Head of Financial Accounting Systems & Control

Head of Financial Accounting Systems & Control

Thames Hospice is seeking an experienced and values driven Head of Financial Accounting, Systems & Control to play a pivotal role in ensuring our financial sustainability and supporting our mission to provide quality of life, to the end of life, for everyone.

As one team we raise money, support each other whether in clinical teams, or corporate services to ensure everything runs efficiently and smoothly and delivers the best outcome for our patients and their families.

You will have a critical role in providing financial leadership to the Hospice. You will be responsible for management of the financial systems (Access Evo and associated feeder systems), the underpinning transactional processes, and for preparing statutory accounts and other financial returns. You will ensure the Hospice operates within a robust financial control environment, has accurate reporting, effective cash and financial risk management, and sector-leading digital processes.

Your work will be instrumental in supporting our Finance Director and the Head of Financial Management to optimise our financial performance, ensuring financial sustainability for the Hospice.

Being part of a great team in a complex organisation is demanding, but also really rewarding. If you want to be part of our Finance team then wed love to work with you.

Proudly serving the community since 1987, Thames Hospice provides compassionate, specialist palliative and end-of-life care for people with a life-limiting condition. We employ over 300 dedicated and highly experienced staff who, with the support of over 1000 volunteers, provided outstanding care to 3000 people last year in their homes and at the Hospice.

Culture -

We look for people who really care about their work and have huge amounts of compassion to give. If you want to work as part of a culture which develops your skills and values, and builds your confidence to be the best version of yourself, then this is the right place for you. We work hard to look after our people, our patients, our families and our reputation.

All patients are Thames Hospice patients and therefore we always support the patient and their family irrespective of our individual role. We represent the wider charity and clinical model at all times.

Our organisational values are - Compassion, Ambition, Respect, Excellence.

Responsibilities -

Care with Agility - excellent care and support tailored to patients and families in their preferred setting.

As a senior leader you will be expected to support all the strategic aims of Thames Hospice. Sometimes this will be through your direct responsibilities, but often this will be through how you support the wider organisation and the services our clinical teams deliver. In particular you will ensure that our financial systems, processes and reporting support the delivery of our strategy to provide quality of life, to the end of life, for everyone.

You will work collaboratively with leaders within the organisation, Trustees, and wider stakeholders across the health and care system to deliver the Hospices objectives.

You will work closely with the Finance Director to provide strategic financial insights, improve financial operations, drive the charity's growth, and ensure its long-term financial sustainability

Financial Sustainability - generating sustainable funding with integrity to ensure excellent hospice care.

As a senior leader within the finance team you will be accountable for our financial accounting and systems. Robust processes and accurate reporting enables us to make wise decisions and gives confidence to external funders and commissioners of our services.

You will take responsibility for the delivery and audit of year end accounts and ensure the Finance team and Company Secretary meet statutory and accounting regulations, and that the Hospice receives an unqualified audit opinion.

You will work closely with our External Auditors to ensure timely and accurate submission of working papers

You will ensure compliance with our accounting policies and procedures, and make sure those policies reflect best practices including the Charities SORP.

You will manage the month-end closedown timetable and associated ledger controls

You will ensure the charity has robust financial systems and processes in place to safeguard its assets and ensure accuracy of reporting. You will review internal controls to ensure they meet ongoing operational requirements.

You will maintain Fixed Asset records, balance sheet control and reconciliations

You will be the super user - system administrator, for the Access Evo accounting system, banking software and associated software. You will continuously improve the use of the systems and processes to support the financial activities of the Hospice. You will lead upgrades, integrations and automation of processes.

You will ensure good governance of financial data, maintain coding structures,…