Business and Finance Director at MapAction

Job title:       Business and Finance Director

Hours:          30 hours per week over 4 or 5 days, we will also consider candidates wanting to work 22.5 hours per week

Salary:         £49,371 pro rata 

Contract:      This is a part time substantive position

Reports to:   Chief Executive

The Opportunity

MapAction has a unique opportunity for an experienced Business & Finance Director looking for their next challenge in a fast-paced and dynamic humanitarian response organisation. We’re looking for someone to work within and lead our Finance team helping on the delivery of organisational finance, in line with our strategic objectives and restricted projects and programs, working alongside multiple global partners. You will work with a diverse group of expert volunteers, colleagues and support four main areas of MapAction: Finance, Fundraising, Programmes and Innovation. The role will be responsible in providing  leadership to MapAction in its Finance, Human Resource, Administrative and Legal functions, enabling the effective use, reporting and accounting of its resources, and working as a member of MapAction’s management team to give strategic leadership to the organisation. 

Why MapAction?

MapAction (mapaction.org) is a leading humanitarian mapping charity delivering information services and products to enhance decision making in disasters and conflicts. In collaboration with our partners, this mapped information helps responders understand vulnerabilities and target their response effectively, contributing to saving lives and minimising suffering. We work through a team of skilled volunteer professionals and a small paid staff team.

The charity has attracted funding from the UK Government (FCDO), USAID from the American People, the German Federal Foreign Office, the Government of the Netherlands, EU and other major donors. Over half of its budget is covered by restricted funding of this nature.  We have built a strong reputation in the humanitarian sector and are a technical partner of the United Nations,  Non-Government Organisations, the Red Cross, Red Crescent Movement, regional entities and national authorities.

At MapAction, training and team building are at the heart of our organisational culture. We have frequent meet-ups where paid staff and volunteers get together for training opportunities and skill-sharing, in areas such as fieldwork, emergency preparedness and GIS technical development.

The humanitarian sector is evolving, and technical expertise such as GIS, mapping, data processing and visualisation is becoming increasingly sought after in order to ensure continuous improvement in humanitarian response. MapAction and our partners are uniquely positioned to provide this technical expertise, to ensure the most effective coordination of relief efforts.

Who are you?

You are highly motivated and proficient worker who will have a demonstrable track record of highly successful financial management and have some, though not limited to,  experience working with small charities and limited resources. You will be tenacious, able to manage a busy workload and comfortable working under your own initiative. You are always a team player at heart and a confident leader capable of guiding an organisation on all aspects of finance, compliance and risk.

You will draw on your excellent interpersonal skills to be able to target and adapt your approach according to your audience. Excellent communication skills are essential (written and verbal), along with a strong eye for detail.

You will lead from the front and need to be supportive to colleagues (staff, trustees and volunteers), committed to the volunteer ethic of the organisation and show sensitivity to the needs of others.

You relish a challenge and like us, feel excited about the future and what we can achieve together. You want to work in a diverse organisation that is concerned about minimising its environmental impact, and cares about everyone in the team. Be assured, you will be supported in your role as you grow. 

Main Responsibilities

You will lead the finance, human resource, legal and administrative functions of the organisation ensuring the optimum use and accounting of financial resources within statutory and donor requirements, best practice on human resources, appropriate contract management and a functioning administration to deliver the organisation’s business requirements. As a member of the management team, you will share overall strategic leadership with others to support the Charity’s purpose to provide geographical information to humanitarian responders. 

Financial control, budget management and reporting

• Preparation of the annual budget for Board approval in consultation with the Chief Executive and Treasurer, including ensuring annual quarterly forecasting of planned expenditure.  Subsequent re-forecasting of outturn during the year.
•  Preparation of monthly management accounts for the management team and monitoring budget expenditure on a quarterly basis with budget holders.
• Close monitoring of cash-flow, including forecasting income and expenditure movements.
•  Preparation of quarterly Board finance reports (including narrative) for approval and submission by the Treasurer. 
• Preparation of annual accounts for annual audit and liaison with auditors before, during and after audit process.
• Presentation of annual statutory accounts for Board approval in consultation with the charity’s auditors, Chief Executive and Treasurer.
•  In coordination with other Finance Staff, ensure that all financial obligations are paid in a timely manner.

Donor contract management

• Coordinate with the Fundraising Team in preparing budgets for fundraising applications.
• Prepare financial reports as required for submission to funders to release and account for payments.
• Prepare information for donor audit as required.
• Construct budget and financial system coding to ensure that donor agreements are properly reflected in accurate financial recording and reporting.     

Risk management and compliance

• Ensuring MapAction is compliant with UK Law (including in relation to human resource management, payroll, health and safety and statutory filing requirements).
• Overseeing the financial elements of the organisation’s Risk Register and on behalf of the Chief Executive ensuring that all identified mitigation plans across functions are being implemented.
•  Review financial procedures and policies and ensure these are up to date, relevant and implemented.

Human resources

• Oversee the application of MapAction’s HR policies ensuring a high standard of delivery for all personnel.
• Work with the HR advisor on key HR issues ensuring timely and effective advice as required.
• Champion diversity and inclusion within the charity and ensure the Diversity and Inclusion plan is delivered.
• Ensure our recruitment processes are fair, transparent, promotes diversity, is inclusive and equitable,

Legal

•  Oversee contracts with solicitors, landlords and other non-funding related commitments 

Administrative

•    Oversee office and team coordination through the Business Support Officer

Management

• Be part of MapAction’s management team supporting the Chief Executive in providing strategic leadership to the organisation. As part of the management team, provide guidance and advice on strategic developments, expansion of deployments, projects and the nature of the business ensuring the resource needs of the organisation are considered fully in planning and risk management.
•  Line manage the Finance Officer, Business Support Officer and Finance Manager
•  Oversee payroll and the implementation of the charity’s pension scheme, ensuring issues are addressed, documentation issued and the charity meets HMRC and other statutory requirements.
• Support the development of the charity’s commercial revenue arm as required.
• Provide training to the wider team when required.
   

Key Competencies 

 Essential

• Professional accounting qualification (ACCA, CIMA, ACA) or QBE with 5 years of experience in a similar sector and role
• Extensive financial management experience with charities
• Experience of budget management, including setting, tracking and reporting on budget performance against plans
• Experience of donor reporting and understanding of system requirements to achieve accurate and timely reports.
• Strong interpersonal skills

Desirable

• Experience of and commitment to, working as, or with, volunteers
• Experience in using Xero/Salesforce (or equivalent) software
• Knowledge of working within the charity sector on associated compliance and risk management issues.
• Experience of being a member of a management team and managing personnel
• Experience of monitoring and reporting value for money.

Additional Information

• We will consider candidates wanting to work part time 30 hours per week over 4 or 5 days, we will also consider candidates wanting to work 22.5 hours per week
• Flexibility and willingness to work outside office hours including evenings and weekends as required, including being on a roster for emergency cover
• It is a hybrid position with regular remote work and to attendance at team days near the MapAction office in Oxfordshire once a month at own expense.
• 30 days holiday (pro rata) with a workplace pension and also paid training opportunities to help further your career
• Must have the right to live and work in the UK, MapAction is unable to consider candidates who do not already hold appropriate permissions
• Note: this is an operational role in a small, highly specialised charity and an appreciation of, and affinity with the humanitarian purpose of the charity is essential, as well as a willingness to take up additional tasks outside of the normal role when needed

Equal Opportunities Policy

MapAction is an Equal Opportunities employer.  All employees have a personal responsibility to promote and support measures designed to create a working environment which is free from harassment or discrimination on the grounds of gender, marital status, family status, age, race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, membership of the Travelers community or HIV&AIDS status.

How to apply: Please apply via gohire with a CV and covering letter to be considered for this role.  The closing date for applications 1 August 2023.  Will review applications on a rolling basis and will close the process if we secure someone at an early stage so we urge you to apply early so as not to miss out. For further discussion regarding the content of this role, please email recruitment@mapaction.org.