Financial Services Manager

Fairhive is exclusively partnering with Robertson Bell in our search for a Financial Services Manager to join our lovely team on a permanent basis. Our mission is to provide quality homes, support people and create thriving communities. Residents are at the centre of our purpose so our income is invested back into the communities where they live. If you’re driven to make a real difference to lives and neighbourhoods then you’ll love working for us.

Managing a team of two direct reports, and a wider team of eight, this role will be responsible for the management and control of the Financial Services function. Reporting into the Assistant Director of Fnance, you will be involved in all things cashflow, rent accounting, payroll, income and expenditure, whilst also driving process automation and financial system enhancements to boost the team’s working efficiencies.

The Organisation:

Fairhive is a Community Benefit Society and not-for-profit landlord that provides 9,000 homes across Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and South Northamptonshire. Our 20,000 residents are at the heart of everything we do, providing good neighbourhoods and safe homes for everyone to lead fulfilling and enjoyable lives. Our services are shaped around residents and community needs and their feedback, to enable social inclusion, reduce poverty, and protect more vulnerable residents through our Welfare Help & Advice.

We're a proud, certified Level 3 Disability Confident Leader and we believe that people are our greatest asset – their dedication, hard work and continued learning is what allows us to deliver the services residents need – now and in the future. That’s why we invest in employee development and actively support wellbeing. This includes enrolment in a defined benefit pension scheme, opportunities to work from home up to four days per week, ongoing support for professional development, plus lots more!

The key duties of this role are as follows:

• Work closely with the Financial Reporting Manager on the preparation of annual statutory accounts.
• Overseeing the preparation of daily and medium-term cash flows, to ensure that the Group has sufficient funds to meet obligations.
• Develop the housing management and accounting systems and associated interfaces and reports to gain maximum effectiveness.
• Review the monthly payroll reconciliations and ensure that all related returns (e.g. pension) are produced and submitted on time.
• Oversee the preparation and submission of tax compliance returns, including VAT.
• Ensure that the annual rent and service charge increase proposal is submitted to the executive management team and board for approval.
• Regularly review outputs from the accounting and related reporting systems in order to identify routine accounting matters affecting the General Ledger and its processing.
• Ensure accurate and up to date Fixed Asset registers and Assets and Liabilities Registers are maintained and are accurately reflected in the Financial Statements.
• Develop and maintain robust supplier payments and rent accounting procedures and controls.

The successful candidate will have:

• Qualified as an accountant, with five years’ post-qualification experience.
• Substantial experience of managing a team of staff, including setting objectives and monitoring performance.
• A practical understanding of internal controls and experience dealing with Auditors.
• Experience of payroll systems and requirements.
• Experience of complex accounting/financial systems and proficient in Microsoft Excel.
• A high degree of initiative and innovative thinking with the ability to identify areas for improvement and implement changes.
• Experience of working in a medium-sized or large organisations in the social housing or property sectors.
• The ability to produce tax compliance returns.

The deadline for applications is on Sunday 8^th September, but applications will be under continuous review in advance of this date, so apply today to make sure you don’t miss out!