ABOUT THE COMPANY:

The Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) is dedicated to improving the lives of children in developing countries by investing in high-impact programs and innovative solutions. CIFF focuses on critical areas such as health, education, and child protection, partnering with organizations and governments to drive systemic change. Through strategic funding and advocacy, CIFF aims to create lasting improvements in child welfare and equity on a global scale.

JOB SUMMARY

An exciting and unique opportunity for a qualified or partly qualified Accountant to develop their accounting career in an ambitious philanthropic organization based in Central London.

A varied role within the Finance team, carrying out a range of financial operations in an efficient and controlled manner. The role will require the application of technical accountancy knowledge to deliver processes across, but not limited to, the following areas: Financial Processing, Risk & Control Management, External Reporting, Financial Planning & Analysis and Tax & Compliance.

The role will also have a strong process optimization angle, and support projects within Financial Control on areas such as process improvement and system development.

The analyst should demonstrate a rational and organised approach to work.

They determine a course of action based on guidelines and modify processes and methods as required, using previous experience to identify the most appropriate option or improve existing approaches.

Key stakeholders include the Head of Financial Control, Finance Managers,. The role will also interact with all other members of the CIFF team from Director to Analyst and external partners including vendors.

Specifically –

• Focuses on managing processes, financial controls and  creating initial reports/analyses for review by experienced team professionals.
• Understand and apply the principles and practices common in the finance professional field
• Undertake analysis and investigations to solve differing, but related, problems.
• Understand and communicate complex financial information with the internal and external stakeholders
• Responsible for planning own work, assessing own progress, and adjusting efforts to meet goals and be accountable for meeting own targets which impact the immediate work area.

Role’s responsibilities

The primary responsibilities of the role include:

Financial Processing

• Working closely with CIFF staff to ensure the ongoing payment and processing of expenses, invoices and grant payments are performed in a timely and efficient manner, adjusting the process as required to maximise efficient.

• Proactively developing and delivering training on payment processes to CIFF staff and resolving payment queries / issues (involving liaising with vendors, grantees and banks)

Risk and Control Management

• Performing key Financial Control tasks including reconciliations of Profit & Loss and Balance sheet accounts, prepayment / creditors/ accrual accounting and treasury functions aiming for continual self-driven improvement of the tasks.
• Supporting the maintenance of the Financial Control team’s risk and control framework using experience to challenge assessments and suggest modifications.

External Reporting

• Producing monthly, quarterly and annual accounting reporting including the Annual Report, presenting to Senior Management for review with oversight from line manager where required.
• Assisting with statutory audit, including walkthroughs and note preparation, and liaising with auditors.
• Leading on preparation of subsidiary and branch accounts, with oversight and support from managers.

Financial Planning & Analysis

• Producing the complex annual business planning operating expenditure model and supporting senior stakeholder requests for information.
• Assisting in monthly, quarterly and annual management accounts presenting to Senior Management for review.

Tax & Compliance

• Assisting with tax returns preparation and annual regulatory documents using prior knowledge to develop new and innovative ways to produce the data more efficiently.

Treasury

• Reconciling bank accounts with different currencies, supplier accounts and approving new suppliers.

• Preparing quarterly cash forecasts and providing ad-hoc support on treasury tasks where required.

Other

• Providing training and mentoring support to finance and non-finance colleagues as needed.
• Proactively developing and implementing process / system improvements and other project work to support CIFF management including accounting software development.Using CIFF and external knowledge to suggest best practice and to develop innovative approaches and processes.
• Assisting with key FC deliverables such as updating impact investment models on a monthly/ quarterly basis, seeking continual improvement wherever possible.
• Ensuring CIFF policies are adhered to and updating process documentation periodically.
• Support with location based financial reporting & audit.
• Manage internal and external queries (finance support) and queries around areas of ownership.
• Other ad-hoc duties as required.

Requirements

Skills & Experience

To be considered for this role you must have the following:

• Previous Accounting and/or Finance experience in a team environment with:
  • Either (a) Qualified or part qualified Accountant (such as ACA, CIMA, ACCA or equivalent) or (b) significant previous experience working in an accounting firm.
• Excel and Outlook experience
• Strong English written and oral communication skills
• Strong interpersonal skills and a great team player
• Ability to problem solve
• Ability to manage workload and expectation to deliver assigned tasks
• Demonstrates professional, sound judgement; can think critically, objectively and strategically
• Strong interpersonal skills – engages with others to get the best out of them and works well as part of a team
• Effective organisational and project management skills; able to be flexible as priorities and needs change, and works well under pressure
• English is CIFF’s business language – we expect all of our people to display outstanding verbal and written communication skills across all aspects of their role
• Capacity to work in a range of cultural and socio-economic contexts, adapting style and approach appropriately and in a culturally sensitive manner to maximise effectiveness
• IT proficiency (most specifically in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint)
• Ability to work well independently; a motivated self-starter, with good initiative and problem-solving skills

Meeting the below requirements would also be desirable:

• PowerBI, Business Central Software
• Understanding of FRS102 and/or SORP accounting
• Strong personal motivation to work in the not-for-profit sector

Key working relationships

• Heads of Financial Control
• Finance Managers
• Other members of the CIFF team from Directors to Analyst and external partners including vendors.

Benefits

The starting salary for this role is GBP 36,800 per annum.

CIFF operates a hybrid work policy across all locations, which means employees works some of the time from home.

We are happy to provide more information on this as part of the recruitment process.

Alongside a competitive salary, we offer a generous benefits package here at CIFF that includes, but is not limited to the following. All these will be prorated to the fixed term.

• Annual leave – 25 days per annum. Increasing by 1 day after each year of service, to a maximum of 30 days.
• Bonus – CIFF currently operates a discretionary bonus scheme.
• Pension
• Private medical insurance
• Training allowance
• Wellbeing allowance
• Life insurance

Please submit your application on or before 12th August 2024.

CIFF reserves the right to close the job advert early if we receive a high number of suitable applications.

How to Apply
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Good luck!