Finance Transformation Manager - 2-year FTC
You will act as a valued partner across the House and engage finance process users in modernising our financial systems and business processes.
Description
Chatham House, the Royal Institute of International Affairs, is one of the world's leading independent policy institutes with a reputation for tackling the hardest problems of international relations that stretches back more than a century. Based in London with a global outreach, we aim to help build a secure, sustainable, prosperous and just world. We pursue our mission through convening meetings and speakers, private dialogue, world leading analysis and solutions-based ideas, and look to help the next generation as well in building a better world.
After years of rapid growth, we need to consolidate and simplify our internal organisation and take a clear, strategic look at our priorities and the balance between costs and income (which includes donations, grants and memberships) and modernise our financial systems and business process.
To support this, we are looking for a Finance Transformation Manager to lead and manage our migration to a new finance system by October 2025, transform our financial planning and reporting, as well as deliver efficient and user-friendly financial business processes. This role will work across both the charity and the trading subsidiary.
You will act as a valued partner across the organisation to engage finance process users in the system and process modernisation, reporting to the executive leadership team and Board of Trustees when required.
The ideal candidate is self-motivated and able to work independently while collaborating effectively with colleagues from financial and non-financial backgrounds at all levels. You have astute analytical skills and enjoy getting to grips with the details, activities and operations that drive the numbers and thrive on driving positive change.
We are an equal opportunity employer; we value diversity and do not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics. We encourage applications from all backgrounds. If there is anything we can do to improve your experience or support you, please get in touch with us at HR@chathamhouse.org.
Key Responsibilities
Reports to the Finance Director with a dotted line to the Head of Finance.
Delivery
- Review and modernise all finance procedures, centralising and modernising them to drive maximum efficiency and transparency.
- Deliver the finance system to a good standard, through tight project management and embed it into the organisation.
- Support the Head of Finance with the auditors' requirements to deliver the financial statements within the annual statutory accounts.
- Ensure the accuracy and integrity of accounting/ reporting through improvements in systems and business processes to ensure viable and necessary controls are in place.
People
- Engage colleagues across the institute to drive the modernisation and efficiency of finance processes, ensuring the removal of silos.
- Support the Finance Director and Head of Finance in the delivery of the annual Business and Financial Plan.
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with external stakeholders.
- Recruit and manage a Finance Systems Change Project Manager (FTC), driving the finance systems and business process change.
Strategy
- Lead the department in identifying and implementing changes to processes and systems to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Finance Department and the organisation, including various finance systems' efficiencies.
- In partnership with the Finance Director, deliver a new finance system and finance processes to support the overall Chatham House Strategy.
- Actively contribute to the delivery of the Chatham House EDI strategy.
Person Specification
Skills and Experience
- ACA/CA/ACCA/CIMA qualified accountant.
- Proven experience working on complex finance transformation and finance system implementation projects.
- Experience in finance business process design and implementation.
- Experience of working in the charity / not-for-profit sector (Desirable).
- Strong Excel, technology and data analysis skills.
- A proactive, self-motivating approach to work, with a collegiate, collaborative, and consistent approach.
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, with an ability to build relationships at all levels. You will be an effective business partner, demonstrating business acumen, passion, an inquisitive nature, as well as integrity and trust.
- Ability to present financial information in a clear, concise, and accessible way for diverse audiences.
- Able to work autonomously, accurately and continuously maintain high standards.
- Excellent time management and organisational skills.
- Familiarity with agile project management methodologies is advantageous.
We are eager to fill this role and will review applications and interview candidates on a rolling basis. We encourage early applications.
Benefits
Benefits include approximately 37 days annual leave (including public holidays and Chatham House closure days), pension salary exchange, employee assistance programme, parental leave, flexible working and other benefits designed to suit your lifestyle. All of this, in a professional, engaging and intellectually stimulating environment.
Salary: £75,000 - £80,000 (dependent on experience) per year.
Contract: Full-time, 2-year fixed-term contract.
Location: Hybrid (Office/Home), minimum 2 days in the office per week.
Application closing date: The application deadline is Sunday, 9 February 2025. However, if an appointment is made before then, this date may change.
Please avoid using AI for your application, we want to hear from you! We can tell the difference between a genuine answer and an AI-generated one.
The Job Description as outlined above will not be available once the closing date has passed. Please ensure you keep a copy for your records.
- Department
- Finance
- Locations
- London
Finance Transformation Manager - 2-year FTC
You will act as a valued partner across the House and engage finance process users in modernising our financial systems and business processes.
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