Role Description: Finance Manager/Company Secretary

Position Title: Finance Manager/Company Secretary

Responsible to: Chairperson & Board of Dart Centre Europe

Location: UK

Purpose of Dart Centre Europe

Dart Centre Europe (DCE) carries out its activities across the UK, Continental Europe, the Mediterranean and the former Soviet region. It advances education for the public benefit in the field of journalism by the provision of education and training of journalists in issues of trauma and skills related to covering traumatic news events, and by promoting research for the public benefit in issues of trauma and to publish these useful results.

Purpose of Role

The Finance Manager/Company Secretary role ensures the organisation is compliant with all statutory and regulatory requirements. The job holder is responsible for ensuring the efficient and effective planning and management of the organisation’s finances, including accurate reporting and the maintenance and development of financial systems and processes that are fit for purpose.

The job holder is responsible for all company secretarial responsibilities and duties. As part of the Senior Management Team, the Finance Manager/Company Secretary contributes to the organisation’s overall strategic planning and policy developments.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Ensure that an appropriate financial policy and procedures framework are in place to deliver effective financial management to guide the organisation’s financial decision making.
• Manage the organisation’s secretarial duties, complete and submit information to Companies House and the Charity Commission as required by statutory regulations and requirements
• Develop and maintain appropriate accounting systems, control and records, ensuring compliance with statutory and related accounting and tax regulations and requirements.
• Manage (where required) insurance, payroll, pensions, as well as year-end P60 reconciliations and P45 processing
• Maintain records to meet legal and tax requirements and sufficient to measure monitor and evaluate financial plans in relation to both inputs and outcomes of the organisation’s operations.
• Maintain a Register of current and past Directors and notes of any changes of the organisation’s assets, structures and management, filing correct returns where necessary to Companies House.
• Provide an accounting service and regular information for use by Trustee Directors and Senior Management in planning and controlling the work of DCE.
• Manage the organisation’s relationship with bankers, reporting and consultant accountants, and investment and other financial advisors effectively.
• Manage the organisation’s VAT implications and complete and submit VAT returns in a timely manner.
• Manage the relationship with the Insurers, ensuring that the company has the appropriate insurance policies in place.
• Prepare the statutory annual financial statements and reports in accordance with accounting standards, oversee the completion of the Annual Report on a timely basis and manage the annual independent examination and audit process.
• The Company Secretary has a key role in ensuring that Board processes are followed and regulations reviewed.
• Attend and contribute to internal meetings, training sessions, external events and Board Meetings as required.
• Ensuring the security and confidential storage of all DCE’s financial and legal documents.
• Keep abreast of financial developments and governance across the charity sector and advise on and implement changes to existing policy and procedure as necessary.

SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS

• A qualified and experienced accountant with current membership of an appropriate accounting body such as ACA, ACCA or CIMA
• Sound knowledge of corporate governance issues and the law relating to Charities
• Strong organisation and administrative skills, with meticulous attention to detail
• Analytical and problem solving ability
• Integrity and discretion in handling confidential commercial information
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills                                 

This job description is not meant to be an exhaustive list of duties and the job holder may be asked to undertake other duties which are deemed fair and reasonably associated with the operation of the finance and governance of the organisation.