Finance Business Partner

Reporting to: Head of Finance

Location: Hybrid: Combination of London office based and home working.  Some travel within UK will be required.

Contract: Permanent

Hours: 35 Hours per week

Salary: £54,557 - £57,430

We welcome applications from all backgrounds. We are a Disability Confident Employer that welcome disabled applicants and provide reasonable adjustments.

About FareShare

FareShare is the UK’s national network of charitable food redistributors, made up of 18 independent organisations. Together, we take good quality surplus food from right across the food industry and get it to nearly 8,500 frontline charities and community groups.

The food we redistribute is nutritious and good to eat. It reaches charities across the UK, including school breakfast clubs, older people’s lunch clubs, homeless shelters, and community cafes. Every week we provide enough food to create almost a million meals for vulnerable people.

Every year, more than three million tonnes of food go to waste in the UK, enough for 7 billion meals. Meanwhile, the cost of living crisis is driving millions into food insecurity.

We are fortunate to benefit from the support of major retailers, the media, ambassadors and a groundswell of public engagement. As a result, there has never been a more exciting time to join an organisation at the heart of public consciousness.

FareShare’s Strategy & Vision

Vision: We have the vision of a UK where “No good food goes to waste”.

Mission: To use surplus, fit for consumption, food to feed those who are vulnerable in the UK by supporting front line charitable organisations that tackle the cause and not just the symptoms of food poverty.

Our Purpose: We are doers. We are a community. We change lives.

Our Values: 

Passion – for our cause and the challenge that lies ahead

Ambition – to go the extra mile and drive the change that must happen

Respect – for ourselves, each other, our volunteers, our partners and our beneficiaries  

Collaboration – it’s only by working with others that we can be stronger

Focus – on providing the best service possible so that we deliver and achieve the most for our clients and customers

The role

We are looking for an enthusiastic and collaborative and versatile finance business partner to join us at this time of growth. Reporting to Head of Finance, and working alongside other Finance Business Partners, you will be responsible for providing your financial expertise and support to our key stakeholders, playing an important part in enabling us to meet our ambitious strategy.

This is an exciting role in a supportive and well established finance team, giving you the opportunity to further develop the finance function and shape your role. You will bring strong communication, analytical and systems skills, as well as flexiblity and motivation to engage in cross organisational projects.

You will thrive in this role if you are someone able to respond with agility, curiosity and open mind to projects and tasks that change and develop whilst FareShare is growing and developing.

Main areas of responsibility

Business partnering:

• Provide a high-quality financial support to the nominated internal stakeholders. These may vary and will include some of the following: Food, Supply Chain & Logistics teams, Network Partner support, Operational centres (warehouses) and Support functions.
• Deliver monthly management accounts and KPI reporting for the nominated stakeholders. Monitor spend and provide financial insight and expertise to drive the delivery in line with FareShare’s strategic direction.
• Collaborate with the nominated internal stakeholders to develop and manage budgets and forecasts.
• Enhance financial reporting and analysis and develop KPI capabilities for the nominated stakeholders.
• Coach budget holders on finance systems and processes to develop effective budget management and controls.
• Provide cover for other Finance Business Partners when required, mainly around month end processes and management account reporting.

Financial accounting:

• Involvement in month end processes: produce month end journals, conduct balance sheet reconciliations for the nominated business centres.
• Support with the development and monitoring compliance of the financial policies and processes and controls.
• Oversee financial aspects of grants, ensuring compliance and accurate reporting to funders.

People and / or project management:

• Provide financial guidance and support to the finance transactional team.
• Line manage (or dotted line management responsibilities, dependant on experience) the finance offices in the operational centres (warehouses).
• Lead on process improvements in the business areas of responsibility.
• Provide any other support as and when required.
• Some travel to the operational centres and network partners, across the UK, will be required.

Person Specification

 Skills, experience and abilities

• CIMA/ACCA/ACA fully qualified or equivalent experience
• Business partnering experience, preferably in a similar size organisation and business model. Experience in the commercial Supply Chain & Logistics industry will be of advantage.
• A good track record in managing month end processes
• Strong financial accounting background
• Advanced Excel skills and experience using a range of accounting software and financial reporting tools
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to adapt a style to various stakeholders
• Ability to build effective relationships across teams, ensuring staff are supported, motivated and challenged to achieve objectives
• Line management experience will be of advantage
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills
• Ability to adapt and influence change
• An understanding of either the food industry and/or the logistics industry would be advantageous

 Values and behaviours

• Enthusiastic, ‘can do’ approach
• Desire for change and ability to adapt
• Flexibility and ability to work well as part of a team and alone
• A commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
• Curiosity and empathy with FareShare’s mission and strategy

Benefits

• Hybrid / Flexible working, with regular UK travel
• 28 days’ annual leave + 8 bank holidays
• Employers pension contribution
• Employee Assistance Program
• Interest free bicycle purchase loan scheme
• Season ticket loan

Deadline for applications: 10th May 2024

A cover letter is required for a complete application. Applications without a cover letter will be disqualified.

For any further questions on this please email recruitment@fareshare.org.uk

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