We’re a young, dynamic, creative and entrepreneurial consulting firm on a mission.
Everything we do is about social impact. Over the last seven years, we’ve become a respected, trusted, source of advice and support to clients across central Government, and in the education and training sectors – working closely with our client colleagues on a wide variety of public service design, commissioning and delivery programmes.
Having successfully established the firm, we’re ready to take the next step. We recently agreed an ambitious new strategy, through which we are diversifying into the health and social care sector and expanding our suite of customer propositions – including not least to support customers’ digital and data-driven transformation.
As we continue to grow, diversify, and adopt increasingly sophisticated commercial mechanisms with our clients, partners, and suppliers, we’re looking to expand the finance and commercial capability of the business support team which makes the firm tick.
We are looking for someone with the operational experience and technical expertise required to take real, personal, accountability for our core financial and commercial management processes, and an increasingly diverse range of ad hoc pieces of work to advance the firm’s purpose.
Role specification
The post holder will be accountable for the timely, compliant and accurate execution of our core finance and commercial processes; and, for successful delivery of agreed, scoped, pieces of work – both internally and working with our clients. The role will span:
* Timely, accurate, reconciliation of transactions in Xero; timely preparation and issuance of accurate client invoices, working with engagement leads; maintenance of the firm’s balance sheet and asset register – ensuring that the latest asset position is accurately reflected.
* Close collaboration with the firm’s accountants to prepare timely, accurate payroll. Close collaboration with the firm’s accountants to prepare accurate VAT, corporation tax and other returns required by HMRC, the ONS and others.
* Close collaboration with the firm’s accountants to prepare accurate management accounts and other financial reports for the firm’s senior leaders and engagement leads. Preparation and maintenance of an cash flow forecast which reflects the leadership team’s best, current, understanding of the operational and commercial horizon.
* Timely completion of ad hoc pieces of financial analysis for the firm’s senior leaders, including e.g. to run financial forecast scenarios, explore resource investment cases, etc.
* Ownership of client contracting processes, including e.g. preparation of letters of engagement and other documentation, using the firm’s established templates; engagement with client colleagues to secure timely signature and purchase orders.
* Facilitation and assurance of client engagement mobilisation and closure processes, working with colleagues across the firm to ensure that agreed actions are taken, and artefacts prepared, for every project which the firm delivers; and, auditing the same.
* Deft, collaborative, management of operational relationships with our clients’ finance and commercial teams to ensure timely contracting, payment, and resolution of any queries that we or they may have about our commercial relationship.
* Management of the firm’s financial and commercial relationships with our associates and suppliers, including e.g. contracting; preparation, issuance and management of purchase orders for individual engagements; ongoing communication / relationship management.
* Active involvement in client engagements which include substantial associate, supplier and partner organisation involvement – working with engagement leads and teams to ensure that the financial and commercial aspects of those engagements are effectively managed. This includes, for example, management of large associate teams working on international education projects; and a large managed service contract.
* Accountability for the maintenance of best value insurance coverage which is consistent with regulatory and client requirements of the firm.
Person specification
* High levels of ambition, energy and resilience, consistent with the firm’s plans for growth, including the implications of that growth for the evolution of this role.
* Experience and enjoyment working in an acutely entrepreneurial, commercial and creative organisational context to deliver consistently high-quality work, and drive growth.
* Experience working directly with / to senior leaders in a dynamic, fast-faced, commercial environment to translate strategic direction into operational action.
* Experience working independently to deliver successfully against a substantial and diverse set of accountabilities for finance and commercial activities.
* High levels of precision and presentational pride with respect to work product of all kinds. We presume that how you do one thing is how you do everything.
* Ideally some level of financial qualification e.g. AAT.
Working location
At least two days / week based in the firm’s Farringdon office.
Package
* Basic salary of £40-50k depending on expertise of successful candidate.
* Up to 20% bonus based on firm and individual performance.
* 25 days’ annual leave, rising to 30 within five years.
* Private medical and dental insurance.
* 4% pension contributions.