Head of Finance

The Middle Level Commissioners have been proudly managing water levels in the Fens since 1862, building from the legacy left by the engineers and adventurers involved in the Great Drainage from the 1600s.

As our Head of Finance, you play a key role within the senior leadership team and lead our small Finance team in providing a professional finance, investment and accountancy service not only for the organisation itself but circa thirty other Internal Drainage Boards (IDBs) that we also provide services to.

You will lead change, grow and nurture the team and develop and manage resources to effectively undertake our finance, governance and accountancy functions, and you build and maintain positive relationships with our customers and partners.

Key duties and responsibilities include:

• To be the Middle Level Commissioners’ Responsible Finance Officer (RFO) as well as for the IDBs we provide financial services for.
• To lead and line manage the Finance Team, supporting and developing individuals and the team.
• To manage the team’s accountabilities, responsibilities and workload, coordinate input from, and delegation between, team members as appropriate. Ensuring compliance with regulations, good governance and best practise as appropriate.
• To ensure adequate resources are in place to deliver the financial services provided to IDBs; to assist the Chief Executive in securing appropriate resources as required.
• To lead on our cost recovery strategy, implementation and assurance, ensuring the services provided by MLC to IDBs and others are funded appropriately and with fee clarity for customers.
• To ensure the Finance team are using the most appropriate systems, tools and processes for their activities.
• To lead the organisation’s commercial strategy and oversee procurement processes and decision making.
• To ensure adequate financial and governance controls are in place and statutory returns are completed on time and to appropriate standards.
• Take a hands-on role leading the team with (not an exhaustive list); Payroll & Pensions; Accounts and Annual Returns; Rate & Levy forecasts, issuing, disputes and change control; Loans and banking; VAT returns; Defra IDB1 returns; Payments and invoicing; Income & Expenditure
• Records; Debt management; Government grant and Highland Water claims; MLC and IDB budget estimates and in-year monitoring; MLC and IDB meeting preparation and papers; Insurance and utilities.
• Oversee and lead Internal and External Audits for the organisation and IDBs we provide
governance and financial services for.
• Actively clerk IDB meetings including take minutes (within the pool of four staff)

General responsibilities include:

• To ensure the team’s compliance with health, safety and security requirements.
• To maintain effective working relationships and clear communication between all members of the Finance Team and other departments.
• To assist in identifying needs and developing and implementing appropriate new technology.
• To attend meetings of the MLC and, as required, meetings of any Board for whom MLC act as Clerk.
• To liaise with other bodies/authorities to build and maintain good working relationships and partnerships.
• To represent the MLC/IDBs at meetings and on committees of external bodies as necessary and appropriate.
• To undertake such other duties as may from time to time be reasonably assigned by the Employer.

To enact the above the post holder will need to become familiar with the Land Drainage Act (1991), the Middle Level Acts 1810-74, the Middle Level Act (2018), the Floods & Water Management Act (2010) and the other aspects of legislation and common law which govern the functions of the MLC and IDBs.

The post holder will formally be appointed as Treasurer.

Salary: Salary: From circa £65-£75k (dependent upon experience)
Location: Our office in March, Cambridgeshire (with some working from home flexibility)

Benefits include:

• Starting at 28 days annual leave
• Car allowance
• NEST pension with employer contribution
• Free car parking (inc electric charging point)
• BHN Extras portal with cycle to work and shopping discounts

You may also have experience in the following: Head of Finance, Finance Director, Finance Manager, Group Finance Director, Accountant, Qualified Accountant, Management Accountant, Financial Accountant, Financial Controller, Director of Finance, CIMA, ACCA, AAT, etc.

REF-213 880