Finance & Commercial Director

Description:

CMA is partnering exclusively with Chichester Festival Theatre in their search to appoint a strategic Finance and Commercial Director to work closely with the Executive Director, providing leadership in all financial and commercial matters.
The post will contribute expertise in the development and implementation of organisational strategies, plans, and policies. They will support the financial growth of Chichester Festival Theatre, maximising and diversifying income whilst ensuring that the supporting systems run smoothly and consistently across the organisation.

What will the Finance and Commercial Director position involve?

Reporting to the Executive Director, the key purpose of the Finance and Commercial Director position is to oversee Chichester Festival Theatre’s financial management, supporting the Executive Director in budgeting, management accounting, statutory accounts; planning systems, analysis and internal financial controls to support the day-to-day operations of the organisation.  Specific responsibilities will include:

Ensure all statutory reports are completed and in compliance with charity law and best practice including reporting conditions of the Financial Memorandum with Arts Council England and Local Authorities Finance and Commercial Services Director.
Management of the annual budgeting process, collaborating with key non-finance stakeholders including the Chief Executive and Artistic Director, leading the analysis of the scale and disposition of the overheads and other resources needed to meet the Theatre’s artistic and commercial goals efficiently and effectively.
Co-ordinating the timely production of monthly management accounts and cash flows, reporting actual results against budgets and estimates to the Executive Director and Board, and agreeing and implementing corrective action to any variance where necessary.
Developing and implementing appropriate policies and practices to maintain good internal financial control over all transactions, including auditor recommendations and supervising the control and audit of approved authorities and financial policies.
Management and continual development and support of the finance team.

Suitable candidate for the Financial and Commercial Director role:

Applicants for the position will hold a full accountancy qualification with proven experience of commercial management and responsibility for the day-to-day finance function of an organisation.
Exceptional communication skills will be required to undertake the role successfully as it will involve building effective relationships with non-finance stakeholders and supporting them in developing their financial skills.
Highly desirable is previous knowledge and experience of charity accounting requirements, high standards of financial management of an arts building and knowledge of the political and funding environment in which the arts currently operate.

Additional information for the position of Financial and Commercial Director:

This post is part of Chichester Festival Theatre’s Senior Leadership Team and will be office based at Chichester 5 days a week.
Normal working hours are Monday to Friday, 10am-6pm, although some degree of flexibility will be required according to workload and will include evening and weekend working including Press Nights and Development events.
There will be some travel outside of Chichester, mainly to London.

For more information regarding the Finance and Commercial Director position, please contact Becky Wallington on (phone number removed) or

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