Salary: £43,742 - £55,426

Contract type: Permanent

Reporting to: Chief Operating Officer

Department: Finance, Resource and Planning

Who are we?

We are Scotland’s design museum. Designed for everyone, firing imaginations and sparking curiosity in design across Scotland and around the world. At V&A Dundee we are on a mission to inspire and empower through design.

Design shapes our world, it's part of everyday life and it's everywhere. We are a museum with energy and have a vision of the future where everyone is inspired through design and recognizes its far-reaching impact in our lives.

We are a welcoming place for people of Dundee to explore design and to use as an everyday part of their city, as well as inviting visitors from around the world. We are part of the V&A family of museums that celebrate creativity in all its forms from across centuries, for everyone.

Role profile

The Head of Finance is responsible for ensuring V&A Dundee financial model and process are underpinned by robust and effective systems, reporting, performance management and planning to support the financial sustainability of the organisation. This is a key role in the organisation working with, and coordinating financial planning, reporting & analysis across all teams, Board, partners and funders as well as working with the Chief Operating Officer on the financial strategy, the role leads on financial controls, financial management, and all financial planning and forecasting. 

The Head of Finance is responsible for maintaining robust controls, efficient financial processing, accurate financial reporting, proactive cash management, insightful financial analysis and strong management of tax liabilities and assets.  The Head of Finance and Planning will lead on the annual cycle of planning, budgeting and forecasting and will support the directors by monitoring and reporting progress against the museum’s business plan and provide strategic advice as required. This role leads the Finance team at V&A Dundee and works closely with the People and IT teams.

Duties and Responsibilities

The responsibilities of the Head of Finance will include:

• Provide leadership to the Finance, Resource & Planning team to build a financial strategy that is coordinated across the organisation.

• Create and embed robust financial controls.

• Seek ways to ensure continual improvement in the service delivery.

• Develop a coordinated approach to finance, planning and resourcing to support the aims, priorities & activities of V&A Dundee.

• As part of a mutually supportive team, advise on optimum strategies to deliver the museum’s ambitions.

• Maintain the financial management of the museum’s resources and capital budgets.

• Support the COO in helping to deliver the business plan and financial strategy which supports the future ambition of the museum.

• Oversee the cycle of annual planning and budgeting and reforecasting.

• Deliver reliable management accounts and KPIs to management and Board – seek to refine and improve these as necessary.

• Ensure that a robust system of controls and procedures is in place to allow the accurate and timely reporting of information.

• Assist with the development and implementation of key financial controls that permit the executive team and Board to make the strategic financial decisions required to operate the business.

• Management of outsourced payroll provider.  Advice to HR on payroll queries.  Review and sign off of final monthly payroll reports for accuracy and consistency.

Governance and Risk Management:

• Ensure compliance with internal and statutory financial and accounting policies and procedures.

• Assist with the development and implementation of policies and procedures to ensure that financial information is secure and stored in compliance with current legislation.

• Oversee with our legal and tax advisors the statutory filing of documents and tax returns, so that we are compliant, and deadlines are met.

• Review the financial implications of all significant contracts in conjunction with the museum’s legal advisors.

• Ensure that project management principles are understood and utilised across the museum.

• Oversee FRP departmental risk management and reporting.

Reporting:

• Produce accounts and financial reports that permit timely and effective financial management.

• Review financial results to include variance reporting.

• Manage cash flow and provide regular management information to the company’s bankers.

• Prepare statutory accounts and produce supporting information for the annual audit including liaison with the Audit Committee and external auditors as necessary.

Planning, Budgeting and Forecasting:

• Plan cycle of Finance & Risk and Audit Committees and other relevant committees.

• Plan budget, reporting and resourcing cycles including establishing Annual reports as part of 5-year business planning cycle.

• Prepare the budget and projections in consultation with the executive team for presentation to the Finance & Risk Committee and Board.

• Prepare the reforecast, with support from budget holders, for the current year outturn.

• Assist with the preparation of budgets and other information for funding applications.

General:

• Adhere to the museum’s Health & Safety Policy.

• Demonstrate the museum’s core values in all that you do.

• Other ad hoc duties as may be reasonably expected in a senior role.

Key Relationships:

• CEO, COO, Directors, Team Heads, Finance and Risk Committee members, and budget holders.

• Auditors, external payroll and Sage support.

Team Structure:

Person specification

Essential

• Fully qualified CCAB accountant

• Strong leadership and management experience of finance teams

• Experience in delivering robust financial controls and statutory reporting

• Strategic financial planning and business planning

• Experience of the development of budgets, cashflows and longer-term forecasts at organisation level

• Demonstrable experience of providing and explaining management accounting information to non-finance staff

• Experience of supervising and coaching a team of staff

• Experience of working with financial procedures and drafting financial policies

• Experience of handling confidential information and maintaining its security

• Experience of banking procedures and cash handling

• Experience of implementing new systems and policies

• A good working understanding of accounting processes and procedures

• Knowledge of best practice in financial procedures and controls

• Knowledge of relevant HMRC legislation

• Knowledge of VAT

• Knowledge of Charity and Company law in relation to statutory accounts and reporting.

• Knowledge of payroll

• The ability to communicate confidently with Committee members and Trustees

• A competent user of Excel, Word

• Ability to work with minimal supervision, independently or as part of a team

• Excellent time management skills with the ability to handle competing priorities and meet deadlines effectively

• Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail

Desirable

• Sage Intacct or a variety of similar scale systems

• Experience of working within a Charity, Education or public service environment