Head of Finance

The National Concert Hall (NCH) has an ambition to be one of the world’s great centres for music, a centre which will be a symbol of national pride for Irish people everywhere. As it embarks on an ambitious, multi-million euro capital redevelopment programme and now the home to the National Symphony Orchestra and Choirs, the NCH seeks to recruit the Head of Finance on a fixed term contract for 9 months.

The Role

The Head of Finance will partner with the Leadership Team to ensure that the National Concert Hall has the financial acumen to drive and support the achievement of our strategic objectives through the provision of best practice financial controls, policies and processes.

As a member of the Senior Management Team, the Head of Finance will develop and implement the organisations financial strategy, prepare annual financial plans and submissions to the Department. The successful candidate will lead Heads of departments in the financial management of their functions and support them to develop and deliver their financial targets and KPIs.

To succeed in this role, you will be a member of a recognised professional accountancy body with significant experience in a senior role in Financial Management, preferably in the public sector. You will have in-depth, up to date knowledge of relevant legislation, financial policies, procedures and practices and a good understanding of the governance framework for State Bodies.

You will be a confident and skilled communicator with persuasive influencing skills. The ideal candidate will have excellent negotiation skills, and the ability to build relationships with a wide range of people from team members to external stakeholders. You will have strong emotional intelligence with an ability to build confidence and trust with key stakeholders.

Responsibilities

1. Financial Control – Budget, Planning & Reporting

- Develop and implement the organisations financial strategy in conjunction with the Senior Management Team.

- Prepare an annual financial plan for the NCH in line with the annual business plan and submit to the SMT / Board for approval.

- Prepare the annual estimate submissions to the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports & Media in relation to the forthcoming year’s Grant-in-Aid request.

- Monthly updates of forecast.

- Prepare Quarterly drawdown requests for the Department.

- Lead Heads of department in the financial management of their functions and the organisation as a whole. Work in close partnership with each department head to increase financial awareness, support their development and delivery of their targets and KPIs.

- Provide monthly feedback and agree corrective actions with heads of departments.

- Continue to develop appropriate Management Information for the SMT & Board.

- Provide support to staff responsible for preparing individual budgeted statements for each concert proposed by the NCH one year in advance.

- Formulate and approve the monthly management accounts for presentation to senior management and the Board.

- Prepare financial reports for Management & the Board and present same.

2. Financial Control – Financial Accounting

- Creditors, Payroll and all payments in line with Legal & Regulatory frameworks applicable to the public service.

- Annual Statutory Financial Statements including liaison with Comptroller & Auditor general.

- Liaise with internal Auditors & manage the process internally.

- Manage the statutory taxation obligations of the organisation.

- Manage Treasury & Working Capital.

- Full-fill all reporting obligations.

- Manage the statutory taxation obligations of the Hall.

3. Payroll and Pensions

- Oversee Payroll

- Oversee Administration of pension schemes (Superannuation scheme plus Single Public Service Pension Scheme)

- Drive improvements and standardisation of payroll administration

4. Corporate Governance

- Ensure all financial Policies, Procedures & Practices are in line with the governance framework for State Bodies and legislation.

5. Systems & Process Improvement

- Introduce a continuous improvement mindset at the NCH, identifying systems & process improvements.

- Optimising the use of technology to support the provision of services and to monitor performance.

6. Team Leadership

- Lead the Finance team and provide Developmental plans to develop competencies for the future.

- Nurture, motivate and support the Finance team and their competencies.

- Provide leadership role to the SMT in financial planning.

7. Additional executive functions

- Undertake the role of Freedom of Information Manager.

- Manage and negotiate the company’s insurances including the hirers’ public liability schemes.

- Interfacing with Government departments and other cultural organisations to ensure best practice delivery in a public service context.

Work relationships
· Reports to the Chief Operations Officer (COO)

· The Finance team

· Members of the Senior Management Team

· Professional advisors

· All staff

· The NCH Board

· The Department of Tourism

Qualifications and experience

· Professional Accountant – Member of a recognised Professional Accountancy Body.

· 10 years’ experience in a senior management role in a comparable environment

Competencies
· Relationship management: capable of managing relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders.

· Organisation leadership: provide financial leadership to the organisation.

· Commercial acumen: in helping to ensure the balance between artistic validity and commercial viability is maintained.

· Process driven: proven capability in systems and process improvement.

· Results driven: able to manage and deliver results to tight timeline.

· Judgement: can make complex decisions in a range of areas including financial assessment and freedom of information

· Knowledge of Public sector policies and practices.

· Influencing skills.

· Negotiation skills.

· Microsoft Office and relevant Finance software systems.

Organisational requirements
· To maintain the NCH’s high standard of customer care across all areas of organisational activity.

· To use ICT and digital applications to service the post’s administrative needs

· Work within the framework of the overall objectives of the NCH, in compliance with all NCH policies.

· Remain up to date with, and aware of, developments within the NCH and its work.

· As the role requires handling, processing and recording of personal and restricted information, confidentiality is required at all times and knowledge of GDPR essential.

· Contribute information, analysis, and recommendations to organisational strategic thinking and direction.

· Be a trusted leader, advisor, and subject matter expert.

Key Information about this role

· This is a full-time, fixed term contract for 9 months.

· The position holder reports to the COO and manages five direct reports.

· NCH competencies for Assistant Principal Officer will apply to this role.

· This role will be based at the National Concert Hall, Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2.

Pay: The Assistant Principal salary scale applies (rates effective from 1 March 2023) as follows:

€74,701 €77,452 €80,241 €83,040 €85,834 €87,445 €90,265¹ €93,095²

Please note that appointment will be made at the first point on this salary scale.

How to apply: Please attach Cover Letter & CV in one document.

Closing Date: 24th May 2023.