, including a key oversight role in: Chair the Finance Committee which meets up to four - developing the financial strategy of the diocese to times a year. The Finance Committee (subject to new underpin its mission objectives Appointment and Accountability governance changes being agreed by Synod) oversees - developing and presenting the annual budget the work of the Property Committee, Spire Property - the setting and collection of Parish Share The Chair of the Board is appointed by the Diocesan Consultants, and the Asset Management Committee. Synod, for a three-year term, on the nomination of - asset management and investment policy Be a member of the Remuneration Committee and the Diocesan Bishop. - overseeing the provision of appropriate terms and the Asset Management Committee. conditions of service for DBF employees. The Chair of the Board is responsible to the Attend the Inter Diocesan Finance Forum, (a Diocesan Bishop. To facilitate dialogue between parishes and the Board national consultation between the National Church so there is a mutual understanding of respective Institutions and Dioceses). (2 daytime meetings a financial needs. year in London or via Zoom, attendance is with the Diocesan Secretary and Director of Finance.) 05 / Application Pack / January 2021 Role – specific aspects Leadership Human Resources The Chair has an important public role, To ensure that there are strategic plans to achieve To have an involvement, as a member of the building the wider reputation of the Diocese, diocesan priorities. These should draw upon other Remuneration Committee, in the recruitment in particular by explaining to extensive and dioceses’ experience, and on other established good and annual review of senior finance-related staff diverse audiences the progress the DBF makes practice. (Diocesan Secretary and Director of Finance) and in its mission and its financial position. ensure that staff are appropriately remunerated. To ensure the strategies of the DBF are Please note that this role description provides communicated in such a way that deaneries and To act reasonably and consistently at all times and in line a guide to the duties and responsibilities of parishes have confidence in the way that resources with diocesan policy regarding disciplinary, capability the post and is not an exhaustive list. The post are being collected, marshalled and applied. and grievance procedures, including decision making holder may undertake other relevant duties in cases of dismissal in conjunction with the Diocesan appropriate to the post and this role description To ensure that a financial policy framework is in Secretary and involvement in grievance appeals. may be amended over time, in consultation place within which the diocesan administrative staff with the Bishop and the DBF, to meet the needs can be given appropriate freedom to manage the of the Diocese. DBF’s operations. Generally To work with the Diocesan Secretary (the head of the paid staff of the Diocese) to ensure that the To be available for consultation with the Bishop of boundaries of management authority are clearly Norwich, Diocesan Secretary and the Director of defined, and an appropriate performance evaluation Finance as necessary during the year. process is in place. To attend occasional additional meetings when necessary e.g., with the Diocesan Registrar and Diocesan Auditor. To take “Chair’s Action” to approve (or otherwise) delegated urgent matters which would normally be dealt with by the Board or its Committees on behalf of the DBF. 06 / Application Pack / January 2021 Key relationships The Bishop of Norwich, Graham Usher Diocesan Secretary, Richard Butler (currently being covered by Interim Diocesan Secretary, Rosemary Pearce) The Bishop of Thetford, Dr Alan Winton The Bishop of Lynn, to be vacant from January 2021 until new appointment The Archdeacons of Norfolk, Norwich & Lynn, Steven Betts, Karen Hutchinson, Ian Bentley Director of Finance, Susan Bunting Director of Education, Paul Dunning Director of Communications, Gordon Darley Director of Property Services, Alan Cole On legal and governance issues, the Chair of the DBF works with: Diocesan Registrar, Stuart Jones Chairs of the Houses of Clergy & Laity, Dr Patrick Richmond & Kandi Kammoun 07 / Application Pack / January 2021 Person specification Person Specification Effective presentation skills, including being IT literate, to communicate effectively with large bodies An Occupational Requirement exists for the of people, with widely varying financial knowledge. post-holder to be a practising Christian in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.