Interim Financial Reporting Manager

Reporting to Head of Finance, Risk & Assurance.

Introduction 

The Financial Reporting Manager is responsible for:

• Providing direction, development and management of the financial reporting team
• Overseeing all financial reporting, as part of the overall performance reporting framework of the business
• Overseeing rent & service charge setting and accounting
• Providing a customer-focused service to the business, supported by business partners 
• Ensuring accurate and timely financial reporting to internal and external stakeholders

Leadership and management

• To provide leadership and guidance to all colleagues within the financial reporting team, including encouraging personal development and provision of training as appropriate
• To ensure that professional expert advice, support & guidance on financial matters is provided to colleagues, and encourage and promote cross-functional working between teams across the business
• To build and maintain relationships with stakeholders, including budget holders across the business and key external contacts
• To lead on continuous improvement of financial reporting by developing high-level business partnering skills, knowledge and awareness within the team, in line with best practice
• To shape and adapt the services of the financial reporting team to meet the needs of customers and stakeholders across the business
• To work closely with and support the Head of Finance, Risk & Assurance, as required

Portfolio management – financial reporting

• Required outcomes
• Annual budget and business planning:
• To lead in the planning, co-ordination and review of the annual budget setting process, set against overall efficiency targets
• To oversee and co-ordinate input into the Business Plan process, including income and expenditure budgets, efficiency plans and longer-term capital programmes, developed by the business partners

Financial Reporting:

• To set a clear management accounts plan, and oversee the closedown of the system each month, ensuring deadlines are adhered to
• To oversee the production of monthly management accounts and reforecasts, including revenue income and expenditure and monitoring of capital programmes, to feed into the overall finance report
• To oversee the production of the finance report including key financial performance indicators, as part of the overall performance reporting framework for the business
• To monitor the delivery of savings and other efficiencies against Value for Money targets and action plans
• To produce reports for the wider Leadership Team, including monthly finance reports, as well as quarterly finance and VfM reports to Audit & Risk Committee and Board. 

Rent & service charges:

• To update and implement the Rent Policy annually, taking account of the Rent Standard, relevant legislation and other guidance
• To oversee the planning, co-ordination and review of rents and service charges in line with the Rent Policy and Service Charge Policy
• To oversee the management of the rent and service charge budget setting process
• To oversee the management of leasehold service charge accounting, including sinking funds and the production of annual statements of account
• To keep up to date with regulatory changes and sector guidance regarding rents and service charges 
• To oversee the production and issue of rent and service charge notices in accordance with the agreed timetables

Statutory accounts and external reporting:

• To review and oversee the submission of tax and other external returns, including regulatory returns, working with the governance & assurance team
• To lead in the planning, co-ordination and review of the statutory accounts process, ensuring that deadlines are met, co-ordinating the external audit and the annual information requirements for the assessment of Corporation Tax
• To review and oversee the Group consolidation and consolidation reporting

General:

• To maximise the capability and capacity of financial systems and reports, supported by the IT team
• To manage the security of the finance system by overseeing access rights, including approving new users, and requesting the removal of leavers’ access rights, on a monthly basis
• To ensure the Financial Standing Orders & Regulations are adhered to and to ensure processes and procedures for the financial reporting team are documented and kept up to date
• To review and implement any internal audit recommendations that are relevant to the business area
• To work closely with the rest of the Finance team, ensuring that processes are inter-linked and working together to set action plans and achieve team targets 
• To support the procurement team to analyse and financially appraise new procurement initiatives
• To maintain professional and technical knowledge by reviewing professional publications, establishing relevant personal networks and attending relevant workshops or conferences
• To ensure the financial reporting team has the appropriate skills and maintains up to date knowledge and expertise
• To assist in providing cover for the Head of Finance, Risk & Assurance, as required